DBC · PATENTED INNOVATION & INDUSTRY PRACTICE

BIOTEN evidence chain

DBC advances PHA waterborne-barrier innovation through patents, materials engineering and application collaboration. Explore the granted inventions, material certifications, industrial-trial disclosures and industry project records behind that work.

From need to application, check each level

Read up from level 01. Each level answers one question, and evidence on a lower level never stands in for a higher one. Every record states what it shows and what it does not, with the original source and the date it was checked.

01Why it is neededWhat are regulation and markets asking paper packaging to change?10 public sourcesRegulation6Industry reference4
02MechanismWhich face of the paper does the functional layer work on, and what does it hold back?23 public sourcesPaper7Method standard3Public register2Company disclosure2
03Raw-material statusWhere do PHA raw materials sit on food-contact lists?5 public sourcesRegulation4Public register
04BIOTEN product evidenceWhat certifications and tests has BIOTEN made public for the product itself?7 public sourcesPublic register3Third-party certification2Report excerptCompany disclosure
05Application validationDoes it hold for your pack, your line and your conditions?Awaiting validation 101 proposed routes Start with one target product

Solid: public evidenceDotted: supported, conditions to checkDashed: not startedCopper in the ladder: the BIOTEN functional layer (level 04)

Why it is needed

What are regulation and markets asking paper packaging to change?

10 public sources

The rules now carry dates: the EU PPWR has restricted PFAS in food-contact packaging since 12 Aug 2026, and China's GB 4806.10-2025, in force since 2 Sept 2026, spells out requirements for coated paper products. These thresholds apply to every pack, so they are nobody's selling point; no BIOTEN finished pack has been assessed against the PPWR.

EV-001RegulationArticle 5(5) of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40: from 12 August 2026, food-contact packaging may not be placed on the EU market if it contains PFAS at or above 25 ppb for any targeted PFAS, 250 ppb for the sum of targeted PFAS, or 50 ppm for PFAS including polymeric PFAS; where total fluorine exceeds 50 mg/kg, the supply chain must on request show how much comes from PFAS and how much from non-PFAS sources.2026-08-12 · European Parliament and Council of the EU, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (EUR-Lex)

Shows: The EU sets legally binding PFAS limits for food-contact packaging, so paper packs that relied on fluorinated grease-proofing need grease and barrier routes that do not depend on PFAS.
Does not show: It does not show that any BIOTEN material, coated paper or finished pack complies; the limits apply to packaging placed on the market and must be assessed on the complete pack with defined analytes and methods; nor is it a global definition of 'PFAS-free'.
Object: Food-contact packaging placed on the EU market

View sourceRegulation · European Parliament and Council of the EU, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (EUR-Lex) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-002RegulationPPWR Article 6: all packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable, i.e. designed for material recycling and able to be separately collected, sorted and recycled at scale. Design-for-recycling applies from 1 January 2030 (or 24 months after the relevant delegated acts, whichever is later) and 'recycled at scale' from 2035; packaging must reach grade A, B or C from 2030 and A or B from 2038.2026-08-12 · European Parliament and Council of the EU, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (EUR-Lex)

Shows: Functional layers on paper packs will be graded on whether the pack fits existing paper recycling, which makes repulpability a design constraint.
Does not show: It does not show that PHA-coated paper or any BIOTEN finished pack is recyclable or meets a grade; design-for-recycling criteria and grading for fibre packs still depend on delegated acts.
Object: All packaging placed on the EU market

View sourceRegulation · European Parliament and Council of the EU, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (EUR-Lex) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-003Industry referenceNew Jersey S1042/A1421 (Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act) was signed on 12 January 2026; according to Keller and Heckman, it restricts intentionally used PFAS in fibre-based food packaging, with the ban and the (cookware) labelling requirement effective from 12 January 2028 and technically unavoidable trace impurities exempted.2026-01-12 · Keller and Heckman LLP (PackagingLaw.com)

Shows: US state restrictions on intentionally added PFAS in fibre-based food packaging are widening, creating demand to replace fluorinated grease-proof papers.
Does not show: The bill text was not read for this ledger; it makes no compliance finding for any BIOTEN product; the legal meaning of 'intentionally added' follows the act.
Object: Fibre-based food packaging sold in New Jersey

View sourceIndustry reference · Keller and Heckman LLP (PackagingLaw.com) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-004RegulationCalifornia SB 343: CalRecycle states that the recyclability-labelling limits were due to apply to products and packaging made after 4 October 2026; on 14 July 2026 a federal court issued a preliminary injunction in California League of Food Producers v. Bonta (No. 3:26-CV-01675, S.D. Cal.) that only blocks enforcement, and the 4 October deadline may be affected by the litigation. According to a law-firm summary, criteria for recyclable claims include 60% collection and sorting coverage and no intentionally added PFAS or PFAS at or above 100 ppm total organic fluorine.2026-07-14 · CalRecycle (official page); Seyfarth Shaw LLP via JD Supra (criteria summary)

Shows: In the US, 'recyclable' claims are tied to real facility coverage and PFAS conditions; even with enforcement paused, functional layers need evidence able to support a lawful claim.
Does not show: Enforcement is currently enjoined and the outcome is open; it does not show that any BIOTEN-coated paper may be labelled recyclable in California; the PFAS criterion comes from a law-firm summary, not the statute text.
Object: Products and packaging sold in California carrying recyclability claims

View sourceRegulation · CalRecycle (official page); Seyfarth Shaw LLP via JD Supra (criteria summary) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-005RegulationChina's GB 4806.10-2025 on food-contact paints and coatings took effect on 2 September 2026, replacing the 2016 version; the Beijing Administration for Market Regulation's official explainer says it sets safety requirements for inner coatings on paper products such as hot-drink cups and burger wraps, brings indirect-contact coatings under control and expands permitted base materials from 105 to 346.2026-09-02 · 国家卫生健康委员会、国家市场监督管理总局（标准）；北京市市场监督管理局（官方解读）

Shows: In China, food-contact coatings on paper must meet positive-list and migration requirements, so functional-layer suppliers need traceable raw-material identity and compliance files.
Does not show: It does not show that any BIOTEN coating or paper product complies; finished articles must also meet GB 4806.8 and other applicable standards and be tested for the actual food and conditions of use.
Object: Food-contact paints and coatings used in China, including coatings on paper

View sourceRegulation · 国家卫生健康委员会、国家市场监督管理总局（标准）；北京市市场监督管理局（官方解读） · checked 2026-10-22

EV-006RegulationA notice issued on 4 January 2026 by MOFCOM and eight other agencies to promote green consumption encourages retailers to cut single-use plastic bags, supports bamboo-for-plastic products, enforces reporting on single-use plastic use and recovery, guides the use of environmentally friendly degradable packaging materials and promotes reusable express packaging.2026-01-04 · 商务部、国家发展改革委等9部门（新华网刊发）

