Ugolini, Eastman Collaboration Supports Innovation and Eco-Friendly Design
Ugolini, the Italian benchmark company in the production of countertop equipment for catering and hospitality, has taken an important step forward on its sustainability journey by integrating Tritan™ Renew, Eastman’s innovative copolyester, into the design of its products.
The company had already adopted traditional Eastman Tritan™ in 2019 in response to European regulations banning the use of BPA in materials intended for food contact. Today, driven by growing consumer awareness of environmental sustainability and by strengthened European regulations, Ugolini has chosen to evolve further by switching to Tritan Renew, a more sustainable version of the same material.
“We are excited to offer a more sustainable version of a material we already fully trust,” said Marco Ugolini, the company’s CEO. “Tritan has shown exceptional durability over the years. With Tritan Renew we can deliver the same technical performance while adding a strong environmental value that our customers increasingly appreciate.”
Tritan Renew is made with certified recycled content*, thanks to Eastman’s molecular recycling technology. This process significantly reduces the use of fossil resources and greenhouse gas emissions without compromising performance, safety or durability.
For Ugolini, the choice of material is crucial: Containers used for preparing and dispensing beverages must meet high standards for food suitability, hygiene, chemical and thermal resistance, and withstand intensive wash cycles. Tritan Renew meets these requirements perfectly while also offering a BPA-free solution, increasingly sought after in international markets.
“We are proud to collaborate with a company like Ugolini, which is driving innovation in its sector also through the selection of more sustainable materials,” said Paolo Franco, business development manager at Eastman. “With Tritan Renew, Ugolini offers a product that is not only safe and high performing, but also more environmentally conscious — an added value that is increasingly decisive for consumers.”
The collaboration between and Eastman has taken concrete form in the development of the mold for the ICON 3 model, characterized by the tank’s complex technical design. The combined experience of the Ugolini and Eastman teams made it possible to produce a mold perfectly suited to processing Tritan Renew while maintaining the final product’s mechanical and visual performance.
This synergy of expertise has accompanied the evolution of equipment, first with the adoption of Tritan and now with the transition to Tritan Renew, consolidating the company’s commitment to a more responsible, future-oriented production model.
According to representatives from both companies, the collaboration is not only about replacing materials but also about rethinking the entire design process. By leveraging Eastman’s materials science expertise and Ugolini’s product engineering capabilities, the teams are co-creating designs that reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and extend product lifespans. This approach allows Ugolini to introduce beverage dispensers and related equipment that are lighter, stronger, and more sustainable without compromising performance or aesthetics.
“Partnering with Eastman allows us to deliver innovation with purpose,” said a Ugolini spokesperson. “Our goal has always been to combine Italian design excellence with advanced functionality. Now, through this collaboration, we can also ensure that our products contribute positively to the environment.”
Eastman’s representatives echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that sustainability and innovation go hand in hand. “We’re proud to work with Ugolini, a company that shares our vision for a circular economy,” said an Eastman materials expert. “By integrating our sustainable materials into their designs, we’re helping create solutions that meet today’s performance standards while protecting tomorrow’s planet.”
The Ugolini–Eastman collaboration also reflects a broader industry trend: the shift toward eco-conscious manufacturing and design. As regulatory standards tighten and consumers become more environmentally aware, companies across industries are prioritizing the use of renewable and recyclable materials. This partnership serves as a model for how companies can align business growth with environmental stewardship through science, innovation, and collaboration.
By combining Ugolini’s deep understanding of beverage equipment design with Eastman’s materials expertise, the collaboration represents more than just a product improvement—it signals a shared commitment to a sustainable future. Together, the two companies are setting new standards for how innovation and eco-friendly design can coexist, paving the way for cleaner, smarter, and more responsible product development.
