Specialty chemicals company Clariant has secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization for its bio-based Licocare RBW additive range for use in rigid PVC food-contact applications, expanding the regulatory scope of the company’s renewable wax technology portfolio.
The authorization, effective from May 2026, extends Clariant’s existing FDA approvals beyond polyester applications to include rigid PVC materials used in food-contact environments. The approval covers the company’s Licocare RBW product family, which is derived from rice bran wax and is designed to function as a processing aid, lubricant, release agent, and slip additive in PVC formulations.
According to Clariant, the additives are approved for use in rigid PVC applications involving direct food contact at specified concentration limits and operating conditions. The authorization also includes certain food-processing equipment applications manufactured from rigid PVC.
The development comes as the plastics industry continues to explore renewable alternatives to conventional wax additives, particularly amid ongoing supply constraints affecting montan wax, a traditional fossil-derived material used in polymer processing. Industry participants have reported increasing interest in alternative feedstocks that can provide comparable processing performance while improving supply chain resilience.
Rice bran wax-based additives are attracting attention because they are sourced from agricultural by-products and can offer lubrication, mould release, nucleation, and dispersion benefits in polymer processing applications. Clariant has stated that the Licocare RBW range is intended to provide a renewable alternative for formulators seeking bio-based solutions within food-contact packaging and processing applications.
The FDA authorization further strengthens the company’s regulatory position in food-contact materials. Earlier this year, the European Commission authorized the use of the same additive family in PET, PLA, and rigid PVC applications following a positive assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The products also hold approvals in Japan, providing regulatory coverage across several major packaging markets.
For the PVC industry, the approval highlights the growing role of renewable additives in food-contact applications as manufacturers increasingly evaluate sustainability, regulatory compliance, and raw material diversification alongside traditional performance requirements.
As packaging producers continue to balance performance, compliance, and environmental objectives, developments such as FDA authorization for bio-based additives may contribute to broader adoption of renewable materials within rigid PVC formulations.