The startup develops a clay-based additive that enhances the properties of polyethylene terephthalate plastics, improving gas barrier, strength, and ultraviolet resistance. This technology enables manufacturers to reduce plastic usage in packaging while extending product shelf life and minimizing environmental impact.
Funding
$4.9M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
The accumulation of plastic waste poses a significant environmental challenge, with billions of pounds ending up in the environment annually. Traditional plastic packaging contributes to this problem, and there is a need for solutions that reduce plastic consumption and minimize environmental impact.
Solution
BERKM offers a clay-based additive designed to enhance the material properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics. This additive improves gas barrier, strength, heat resistance, and ultraviolet (UV) resistance, enabling manufacturers to reduce the amount of plastic required for packaging. By incorporating this additive, manufacturers can extend product shelf life, reduce plastic consumption by 8-20% per package, and contribute to a more sustainable environment. The technology serves as a platform to improve properties of a broad range of polymers.
Target Audience
The primary customers are manufacturers in the packaging industry, particularly those producing PET plastic packaging for food, beverage, and other consumer goods.
Features
- Clay-based additive for PET plastics
- Improves gas barrier properties by up to 29X
- Increases flexural strength by up to 66%
- Enhances heat distortion temperature by up to 37%
- Boosts UV light resistance by up to 52X
- Reduces plastic material per PET packaging by 8-20%
- Platform catalyst technology for polyester production that increases productivity by 4X
- Heavy metal-free Aluminum-Magnesium double hydroxide