Eastman Chemical Company announced today that three of its customers, Hourglass Coffee, Polar Plastech, Inc., and Cox Culinary Emporium (CCE), will introduce new products at the 2009 International Home and Housewares Show (IHHS) from March 22 to 24 in Chicago. The new housewares products are made with Eastman Tritan™, a new-generation copolyester that balances design flexibility and ease of processing with dishwasher durability, and chemical and heat resistance, and is manufactured without bisphenol-A (BPA).
“After launching Eastman Tritan™ copolyester into the housewares market at IHHS in 2008, we are proud to showcase this year innovative products that demonstrate the continued versatility and growing applications of Tritan in the housewares category,” said Fred Colhoun, market development manager of Eastman Chemical Company. “Tritan provides unique and value-added properties to housewares products, including dishwasher durability, shatter resistance and glasslike clarity.”
Hourglass Coffee, based in Portland, Ore., uses Eastman Tritan™ copolyester in its Hourglass® Cold Brew Coffee System, which uses a slow cold water extraction process to develop a raw coffee extract that is naturally low in bitter acids and unhealthy oils. The new coffee system does not require electricity, and when selecting a material, durability was important for making the system easily portable and shatterproof. To add to the product’s ease of use, the coffee system’s components are dishwasher-safe.
“Utilizing Eastman Tritan™ copolyester for our product allowed us to offer our consumers a long-lasting, durable product that meets our goal of providing them with products that promote health,” said Kim Kapp, director of marketing for Hourglass Coffee. “The glasslike clarity and coloring opportunities also helped us design a high-quality aesthetic.”
Polar Plastech, a high-end plastic technology company based in Odessa, Fla., produces its innovative plastic beverage system, Polar Pitcher®, with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester. The 60-ounce Polar Pitcher includes an inner ice chamber that keeps beverages cold without diluting the beverage. Polar Plastech chose Tritan because of its dishwasher durability, and its odor and stain resistance, allowing it to uphold safety and sanitation standards.
“One of the main reasons we designed Polar Pitcher was to provide a sanitary way to keep beverages cool, so it was important that the material used to develop the pitcher maintained sanitation standards,” said Steve Roberts, president of Polar Plastech. “Additionally, the pitcher is often used in outdoor seating and pool areas, so it was important the pitchers were durable and shatter-resistant. Eastman Tritan™ copolyester provided all those attributes.”
CCE, an entrepreneurial firm based in Suwanee, Ga., uses Eastman Tritan™ copolyester to provide customers with clear, reusable serving products that are tough and shatter-resistant for both the commercial and retail markets. The innovative serving ware line incorporates three sizes of plates and glasses in four styles: champagne, wine, martini and manhattan. The glasses fit securely into the plates, allowing users to carry both food and a drink while keeping one hand free.
“We were looking for a material that was BPA-free, maintained clarity and integrity through continued dishwashing and use, and provided a quality aesthetic,” said Jim Cox, owner of CCE. “Eastman Tritan™ copolyester offered all those properties, as well as design flexibility.”
Eastman sponsored a panel and product showcase during the opening day of IHHS with its newest customers, as well as customer partners who have developed products with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester during the last year, including Thermos and Blackwell Plastics. The panel and product showcase demonstrated the attributes of Tritan; its varying applications in the housewares industry; its ability to meet consumer demands for BPA-free alternatives, sustainable and durable products, and high-quality aesthetics; as well as how it is transforming the future of housewares.
Eastman Tritan™ copolyester has been utilized in the housewares, infant care and small appliance markets and has been recognized for its durability, chemical and heat resistance, and more. Companies such as Vita-Mix, Thermos, KOR One, Nalgene and Evenflo have used Tritan to develop innovative, trendsetting products.