Eastman Chemical Company announced today that Polar Plastech, Inc., a high-end plastic technology company, has introduced an innovative plastic beverage system, Polar Pitcher, made with Eastman Tritan copolyester. Tritan, a new-generation copolyester, balances the properties of clarity, dishwasher durability, toughness, and stain and odor resistance. Tritan is also manufactured without bisphenol-A (BPA).
Polar Pitcher is a 60-ounce clear plastic beverage pitcher with a built-in cooling cylinder that holds ice and keeps beverages chilled in a sanitary manner without dilution or contamination.
“We saw a need for beverage pitchers that offered a sanitary way to keep beverages cold over an extended period of time,” said Steve Roberts, president of Polar Plastech. “With that in mind, we needed a material that upheld our safety and sanitation standards, as well as offered a durable product.”
Polar Plastech will begin producing Polar Pitcher with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester in April 2009. The pitchers were previously produced by using polycarbonate and styrenic terpolymer. Polar Plastech switched to Tritan because of its high-heat and chemical resistance, allowing it to withstand continued dishwashing and day-to-day use by commercial bars and restaurants. Additionally, because Tritan is odor- and stain-resistant, it provides a safe, sanitary pitcher, allowing it to be certified by the National Sanitation Foundation.
“As many of our customers are bars and restaurants, we needed the pitchers to be dishwasher-safe and long-lasting,” Roberts said. “And, because many times Polar Pitcher will be used in outdoor seating and pool areas, it was important the pitchers were durable and shatter-resistant.”
Polar Pitcher is currently marketed to on-premise customers, such as bars and restaurants, and will be marketed to at-home users, hotels and motels in the future. On-premise pitchers are produced in clear plastic and can be customized with a label. Polar Plastech plans to offer Polar Pitcher to the at-home user in fresh colors, such as ice blue, cool grape and wintergreen.