Shows: Chinese policy keeps pushing to cut single-use plastics and green packaging, which gives context for fibre-based alternatives.
Does not show: The notice does not mention paper barrier coatings or PHA and is no policy endorsement or mandate for any BIOTEN product.
Object: Single-use plastics and packaging in Chinese retail, hospitality and express delivery

View sourceRegulation · 商务部、国家发展改革委等9部门（新华网刊发） · checked 2026-10-22

EV-007RegulationUK packaging EPR year-2 (2026/27) illustrative disposal fees (GOV.UK, updated 19 Dec 2025): paper and board GBP 190/210/250 per tonne for green/amber (base)/red; fibre-based composite GBP 475/525/630 per tonne; the page says the fees are illustrative for planning and likely to change as producers submit more data.2025-12-19 · Defra / GOV.UK

Shows: Category-based fees open a clear cost gap between packs treated as paper and board and fibre-based composites, giving an economic reason for repulpable, low-coating-load designs.
Does not show: It does not establish that PHA-coated paper is classed as paper and board rather than fibre-based composite in the UK; classification follows that year's UK rules and RAM assessment; the fees are illustrative.
Object: UK EPR packaging material categories and fees

View sourceRegulation · Defra / GOV.UK · checked 2026-10-22

EV-008Industry referenceFoodservice Packaging Institute data reported by Packaging Dive on 11 May 2026: about 20% of the US population has residential recycling access for paper cups, and North American mills accepting cups fell from more than 40 in 2024 to 35.2026-05-11 · Foodservice Packaging Institute (reported by Packaging Dive)

Shows: Whether cups are recycled depends on mill acceptance and collection access, so cup structures that mills will accept are in real demand.
Does not show: It does not show that any coating, PHA included, is more readily accepted by mills; the report does not define 'access'.
Object: US paper-cup recycling infrastructure

View sourceIndustry reference · Foodservice Packaging Institute (reported by Packaging Dive) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-009Industry referenceThe PaperFlex consortium, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and run by (RE)SET with Nestlé, PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, P&G and Unilever, pushes paper-based alternatives to flexible plastics that must protect products, keep them fresh and run on lines; the Foundation's plastics strategy lead said responsible paper-based flexibles do not yet exist at the required performance, scale and cost (Just Food, 16 Sep 2026).2026-09-16 · Just Food

Shows: Global brands are actively seeking fibre-based alternatives while admitting gaps in performance, scale and cost, so functional layers must prove themselves with whole-pack data.
Does not show: It does not involve BIOTEN or PHA and implies no adoption or endorsement of any material by these brands.
Object: Paper-based flexible packaging development by FMCG brands

View sourceIndustry reference · Just Food · checked 2026-10-22

EV-010Industry referenceNestlé's Nespresso is discontinuing its paper-based coffee capsules (Packaging Europe, 14 Oct 2026): citing consumer feedback and product quality, it says aluminium remains the best choice for aroma and that the paper capsules were not more sustainable than aluminium, with a comparable footprint.2026-10-14 · Packaging Europe

Shows: Paperisation is not automatic: if protection falls short the pack is withdrawn, and 'greener' needs like-for-like life-cycle evidence, which is why an evidence ladder is used.
Does not show: It does not involve PHA or BIOTEN and does not mean every paper capsule or fibre barrier fails.
Object: Coffee capsules (paper-based versus aluminium)

View sourceIndustry reference · Packaging Europe · checked 2026-10-22

Mechanism

Which face of the paper does the functional layer work on, and what does it hold back?

23 public sources

In a waterborne barrier coating, the barrier comes from a continuous film on the paper: whether the film forms fully and whether it cracks at folds and seals decide whether it holds back water, grease or vapour. This level lists peer-reviewed literature, test methods and two granted Chinese invention patents (CN120250392B, CN120925356B; owners and legal status per CNIPA). A patent describes a technical solution, not how a product runs on your board and line.

EV-011PaperA peer-reviewed study (Lo Faro, Menozzi, Licciardello and Fava, Applied Sciences 2021, 11(17):8058) coated paper with PHBV and PCL: water-vapour transmission of coated samples generally fell; PHBV and PCL coatings with 20% PEG showed low wettability; the abstract reports better grease resistance for PCL-coated paper but no grease improvement for PHBV.2021-09-01 · MDPI Applied Sciences

Shows: A PHA-family polymer (PHBV) used as a paper coating can improve moisture barrier and water repellency in the lab; grease resistance depends on the formulation and cannot be inferred from the name 'PHA'.
Does not show: The study covers lab-coated PHBV/PCL papers, not BIOTEN formulations, P34HB systems or finished packs, and says nothing on food contact, repulping or composting.
Object: Lab paper samples coated with PHBV and PCL

View sourcePaper · MDPI Applied Sciences · checked 2026-10-22

EV-012Method standardTAPPI T 559 cm-22 (Kit test) was designed mainly as a surface-repellency test for fluorochemical-sized papers; its use on film-like barriers or non-fluorochemical treatments has to be evaluated.2022-01-01 · TAPPI

Shows: Fluorine-free grease barriers rely on continuous films rather than low-surface-energy fluorochemical treatment, so test methods must match the mechanism; a Kit value alone cannot prove the grease performance of a fluorine-free coating.
Does not show: The method scope gives no BIOTEN Kit data or grease conclusion.
Object: Grease-resistance test method for paper and board

View sourceMethod standard · TAPPI · checked 2026-10-22

EV-013Method standardCepi's Recyclability Laboratory Test Method Version 3 (published 13 March 2025) emulates a standard mill recycling common paper and board grades (pulping, screening, sheet formation), excludes flotation deinking and other special processes, and can be combined with the 4evergreen recyclability evaluation protocol.2025-03-13 · Cepi

Shows: 'Repulpable' must be tested on the complete structure with a mill-simulating method and read against an evaluation protocol, the evidence form a recyclability claim needs.
Does not show: A lab result does not mean local collection or mill acceptance exists; it provides no repulping result for any BIOTEN-coated paper.
Object: Laboratory recyclability method for paper and board packaging

View sourceMethod standard · Cepi · checked 2026-10-22

EV-014Method standardASTM D6868-21 (active) covers end items that incorporate plastics or polymers as coatings or additives with paper and other substrates and are designed to be composted in municipal or industrial aerobic facilities; BPI uses ASTM D6400 as its base standard with optional D6868/D8410 assessment, and since 1 January 2020 has required certified products to have no intentionally added fluorinated chemicals, a total fluorine test below 100 ppm and a formulation review.2021-02-10 · ASTM International; Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)

Shows: Compostability of coated paper is judged on the whole item for a defined facility type, and BPI certification implies passing its fluorinated-chemicals rule.
Does not show: D6868 addresses municipal and industrial facilities and does not extend to home, soil or marine settings; the scheme text gives no certification result for any BIOTEN finished item.
Object: Compostability standard for coated paper items and BPI certification rules

