Cove sets sights on biodegradable water bottles through RWDC Industries PHA agreement

17 May 2021 --- California-based material innovator Cove has entered into an exclusive partnership with RWDC Industries for the supply of PHA biopolymers to produce “the first” entirely biodegradable water bottle, which Cove plans to launch later this year.

Under the partnership agreement, RWDC will supply Cove with 350 million pounds of PHA over five years, enabling the production of “hundreds of millions of bottles in just a few short years.”

RWDC’s proprietary PHA is described as a sustainably sourced, naturally occurring biopolymer.

Based in Athens (Greece), Georgia (US) and Singapore, the biopolymer supplier uses plant-based oils, including post-consumer or used cooking oils, to produce PHA, which it has branded Solon.

The biotech company combines expertise in PHA properties and applications with the engineering know-how to reach a cost-effective industrial scale. The company was founded by Daniel Carraway and Roland Wee.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Daniel and his team, who have been at the center of PHA innovation over the past two decades,” says Alex Totterman, Cove’s CEO and founder.

Pursuing aggressive growth
After an extensive, three-year research and development effort, during which Cove worked with several PHA producers, the company determined RWDC has “the most advanced technology and is the best-suited partner for aggressive growth.”

Cove indicates it already has large retail deals in place for its first product launch – the water bottle – later this year.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Cove team to make PHA-based water bottles a reality,” adds Dr. Daniel Carraway, RWDC’s co-founder and CEO.

“In a world where over one million plastic bottles are purchased per minute, our collaboration is an important step toward providing materials that enable healthier options for people and the environment.”

The Cove and RWDC partnership is supported by an exclusive agreement for the use of Solon for beverage bottles and closure products.

In the future, Cove plans to produce products in other categories in its mission to accelerate the adoption of sustainable materials like PHA.

PackagingInsights discussed PHA in more depth with Stephen Croskrey, Danimer Scientific CEO, after the company listed on the New York Stock Exchange at the start of the year.

Danimer Scientific’s signature polymer – Nodax PHA – is a 100 percent biodegradable and renewable bioplastic produced using canola oil as a primary feedstock.

Edited by Joshua Poole