• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the FDA clearance for Clariant’s Licocare RBW product portfolio from polyester materials to rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials, effective May 7, 2026.
• All Licocare RBW grades are now FDA-approved for use in rigid PVC, covering dual application scopes: direct food contact (up to 0.5% loading) and food processing equipment (up to 1% loading).
• Complementing the existing authorisation from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), this latest approval further consolidates Clariant’s market position as a provider of globally compliant and sustainable food contact solutions.
• The rice bran wax additive offers a renewable alternative to fossil-based products and addresses ongoing supply challenges of montan wax.

June 25, 2026 – Clariant has obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its bio-based Licocare™ RBW wax additives for use in rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) food contact applications. Effective May 7, 2026, this authorisation extends the company’s existing FDA certification from polyester materials to rigid PVC.

The approval covers the full Licocare RBW product range, including the RBW 100 series, RBW 300 series, as well as Licocare RBW 360 Vita and RBW 560 Vita grades. Approved as processing aids, lubricants, release agents and slip agents, these additives are suitable for single-use and reusable rigid PVC applications for all food types, excluding those in contact with infant formula and breast milk.

For direct food contact applications, the additive is authorised at a maximum loading level of 0.5% by weight under FDA’s Class C to H use conditions, with a maximum temperature of 80℃C for hot-fill applications. Clariant has also received a Letter of No Objection (LONO) permitting its repeated use in rigid PVC food contact articles for food processing equipment at a maximum concentration of 1%.

This dual authorisation enables versatile application scenarios, including rigid PVC containers, packaging materials, as well as components for food processing equipment such as conveyor belts, cutting boards, storage vessels, seals and gaskets. The differentiated concentration limits allow formulators to adjust specifications according to specific application requirements while maintaining full regulatory compliance.

The latest FDA approval supplements the existing regulatory clearances for Clariant’s Licocare RBW product portfolio. In February 2026, the European Commission granted authorisation for the same product range for use in PET, PLA and rigid PVC materials based on a positive opinion from the EFSA. The company also holds relevant approvals from Japan’s food safety authorities. The combined multi-region certifications provide robust regulatory compliance guarantees for manufacturers operating in major international markets.

Diederik Goyvaerts, Marketing Manager Additives at Clariant, commented: “The FDA approval of Licocare RBW additives for rigid PVC applications underscores Clariant’s commitment to delivering sustainable solutions that meet the highest regulatory standards across multiple jurisdictions. This authorisation represents years of dedicated efforts, opening up significant opportunities for manufacturers to transition to renewable alternatives while ensuring full food safety compliance across North American and European markets.”

Derived from rice bran wax, Licocare RBW additives deliver a substantially reduced carbon footprint compared with conventional fossil-based montan wax, serving as a viable renewable substitute. The industry is currently facing persistent montan wax supply constraints, as the raw material is extracted from continuously depleting lignite coal deposits in Germany, leading to supply disruptions and price volatility.

The rice bran wax additives offer multiple processing advantages, including excellent lubrication, release performance, nucleation effects and improved dispersion properties. Fully biodegradable and industrially compostable, the products meet the end-of-life sustainability disposal requirements for packaging materials. Their production process also avoids the land degradation and biodiversity negative impacts associated with lignite mining for montan wax extraction.

The FDA approval for rigid PVC applications continues Clariant’s strategy of securing cross-material and cross-border regulatory authorisations. With successive approvals from the FDA, EFSA and Japanese regulatory bodies, Clariant has established a comprehensive global compliance framework for its bio-based Licocare RBW product portfolio, providing solid regulatory support for manufacturers adopting renewable alternatives in food contact applications.