View sourceMethod standard · ASTM International; Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-015Public registerChinese invention patent CN120250392B, 'A PHA/PVA nano-scale paper-based barrier emulsion and its preparation method and application', application CN202510673202.0, filed 23 May 2025 and granted 9 September 2025; Google Patents lists Zhongke Lianhua Co ltd and Dbc New Material Technology Shanghai Co ltd as patentees (Chinese names per the CNIPA register).2025-09-09 · China National Intellectual Property Administration (bibliographic data via Google Patents)

Shows: The DBC group holds a granted invention patent on a PHA/PVA nano-emulsion that forms a barrier coating on paper, and the text is public.
Does not show: The grant does not mean any grade, 4108 included, practises the patent, nor does it prove performance, food-contact compliance or freedom to operate; current legal status must be checked in the CNIPA register (Google's 'Active' is an assumption).
Object: Granted invention patent

View sourcePublic register · China National Intellectual Property Administration (bibliographic data via Google Patents) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-016Public registerChinese invention patent CN120925356B, 'Polyhydroxyalkanoate aqueous barrier coating composition and application thereof', application CN202511467397.X, filed 14 October 2025 and granted 12 December 2025; Google Patents lists Dbc Group Co ltd, Huantushi Coating Co ltd, Zhongke Lianhua Co ltd and Dbc New Material Technology Shanghai Co ltd as patentees (Chinese names per the CNIPA register).2025-12-12 · China National Intellectual Property Administration (bibliographic data via Google Patents)

Shows: The DBC group holds a granted invention patent on a waterborne barrier coating composition with PHA as the main film former, and the text is public.
Does not show: The grant does not mean any grade, 4108 included, practises the patent, nor does it prove performance, food-contact compliance or freedom to operate; legal status must be checked in the CNIPA register.
Object: Granted invention patent

View sourcePublic register · China National Intellectual Property Administration (bibliographic data via Google Patents) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-017Company disclosureDBC's 'R&D and patent assets' page (evidence cut-off 24 July 2026) states 54 verified granted invention patents, 12 of which list 博碳（上海）生物材料有限公司 as patentee; 21 have titles involving paper or fibre, 16 of these also involving barriers, coatings, emulsions or structural resins; the page itself says a grant is no conclusion on performance, compliance or production and that legal status follows the CNIPA register.2026-07-24 · DBC 都佰城（dbc.cn）

Shows: A company-stated portfolio size and focus showing that the technical effort centres on paper barriers, PHA emulsions and coatings.
Does not show: The counts were not checked one by one for this ledger; grants are not product performance or compliance; legal status follows CNIPA.
Object: DBC/BIOTEN patent portfolio (company statement)

View sourceCompany disclosure · DBC 都佰城（dbc.cn） · checked 2026-10-22

EV-018Company disclosureDBC's article of 26 August 2026 proposes 'one face for barrier, one for protection, one core for reduction' for moulded fibre: a PHA waterborne barrier coating on the food-contact surface, a PHA waterborne varnish outside and a fibre-strengthening additive within the network, used singly or combined and validated per target article. The article itself says it only describes material positions and development direction, with food contact, barrier, strength, reduction and end-of-life subject to the exact SKU, final BOM and whole-article tests.2026-08-26 · DBC 都佰城（dbc.cn）

Shows: It publicly explains where BIOTEN's functional layers sit and what each does (inner barrier, outer protection, core reinforcement).
Does not show: These are not performance results and no reduction percentage is given; 'reduction' can only be quantified against dry weight per article and function under the same pulp, mould and conditions.
Object: Three-position functional layout for moulded-fibre articles (concept)

View sourceCompany disclosure · DBC 都佰城（dbc.cn） · checked 2026-10-22

MX-01ReviewFilm formation from an aqueous barrier dispersion is a process, not the act of coating: after water loss the polymer particles pack closely and must then deform, coalesce and interdiffuse above the minimum film-formation temperature (MFFT) to give a continuous film, and the dispersion's stabilizer/surfactant system changes the degree of coalescence and the film morphology. A continuous, defect-free film structure is the prerequisite for barrier performance.3 sources

What it means for a project: Record dry coat weight, measured web temperature and dwell time, solids content and stabilizer system as one variable set, rather than oven set-points or wet coat weight alone; establish the film-formation window on the target coating line and confirm that film formation is complete with barrier tests plus dye or microscopy pinhole checks.
Limits: Classical film-formation theory is built mainly on amorphous latexes; coalescence of semicrystalline polymers such as PHA is also governed by melting (see MX-03). Data from literature systems (e.g., styrene-acrylic latexes) cannot be transferred as process parameters for BIOTEN 4108.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Film formation of latex · Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports 21(3):101-170 (Elsevier) · 1997 An overview of polymer latex film formation and properties · Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 86(3):195-267 (Elsevier) · 2000 Film Formation Mechanism of Aqueous Polymer Particle Dispersions for Barrier Coating Applications · ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 17(25):37068-37080 (ACS) · 2025

MX-02PaperOn porous paper the dispersion partly penetrates the fibre network, so coating is first consumed in sealing pores and covering roughness before a continuous surface layer forms; barrier therefore changes non-linearly with dry coat weight. Pinholes can come from air bubbles during drying, particle agglomerates or base-paper defects, may run through the coating alone and become preferential paths for liquids and grease; when coatings are applied evenly in several layers, defects rarely align, and multilayer coatings with visible pinholes may still resist oil.3 sources

What it means for a project: When comparing candidate and incumbent materials, vary base-paper porosity/roughness, number of passes and dry coat weight separately so that densification or thickening of the base is not credited to the coating; determine the 'minimum effective dry coat weight' with dye pinhole tests and whole-article liquid/grease tests instead of adopting someone else's coat weight.
Limits: Threshold coat weights and pinhole densities depend on the specific base paper, formulation and equipment; the literature supports the mechanism only and provides no values for 4108.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Barrier properties and heat sealability/failure mechanisms of dispersion-coated paperboard · Packaging Technology and Science 15(4):209-224 (Wiley) · 2002 Converting and its effects on barrier properties of coated packaging materials: A review · BioResources 18(4):8707-8738 · 2023 Greaseproof paper products: A review emphasizing ecofriendly approaches · BioResources 15(1):1978-2004 · 2020

MX-03Official sourcePHA is a semicrystalline polyester, and its dispersion particles generally do not coalesce into a dense film on drying at ambient temperature: an early PHA-latex patent reports that air-dried films heated 30 °C below Tm fused only moderately and stayed white, opaque and microporous, while coated paper needed heat and/or pressure treatment for the coating to fuse and adhere. The melting point of PHB homopolymer (~180 °C) lies close to its thermal-degradation temperature (~200 °C), leaving a narrow processing window; 3HHx or 4HB comonomer units lower crystallinity and melting point (in PHBH roughly −40 °C per +10 mol% 3HHx) and widen the window, while bacterial P(3HB-co-4HB) may be a blend of mutually immiscible fractions of different composition.3 sources

