RAWS is a masterbatch technology incorporated at 1–2% loading during standard plastic manufacturing. It introduces a redox catalyst that initiates polymer chain scission under defined conditions ,heat and humidity and/or moisture. Terminal bio-assimilation produces CO₂, CH₄, H₂O, biomass, and mineral salts. No microplastic fragments are generated.
The additive is compatible with PE, PP, and PET. Primary target applications are hard-to-recycle plastics: t-shirt bags, agricultural films, flexible packaging, nonwovens, foodservice items, and polybags, categories with 0–5% real-world recycling rates.
A configurable stall date system (0–72 months) allows manufacturers to set degradation onset via proprietary thermal and UV blockers, preserving product shelf life and in-use performance while ensuring end-of-life behavior under real-world disposal conditions.
Validation has been conducted across multiple degradation environments and institutions: 99.62% mineralization under anaerobic/landfill conditions at ~996 days (ISO 15985/ASTM D5511) 51% aerobic biodegradation at Day 150 (ASTM D5338; AOX Lab); 87–92% molecular weight reduction in agricultural field conditions (Chinese Academy of Sciences); zero microplastics confirmed by LDIR spectroscopy, Zero heavy metals confirmed. Additional testing per ISO 24187 (Weipu Lab; HKPC Lab) and ISO 14855.
RAWS is distinct from oxo-degradable additives, which fragment polymers into persistent microplastics, and from compostable materials, which require specialized industrial infrastructure. It affirmatively satisfies the EU Directive 2019/904 Article 3(16) definition of biodegradable plastic and does not meet the Article 3(3) definition of oxo-degradable plastic.
Commercially deployed across t-shirt bags, shipping mailers, flexible packaging, and agricultural film. Distributed across the Americas by Activus Technologies LTD, LLC under exclusive rights granted by RAWS Technologies.
RAWS Tech Limited (manufacturer); 9 Industries Limited (worldwide distribution rights holder); Activus Technologies LTD, LLC (exclusive Americas distributor)
- Zero microplastics: LDIR spectroscopy confirms no micro or nanoplastic fragments are produced during or after degradation — a direct improvement over oxo-degradable additives.
- No heavy metals: Confirmed absent. The lanthanide-based catalyst contains no phthalates, BPA, or heavy metal stabilizers associated with conventional plastic additives.
- Real-world end-of-life performance: Measured biodegradation under actual landfill, aerobic, composting, and agricultural soil conditions — not limited to controlled industrial composting infrastructure.
- Addresses non-recyclable plastic categories: Targets the 0–5% recycled fraction of PE/PP flexible and single-use formats, reducing long-term environmental persistence.
- Configurable degradation timing: Stall date system ensures product integrity in use; degradation activates only under disposal conditions, reducing unintended environmental release during product lifecycle.
- Regulatory alignment: Compliant with Colombia Ley 2232/Resolución 0803 (50% biodegradation within 3 years threshold). Positioned affirmatively under EU Directive 2019/904 biodegradable plastic definition.
- ISO 15985 / ASTM D5511 — Anaerobic biodegradation, Northern Illinois University; NAMI; Beijing Notion Technology
- ASTM D5338 / ISO 14855 — Aerobic/composting biodegradation, AOX Lab
- ISO 24187:2023— Weipu Lab; HKPC Lab
- LDIR microplastics analysis — Northern Illinois University
- SEM polymer morphology (8000x) — Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Agricultural field trial molecular weight analysis — Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Patent: US20220041848A1; PCT/USPTO Application 63/926,137
- EU Directive 2019/904 Articles 3(3) and 3(16)
- Colombia Resolución 0803 / Ley 2232
