Clariant secures EU approval for rice bran wax additives in food packaging

Clariant has received approval from the European Commission for its renewable rice bran wax additives used in food-contact plastics, following a positive safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority.

The authorisation was published under EU Regulation 2026/245, which amends Annex I of Regulation 10/2011 governing plastic materials intended for food contact. The decision allows the use of Clariant’s Licocare RBW product line across the European plastics industry in applications that come into contact with food.

The approval covers the Licocare RBW 100–300 series, including Licocare RBW 360 Vita and RBW 560 Vita. According to Clariant, the additives can be used at concentrations of up to 0.3% in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA) and rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials designed for contact with non-fatty foods.

The authorisation includes packaging used at room temperature or below and applications such as hot filling and heating up to 100°C for periods of up to two hours. The regulation entered into force on February 23, this year.

Clariant said the decision strengthens its global regulatory framework for rice bran wax additives. The company noted that the products already hold food-contact approvals from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Japan’s food safety authorities, allowing manufacturers to use them across multiple international markets.

According to Diederik Goyvaerts, segment manager for additives at Clariant, the approval follows several years of regulatory work and reflects the company’s effort to provide renewable materials that meet strict food safety requirements. He said the decision will allow European manufacturers to adopt bio-based alternatives while remaining compliant with regulatory standards.

The approval also comes as manufacturers face supply pressures for montan wax, a material extracted from lignite coal deposits. Industry sources said deposits in Germany are gradually depleting, which has led to supply disruptions and rising prices.

Clariant said its rice bran wax additives offer a renewable alternative with comparable performance while reducing reliance on fossil resources. The company added that the materials are biodegradable and industrially compostable, supporting sustainability goals in food packaging.

Clariant furthered that the additives provide processing benefits including lubrication, mould release, nucleation effects and improved dispersion. These properties make them suitable for a range of packaging applications such as beverage bottles, food containers and protective packaging.

With the EU authorisation now in place, Clariant said its Licocare RBW product line is supported by approvals across major markets, positioning the company to supply manufacturers seeking internationally compliant and renewable additive solutions.

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