What it means for a project: For 4108-type aqueous PHA coatings, set the 'film-formation temperature' from the melting distribution (DSC) of the PHA actually used and the measured web heat history, together with an upper bound (thermal degradation, discolouration/odour, board curl and blocking); comonomer content, its distribution and batch-to-batch variation belong in raw-material acceptance, not only the average 4HB/3HHx content.
Limits: The patent example is not performance validation, and literature values come from specific grades or samples. The actual composition of 4108 (including any non-PHA polymers or film-formation aids) is not public; this statement covers material-class mechanisms only.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

US Patent 5,451,456: Latex of poly-beta-hydroxyalkanoates for treating fiber constructs and coating paper (Marchessault, LePoutre, Wrist) · United States Patent and Trademark Office · 1995 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH): Synthesis, properties, and applications - A review · European Polymer Journal 167:111044 (Elsevier) · 2022 Comonomer unit composition and thermal properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)s biosynthesized by Ralstonia eutropha · Biomacromolecules 2(4):1285-1293 (ACS) · 2001

MX-04PaperHeat-seal quality is governed mainly by the maximum temperature reached at the interface during sealing, not by the jaw set-point: dwell time need only bring the interface to that temperature, pressure need only bring the surfaces into intimate contact, and excess temperature and pressure deform the seal area; for semicrystalline polymers, seal-initiation temperature and the rise of seal strength track the melting distribution. Paperboard delays heat reaching the interface; aqueous dispersion coatings can seal at relatively low temperatures, but measured seal forces are often capped by board delamination (fibre tear), failure is mainly cohesive within the board, and formulation details such as the neutralizing agent change interfacial adhesion.3 sources

What it means for a project: Seal validation for cups, bowls and trays should record measured interface temperature–time profiles, pressure and cooling, and set the window from the PHA's DSC melting distribution; interpret results by failure mode (fibre tear / interfacial peel / coating cohesive) rather than a single peak force, with ASTM F88 strip strength as an aid and whole-article leakage and opening behaviour as the decisive criteria.
Limits: The quantitative interface-temperature and melting-distribution relationships come from polyethylene films, and the low-temperature sealing data from other aqueous dispersions; PHA crystallizes slowly, so seal setting on cooling and later strength changes must be measured separately.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Heat sealing of semicrystalline polymer films. I. Calculation and measurement of interfacial temperatures: Effect of process variables on seal properties · Journal of Applied Polymer Science 51(1):89-103 (Wiley) · 1994 Heat sealing of semicrystalline polymer films. II. Effect of melting distribution on heat-sealing behavior of polyolefins · Journal of Applied Polymer Science 51(1):105-119 (Wiley) · 1994 Barrier, converting, and tray-forming properties of paperboard packaging materials coated with waterborne dispersions · Packaging Technology and Science (Wiley) · 2023

MX-05PaperPHA has a glass-transition temperature below room temperature and crystallizes slowly, so after moulding or film formation it continues to crystallize (secondary crystallization) at room temperature and its mechanical properties change with storage time: moulded PHB lost maximum elongation from about 40% to below 10% after two weeks at ambient conditions, and PHBH likewise shows rising crystallinity and falling ductility with ageing; a suitable annealing treatment largely suppresses subsequent ageing of PHB.3 sources

What it means for a project: Crease cracking, curl/score behaviour, seal peel and low-temperature impact should be tested on both freshly made material and material stored under the intended warehouse conditions (several application plans already do this); drying/curing heat history should be written into the specification as a controlled process variable.
Limits: The numbers come from moulded PHB and bulk PHBH; the extent and time scale of ageing in thin coatings on paper must be measured on the actual coating.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Crystallization phenomena in bacterial poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]: 2. Embrittlement and rejuvenation · Polymer 34(19):4089-4094 (Elsevier) · 1993 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH): Synthesis, properties, and applications - A review · European Polymer Journal 167:111044 (Elsevier) · 2022 The chemomechanical properties of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates · Progress in Polymer Science 38(3-4):536-583 (Elsevier) · 2013

MX-06PaperA face coating does not cover the raw cut edge of board: liquid can enter laterally from the cut through the fibre network and fibre lumens, with the inner overlap of the side seam, the bottom curl and die-cut edges as typical entry points. Even at similar sizing levels (HST), board with thicker fibre walls and lumens that stay open after pressing wicks markedly more, because freshly exposed fibre walls and lumens at the cut are not protected by sizing agent; in capillary networks, pinning at corners and pressure in dead-end pores can also slow or stop penetration. China's GB 4806.10-2025 (clause 3.3) likewise requires coating users to control coating-derived risks through packaging design such as seams and edges.3 sources

What it means for a project: Edge wicking is primarily a task for the board (fibre structure, sizing) and the seam design (overlap, skiving/hemming, bottom curl); a coating candidate should only be required not to worsen edge behaviour. Fix the board lot when comparing, and use the target hot beverage or liquid for edge-wicking and whole-cup leak-point mapping.
Limits: The literature tested highly sized board and model pore networks; wicking for a given cup format, seam method and liquid temperature must be measured on the actual cup.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Impact of fiber structure on edge-wicking of highly-sized paperboard · TAPPI Journal 17(8):437 · 2018 Edge-wicking: Micro-fluidics of two-dimensional liquid penetration into porous structures · Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal 27(2):403-408 · 2012 GB 4806.10-2025 食品安全国家标准食品接触材料及制品用涂料及涂层（第3.3条；表2脚注b；附录A表A.1第5项） · 国家卫生健康委员会、国家市场监督管理总局 · 2025

MX-07ReviewCoated board is locally stretched during creasing, folding and forming, and pinholes and cracks form when strain exceeds the coating's failure strain: studies found pinholes on the coated surface regardless of the creasing toolset, with the deepest defects oriented along the machine direction and correlating with measured loss of oil resistance, and boards with good oxygen, moisture or oil barrier as flat sheets can lose barrier markedly after converting. Leak-proof sealing of tray flanges is sensitive to sealing pressure, and there is an upper limit to the crease depth that can be sealed tight.3 sources

What it means for a project: Acceptance should be done on converted samples: measure barrier and dye penetration after folding or forming, sampling MD and CD separately; for cups, bowls and trays, leak mapping should first examine the side-seam step, bottom knurl, rim curl and creased corners, with flat-sheet data used only for screening.
Limits: The data come from other bio-based or dispersion coatings and specific tooling; the failure strain of PHA coatings, and its change after ageing, must be measured (see MX-05).
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Converting and its effects on barrier properties of coated packaging materials: A review · BioResources 18(4):8707-8738 · 2023 Investigating the Convertibility and Barrier Performance of a Novel Suberin Dispersion Coating During the Paperboard Creasing Process · Packaging Technology and Science (Wiley) · 2024 Leakproof Heat Sealing of Paperboard Trays - Effect of Sealing Pressure and Crease Geometry · BioResources 10(4):6906-6916 · 2015

