Raws-tech bio-assimilating additive for recyclable and landfill-degradable plastics

Overview

RAWS-Tech is a proprietary organic additive developed for polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) packaging that addresses one of the plastics industry's most persistent challenges: how to keep packaging recyclable while ensuring it does not persist as microplastic pollution if it escapes the recycling stream. Developed at NAMI (Nano and Advanced Materials Institute), a subsidiary of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the additive integrates directly into conventional plastic manufacturing without altering production processes or cycle times.

The technology offers a cost-effective alternative to paper, bioplastics, and other sustainable substrates, typically adding less than 10-15% to material costs compared to two- to three-times cost multiples for competing sustainable options. It is applicable to any product that can be made with PP or PE and their derivatives, including BOPP, HDPE, and LDPE.

Technical specifications

How it works:

• Stage 1 - Polymer degradation: A free-radical polymerization reaction initiated by the RAWS-Tech additive breaks the polymer chain from approximately 30,000 Daltons to less than 5,000 Daltons after the product's predefined time-stall date.
• Stage 2 - Biological consumption: Bacteria and microorganisms consume the resulting ketones, converting them into air, water, and approximately 1% harmless biomass.
• Customizable degradation window: The time-stall before degradation begins can be tuned from 6 months to 4 years following manufacturing.

Key features:

• Maintains oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) performance comparable to standard multilayered packaging
• Fully compatible with existing PP and PE manufacturing infrastructure
• Preserves recyclability of the base plastic
• Produces zero microplastics upon full degradation

Certifications achieved:

• ASTM 6954 Tier 1 (passed and certified)
• No microplastics verification (Weipu, post ASTM 6954 Tier 1)
• EN 13130-1 (QIMA)
• FDA food contact compliance
• EN 1935/2004
• EU 2020/2145
• EN 1186-1
• GBT-20197 (China)

Technology readiness level

RAWS-Tech is commercially deployed and in active use. Several of the largest PP and PE manufacturers in China are currently manufacturing, testing, and developing products incorporating the additive. Fortune 50 companies in the United States are also engaged with the technology. Tier 2 and Tier 3 ASTM 6954 certifications were targeted for completion in Q3 2023. The additive is supplied as a drop-in solution that does not require retooling or process changes, positioning it for immediate scaling across food service, packaging, janitorial and sanitation, and medical supply applications.