MX-08StandardGrease penetration is capillary flow of a non-polar liquid through pores and defects. By the Lucas–Washburn mechanism, penetration is prevented when the liquid's contact angle on pore walls exceeds 90° or the pores are very small: fluorochemical treatments repel oil by lowering fibre surface energy without forming a continuous film, whereas highly refined/parchmentized dense papers and continuous polymer films close the pathways. TAPPI T 559 (Kit) applies castor oil–toluene–n-heptane test liquids for 15 s at room temperature and was designed primarily for fluorochemical surface treatments, so its use for film-like or non-fluorochemical barriers must first be evaluated; real failures over longer times, at higher temperatures and at creases require whole-article or long-duration grease-penetration tests (e.g., ASTM F119 as used in the literature).3 sources

What it means for a project: For a fluorine-free PHA coating, grease validation should run: flat-sheet Kit screening to creased or formed samples to whole-article oil penetration with the target food, temperature and duration; release should rest on real post-crease leakage rather than Kit rating (consistent with most platform validation plans).
Limits: There is no general conversion between Kit ratings and long-duration penetration, and most long-duration data in the literature concern other coating systems.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

TAPPI T 559 cm-22 Grease resistance test for paper and paperboard (Kit test; scope) · TAPPI · 2022 Greaseproof paper products: A review emphasizing ecofriendly approaches · BioResources 15(1):1978-2004 · 2020 Converting and its effects on barrier properties of coated packaging materials: A review · BioResources 18(4):8707-8738 · 2023

MX-09ReviewLiquid-water absorption and water-vapour transmission are different transport processes: internal sizing (AKD, ASA, rosin) raises water resistance yet gives poor oil/grease barrier, while starch, chitosan or alginate coatings resist oil but have poor moisture resistance without modification, so each barrier must be evaluated separately. Cobb (ISO 535) measures one-sided water uptake in a set time and, in the 2023 edition, does not apply to paper below 50 g/m² or embossed paper (ISO 8787 suits highly absorbent papers); WVTR is steady-state transmission at stated temperature and humidity, the ISO 2528 dish method is not recommended below 1 g/(m²·d) or above 3 mm thickness and has an annex for creased specimens, and TAPPI T 464 tests at 37.8 °C with 90% RH on one side, so results under different conditions are not directly comparable.3 sources

What it means for a project: Choose methods by failure pathway in each application: Cobb plus whole-article liquid holding for liquid contact or condensation; WVTR at stated conditions (including creased specimens) plus whole-pack weight gain for shelf-life moisture; and suitable alternative methods for light wrapping papers. Reports must state temperature, humidity and specimen state.
Limits: The standard abstracts define method scope only and give no values for any paper or PHA coating.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their alternatives in paper food packaging · Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 20(3):2596-2625 (Wiley) · 2021 ISO 535:2023 Paper and board - Determination of water absorptiveness - Cobb method (scope) · ISO · 2023 ISO 2528:2017 Sheet materials - Determination of water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) - Gravimetric (dish) method (scope) · ISO · 2017

MX-10StandardFluorochemical grease-proofing agents repel oil and water by lowering the surface energy of the sheet without forming a continuous film, so they work even with open pores; fluorine-free routes mostly rely on physical densification (heavy refining, parchmentizing) or on continuous films that close the pores (polysaccharides, PVOH, aqueous dispersions and biodegradable polyesters), and therefore depend more on the absence of pinholes and cracks. Regulatory context: in February 2024 FDA announced that PFAS-containing grease-proofing agents are no longer sold into the US market, and in January 2025 confirmed that 35 related FCNs are no longer effective; the EU PPWR restricts PFAS above threshold levels in food-contact packaging; BPI certification requires no intentionally added fluorinated chemicals and total fluorine below 100 ppm.3 sources

What it means for a project: 'Fluorine-free' should be supported by a formulation declaration plus total-fluorine testing (organic fluorine where needed) covering paper, coating, inks and adhesives; a continuous PHA film works as a fluorine-free grease barrier only with the defect control described in MX-02 and MX-07.
Limits: PPWR thresholds and test methods follow the regulation text and Commission guidance, so specific limits are not restated here; regulatory status is as of the dates of the listed sources.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

TAPPI T 559 cm-22 Grease resistance test for paper and paperboard (Kit test; scope) · TAPPI · 2022 Greaseproof paper products: A review emphasizing ecofriendly approaches · BioResources 15(1):1978-2004 · 2020 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their alternatives in paper food packaging · Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 20(3):2596-2625 (Wiley) · 2021

MX-11ReviewRepulpability requires two things together: standardized disintegration must disperse the fibres (without more than a specified amount of undispersed flakes), and the yield must be high enough. Recycling mills are set up to recover fibres, and water-dispersible adhesive particles, minerals and coating components are removed by screening, cleaning, flotation or the effluent; some stickies can be screened out, but much deformable material passes through industrial screens, and higher process temperatures soften sticky materials. Water-borne barrier coatings are named as an emerging source of stickies, some of whose copolymer components fall into that category, and published repulpability studies of water-borne barrier coatings report yields from about 80% to nearly 100%. The Cepi V3 method emulates pulping, screening and sheet formation of a conventional mill in the laboratory (without flotation deinking) and is used together with an evaluation protocol.3 sources

What it means for a project: Repulpability claims should be measured on the complete article (paper + PHA coating + inks/adhesives + food residue) with Cepi V3, PTS or similar methods, reporting undispersed flakes, screen rejects, stickies and yield, and checking coating-fragment tackiness near mill temperatures; a laboratory pass does not equal local collection and mill acceptance.
Limits: Yields in the review come from other water-borne coating systems and do not include PHA; no public data describe the tackiness of PHA fragments at pulping temperatures.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Repulpability and biodegradability of paper-based packaging products with water-borne barrier coatings: A review · BioResources 21(4) · 2026 Stickies in recovered paper fiber suspensions: A tutorial review · BioResources 21(3):8932-8999 · 2026 Cepi Recyclability Laboratory Test Method Version 3 · Cepi · 2025

MX-12StandardIndustrial composting is a managed thermophilic environment (about 60 °C): ASTM D6868 covers end items that use polymers as coatings or binders and are designed to compost aerobically in municipal/industrial facilities reaching thermophilic temperatures, requiring whole-item disintegration, inherent biodegradation and no harm to the compost's ability to support plant growth. Home-compost schemes (e.g., TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost HOME) require 90% biodegradation within 12 months and disintegration within 6 months at 20–30 °C, and that certificate may not be used for soil or water degradation claims. Natural environments are less favourable: most bioplastics and their blends failed ISO/ASTM biodegradation criteria in soil and water; PHBHHx biodegradation in agricultural soils changes about 2–5-fold per 10 °C; and the mean marine biodegradation rate of PHA is about 0.04–0.09 mg·d⁻¹·cm⁻², so thick items take years.3 sources

What it means for a project: Degradation or compost claims must state the environment (industrial, home, soil, marine), the complete product and the standard, each with its own evidence; an industrial-compost certificate cannot be extrapolated to home, soil or marine settings, and in-soil uses need whole-item evidence at the target soil's temperature and moisture.
Limits: Marine and soil rates come from the materials and conditions in the literature, not from thin coatings on paper; this statement does not evaluate any BIOTEN certificate.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

ASTM D6868-21 Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities (scope) · ASTM International · 2021 TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost HOME - Initial acceptance tests (Doc Ref OK02-e, Edition D) · TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium · 2012 Biodegradable Plastic Blends Create New Possibilities for End-of-Life Management of Plastics but They Are Not a Panacea for Plastic Pollution · Environmental Science & Technology 52(18):10441-10452 (ACS) · 2018

MX-13PaperBiodegradation of PHA starts with microbial extracellular enzymes acting at the material surface, so rates are often expressed per unit surface area and depend on crystallinity and comonomer composition: erosion of P(3HB-co-4HB) films by PHB depolymerase decreased with rising 4HB fraction, whereas erosion by lipase increased. Fragmentation or visual disappearance does not mean microbial mineralization, and an isolated coating may degrade differently from the complete package in which paper is the main component.3 sources

What it means for a project: Degradation evidence should use CO₂ or oxygen-demand mineralization as the end-point, sample the complete item with a locked BOM and, where needed, attribute fibre and coating separately; results for thin coatings cannot be extrapolated to thick items, or vice versa.
Limits: The enzymatic erosion data come from in-vitro tests on films with high 4HB content (64–100 mol%) and do not directly represent paper coatings in the environment.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Microbial synthesis and properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) in Comamonas acidovorans · International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 16(2):99-104 (Elsevier) · 1994 The rate of biodegradation of PHA bioplastics in the marine environment: A meta-study · Marine Pollution Bulletin 142:15-24 (Elsevier) · 2019 Repulpability and biodegradability of paper-based packaging products with water-borne barrier coatings: A review · BioResources 21(4) · 2026

MX-14ReviewBoard stiffness is strongly non-linear in grammage: for an ideal uniform, isotropic material of constant density, stiffness scales with the third power of mass per unit area (real paper fits exponents somewhat below 3), so holding stiffness while cutting grammage by 10% needs roughly 37% higher elastic modulus. A barrier coating of a few g/m² contributes little to bending stiffness, so 'reduction' can only be compared against a baseline with the same geometry and function (stiffness, grip deformation, top load, sealing and yield); ISO 18602 assesses weight/volume optimization on the premise that packaging functions are maintained, and the US FTC Green Guides require source-reduction claims to state the amount and the basis of comparison.3 sources

What it means for a project: 'One core, less material' should be shown as total material per thousand good units (paper + coating + losses) at equal function versus the incumbent structure, reporting stiffness, grip deformation or top load alongside; quoting a lower grammage alone, or comparing only with uncoated paper, cannot support a reduction claim, and reduction and carbon reduction must be proven separately.
Limits: The cube law is an approximation for ideal materials; multi-ply board can change the outcome through its ply structure (e.g., high-modulus outer plies) and must be measured.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Prospects for Maintaining Strength of Paper and Paperboard Products While Using Less Forest Resources: A Review · BioResources 9(1):1634-1763 · 2014 ISO 18602:2013 Packaging and the environment - Optimization of the packaging system (abstract) · ISO · 2013 16 CFR 260.17 Source reduction claims (FTC Green Guides; CFR 2025 edition) · U.S. Federal Trade Commission / U.S. Government Publishing Office · 2025

MX-15PaperMigration is governed by diffusion of the migrant in the polymer and its partitioning between polymer and food, so regulations specify simulants and test time-temperatures by 'food type condition of use' (e.g., 21 CFR 176.170 uses 8% or 50% ethanol for alcoholic beverages and heptane for fatty foods, graded by hot-fill, refrigerated, frozen and reheat-in-container conditions). Specific authorizations are bounded the same way: China's GB 4806.10-2025 Annex A item 5 (P34HB) excludes ethanol-containing foods and caps use temperature at 100 °C; US FCN 2368 is limited to Conditions of Use B–H and excludes foods with more than 15% alcohol, infant formula and human milk; and GB 4806.10-2025 sets, for coatings dedicated to infants and young children, an overall migration limit of no more than 60 mg/kg converted with the actual surface-to-volume ratio.3 sources

What it means for a project: For each application, first fix the most severe food type, temperature and duration, then check whether the raw-material listing covers them; judge the Chinese and US conditions separately and never substitute one for the other; other formulation components (dispersants, additives, other polymers) each need their own listing or authorization.
Limits: This statement describes authorization boundaries and does not determine whether BIOTEN 4108 falls under these listings; applicability rests on declarations of compliance and testing.
Object: Material class and mechanism, not a BIOTEN product result

Evaluation of migration models that might be used in support of regulations for food-contact plastics · Food Additives & Contaminants 22(1):73-90 (Taylor & Francis) · 2005 21 CFR 176.170 Components of paper and paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods (Tables 1-2; CFR 2025 edition) · U.S. Food and Drug Administration / U.S. Government Publishing Office · 2025 Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications: FCN No. 2368 (Beijing PhaBuilder Biotechnology; PHB/P(3HB-co-4HB), 4HB up to 16 wt%; Conditions of Use B-H) · U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2024

Raw-material status

Where do PHA raw materials sit on food-contact lists?

5 public sources

A listed raw material is where food-contact compliance starts, not where it ends. In China, GB 4806.10-2025 Annex A, Table A.1, item 5 covers only P34HB (CAS 125495-90-1), with no contact with alcohol-containing foods and use at or below 100 °C; in the US, FDA FCN 2368 is valid only for its notifier and that notifier's customers. A raw-material listing does not make a BIOTEN formulation or finished pack compliant, nor does it say which raw material a BIOTEN formulation uses.

EV-019RegulationGB 4806.10-2025 Table A.1, item 5: (3R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid–4-hydroxybutyric acid copolymer (CAS 125495-90-1); maximum use 'as needed for production'; SML(T) 5 mg/kg expressed as 1,4-butanediol (group 30); other requirements: not for contact with alcohol-containing food, use temperature not above 100 °C. Issued 2 September 2025, in force from 2 September 2026.2025-09-02 · 国家卫生健康委员会、国家市场监督管理总局

Shows: P34HB, a specific PHA raw material, is conditionally permitted on China's positive list for food-contact coatings: no alcohol-containing food, use temperature at or below 100 °C, and a group migration limit.
Does not show: A raw-material entry is not compliance of a BIOTEN formulation or article: PHA is a family and the entry covers only this CAS copolymer; other ingredients, additives, residues and finished-article migration must each comply; alcohol-containing foods and uses above 100 °C are not supported by this entry.
Object: Base raw material for coatings: P34HB (CAS 125495-90-1)

View sourceRegulation · 国家卫生健康委员会、国家市场监督管理总局 · checked 2026-10-22

EV-020Public registerFDA effective Food Contact Notification FCN 2368 (effective 30 July 2024): notifier and manufacturer Beijing PhaBuilder Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; substances are the (3R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid–4-hydroxybutanoic acid copolymer (CAS 125495-90-1) and the (3R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid homopolymer (CAS 29435-48-1); up to 16 wt% 4HB units; all food types except those with more than 15% alcohol, under Conditions of Use B through H; not for infant formula or human milk; FCNs are effective only for the listed manufacturer and its customers.2024-07-30 · U.S. FDA, Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications

Shows: The US has an effective food-contact authorisation for this manufacturer's PHB/P34HB under the listed conditions, a starting point for compliance at raw-material level.
Does not show: A raw-material entry is not compliance of a BIOTEN formulation or article: the FCN covers only the notifier's listed substances and its customers; every other ingredient needs its own clearance; Conditions of Use A (high-temperature sterilisation), I (irradiation) and J (cooking above 250 °F) and foods above 15% alcohol are not covered; it cannot support 'FDA certified' or 'FDA approved BIOTEN'.
Object: PhaBuilder-manufactured PHB/P34HB food-contact substance

View sourcePublic register · U.S. FDA, Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications · checked 2026-10-22

EV-021RegulationFDA explains that a food-contact material's status depends on the regulatory status of each substance in it (identity, specifications and limits), via routes such as 21 CFR food additive regulations, prior sanction, GRAS, Threshold of Regulation exemptions and effective FCNs; FCNs are proprietary to the notifying manufacturer, so the substance must be obtained from that manufacturer to rely on it.2018-02-21 · U.S. FDA

Shows: US compliance is built ingredient by ingredient; one raw material's FCN cannot stand for a whole coating formulation.
Does not show: It gives no ingredient-level compliance finding for any BIOTEN formulation.
Object: How US regulatory status of food-contact materials is determined

View sourceRegulation · U.S. FDA · checked 2026-10-22

EV-022RegulationThe European Commission explains that Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 sets general safety and inertness principles for all food-contact materials and (EC) 2023/2006 sets good manufacturing practice; specific EU measures exist for plastics ((EU) 10/2011), ceramics, regenerated cellulose film, recycled plastics and active and intelligent materials, and where no specific EU measure exists, Member States may keep or adopt national rules.2004-10-27 · European Commission (DG SANTE)

Shows: In the EU, food-contact compliance of coated fibre packaging rests on the framework regulation plus any applicable specific or national rules, judged per structure.
Does not show: It gives no EU compliance finding for any BIOTEN structure; whether 10/2011 applies to a coating depends on the structure.
Object: EU food-contact materials legal framework

View sourceRegulation · European Commission (DG SANTE) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-023RegulationThe European Commission's guidelines on single-use plastic products (2021/C 216/01): polymers made by man-made cultivation and fermentation in industrial settings, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), are not natural polymers; single-use paper or board items with a plastic coating or lining for water or grease protection count as partly made of plastic and fall under the Directive; paper cups with a plastic layer are not plastic-free.2021-06-07 · European Commission (EUR-Lex 52021XC0607(03))

Shows: In the EU, single-use PHA-coated cups and food containers are single-use plastic products 'partly made of plastic', the direct reason the platform never says 'plastic-free'.
Does not show: The guidelines are the Commission's interpretation; the Directive, national transposition and court rulings prevail; they do not change the separate evidence each end-of-life route needs.
Object: Single-use fibre-based items on the EU market, including PHA-coated ones

View sourceRegulation · European Commission (EUR-Lex 52021XC0607(03)) · checked 2026-10-22

BIOTEN product evidence

What certifications and tests has BIOTEN made public for the product itself?

7 public sources

Choosing a pack starts with its barrier, and any claim about BIOTEN should be checkable. This level lists only the public records for BIOTEN's own coatings, each with its object, date and issuer. BPI, DIN CERTCO and ABA register the coating component or material, not a cup, bag or carton — and the BPI certificate itself says it cannot support compostability claims for finished items.

EV-025Public registerBPI's official certified-products catalog (as of 22 Oct 2026) lists 11 'Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating' entries under DBC New Materials Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., SKUs 1033, 1030, 1040, 6130, 6140, 6150, 7130, 7140, 4110, 4109 and 4108; category Components / Coatings; White, Unprinted; commercial column '100% usage, 3.46 mm max thickness'; the Home Certified column shows the home icon, with home column '100% usage, 1.97 mm max thickness'.2026-10-22 · Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)

Shows: Eleven BIOTEN coating SKUs, 4108 included, are listed as components/coatings in BPI's certified catalog with the home-certified mark, and anyone can check this in the certifier's own catalog.
Does not show: A component/coating listing is not certification of a finished cup, bag or carton; finished items need their own certification covering structure, inks, thickness and manufacturing site; the catalog's maximum thickness is a test boundary, not a recommended coat weight; it says nothing on food contact, repulping or soil or marine degradation. In California, a finished item labelled 'home compostable' needs OK compost HOME certification (Public Resources Code §42357).
Object: Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (component/coating, white, unprinted)

View sourcePublic register · Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-026Third-party certificationThe BPI certificate image in DBC's article of 24 Feb 2026: Certificate of Commercial Compostability for Components & Ingredients under ASTM D6400 and BPI's Commercial Compostability Certification Scheme 2.5.2; object Barrier Coating (maximum usage 100%, maximum thickness 3.46 mm), category Components – Coatings; certificate 10530215-1, issued 10 Feb 2026, valid until 31 Jan 2029; it states that the approval is for a component/ingredient only, cannot support commercial-compostability claims for a finished product, and that items made with these components need their own BPI certification.2026-02-10 · Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)

Shows: BPI issued a commercial-compostability component certificate for BIOTEN's coating, and the certificate itself states that a component is not a finished product.
Does not show: The certificate text is visible only in the company's image; the catalog shows a matching listing number (#10530215), but issue and expiry dates should be confirmed with BPI; it covers no finished item.
Object: Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (component/ingredient)

View sourceThird-party certification · Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-027Third-party certificationUnder BPI's public certification rules, certified products must have no intentionally added fluorinated chemicals, a total fluorine test below 100 ppm and a formulation review; BPI's component certificate also states that the certified coating contains no intentionally added organic fluorinated chemicals, including as processing aids, screened at a maximum of 100 ppm total organic fluorine. The Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating components in BPI's catalog are certified under this rule.2026-02-10 · Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)

Shows: 'BIOTEN coating components have no intentionally added fluorinated chemicals' is backed by a third party (BPI rule plus listing) and can serve as component-level evidence against the PFAS regulatory trend.
Does not show: Component level is not the finished pack: paper, inks, adhesives and processing can add fluorine; a total or total-organic fluorine screen is not the targeted PFAS analysis PPWR Article 5(5) requires, nor compliance with California or other state laws; finished packs must be tested for the target market.
Object: BPI-certified Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating components

View sourceThird-party certification · Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-028Public registerDIN CERTCO (TÜV Rheinland) lists three registrations for 'Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating' held by DBC New Materials Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., all valid until 30 Nov 2031: 7W0822 (compostable material; scheme for industrially compostable materials 2023-07; DIN EN 13432, ASTM D6400, ISO 18606, ISO 17088, DIN EN 14995; 'Compostability Mark'; max thickness 3.46 mm); 9K0327 (compostable material for industrial composting; DIN-Geprüft; basis includes AS 4736:2006; uncoloured, unprinted; max 3.46 mm); 9R0104 (compostable material for home and garden composting; NF T51-800:2015; DIN-Geprüft Homecompostable; uncoloured, unprinted; max 1.97 mm).2025-11-03 · DIN CERTCO (TÜV Rheinland)

Shows: BIOTEN's coating holds industrial and home compostability registrations as a material with a German certifier, verifiable in DIN CERTCO's public register.
Does not show: The object is a material with no grade list, not coated paper or finished items; saying '4108 is DIN CERTCO certified' needs the holder to confirm coverage; home compostability is not soil or marine degradation; nothing on food contact.
Object: Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (material)

View sourcePublic register · DIN CERTCO (TÜV Rheinland) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-029Public registerThe Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) directory lists DBC New Materials Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. with ABAM 10658 (AS 4736, commercial composting) and ABAM 20508 (AS 5810, home composting), both for 'Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (unprinted/uncoloured/uncoated)', maximum thickness 3.46 mm and 1.97 mm respectively, expiring 20 Jan 2027 (the company's certificate images show validity 21 Jan 2026 to 20 Jan 2027).2026-01-21 · Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA)

Shows: BIOTEN's coating material holds commercial and home composting certificates in the Australia/New Zealand scheme, verifiable in the ABA directory.
Does not show: The object is a material, not finished items, and no grades are listed; the certificates expire on 20 Jan 2027 and need a renewal check; AS 5810 home composting is not soil or marine degradation.
Object: Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (material)

View sourcePublic register · Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) · checked 2026-10-22

EV-030Report excerptA partial test-report image in DBC's article of 24 Feb 2026: report FCM2543600 by the Nanjing Customs District Testing Center for Dangerous Goods and Packaging / State Key Testing Laboratory of Food Contact Materials (Changzhou) (CMA and CNAS marks), header date 2026/01/04; applicant DBC New Materials Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; the sample name contains 'Bioten' and '4108'; page 2 of 7 summarises sensory, migration, residue, microbial (reference) and general physicochemical items against GB 4806.8-2022 and GB 4806.10-2025, each concluded as 'pass'; the same page's applicant-supplied use information gives intended food, conditions of use and cleaning as '/' and S/V as 'unknown'. Only the cover and parts of pages 2 and 4 are public.2026-01-04 · 南京海关危险货物与包装检测中心 / 国家食品接触材料检测重点实验室（常州）

Shows: A report from a national food-contact testing laboratory, on a sample whose name contains 4108, exists and concludes 'pass' on the listed items, showing that BIOTEN has carried out food-contact testing within the new standard's framework.
Does not show: The public pages give no simulants, temperatures or times, and the applicant supplied no intended food or conditions of use; only parts of the 7 pages are visible; the link between the sample and the current commercial formulation, base paper and coat weight is not public; the sensory and soaking-solution items on page 4 carry a '#' mark whose meaning must be read from the original; it shows no finished article, food type (fatty, alcoholic or hot uses included) or batch to comply, and it is no conclusion that '4108 is food-contact compliant'.
Object: Applicant-submitted coating sample (sample name contains Bioten and 4108)

The public excerpt shows only the cover and pages 2 and 4: intended foods, temperatures and times are not listed, and the link between the sample and the current formulation is not public. It is not a compliance conclusion for any pack, food type or batch.

View sourceReport excerpt · 南京海关危险货物与包装检测中心 / 国家食品接触材料检测重点实验室（常州） · checked 2026-10-22

EV-033Company disclosureOn 26 Jul 2026 DBC published the 'Bioten™ Plus balanced' application page: low-odour waterborne coatings with a natural matte look for cups, cartons and bags, framed as five capabilities to be achieved together (waterborne coating and line fit, natural matte and paper feel, barrier, heat seal and converting, low odour with compliance validation), developed through 'application sampling and process validation'.2026-07-26 · DBC 都佰城（dbc.cn）

Shows: The company has publicly set out the research proposition and validation framework of the balanced line.
Does not show: The page lists no grades or test results; low odour and matte are targets and process paths, not measured results; it gives no food-contact or end-of-life conclusion.
Object: BIOTEN Plus balanced application concept

View sourceCompany disclosure · DBC 都佰城（dbc.cn） · checked 2026-10-22

Application validation

Does it hold for your pack, your line and your conditions?

0 proposed routes started · 101 total

EV-038Company disclosureAll 101 BIOTEN candidate routes on the platform have product validation status NOT_RUN (application study V5.2, as of 18 Oct 2026), and every validation plan is PROPOSED_NOT_RUN; suggested entry points are priority co-research directions 30, conditional co-research directions 55 and exploratory research directions 16 (none started); industry references are industry references for similar packs 91, new uses with mechanism references 8 and paper-based research for the use 2.2026-10-18 · 博碳开发者（content/applications.json，V5.2 公共投影）

Shows: The platform states plainly that the 101 items are a discovery map with proposed validation, not a list of validated products.
Does not show: It does not mean the applications are infeasible, nor that any trial or supply has started. The Chinese brand character 佰 echoes DBC and expresses breadth of possibility, not a count of validated products.
Object: BIOTEN candidate routes for 101 applications

View sourceCompany disclosure · 博碳开发者（content/applications.json，V5.2 公共投影） · checked 2026-10-22

EV-039Method standardHow validation starts (the platform's validationPlan and the V5.2 common scheme): fix one customer task and the current complete product; at kick-off define the full use, existing structure, sample state, controls, experimental unit and acceptance criteria; each application plan has baseline and inputs, a first comparison, checks, criteria to advance and criteria to redirect or stop, with methods and acceptance criteria agreed before testing.2026-10-18 · 博碳开发者 / 博碳101应用可靠性复核 V5.2

Shows: BIOTEN's application validation has a common, auditable starting method that can turn a candidate into a data-backed conclusion.
Does not show: Having a method does not mean any application has been validated.
Object: Proposed validation method for the 101 applications

View sourceMethod standard · 博碳开发者 / 博碳101应用可靠性复核 V5.2 · checked 2026-10-22

EV-040Public registerThe national group-standard platform shows T/SAFCM 052—2026 'Recyclable waterborne-coated paper tableware', owned by the Shanghai Association of Food Contact Materials, status 'current', issued 20 Sep 2026, effective 23 Sep 2026, published on the platform 20 Oct 2026; 18 drafting units including DBC New Materials Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and 博碳（上海）生物材料有限公司; it covers classification, raw materials, physical properties, appearance, recyclability, total fluorine, VOC of waterborne coatings, self-declarations (migratable microplastics and product carbon footprint), test methods, inspection rules and marking, packaging, transport, storage and recovery, for paper or board tableware with waterborne coatings that can be directly recycled and repulped; full text 'not public'.2026-09-20 · 全国团体标准信息平台（中国标准化研究院建设）；上海市食品接触材料协会

Shows: DBC and 博碳（上海） took part, as drafting units, in a group standard for recyclable waterborne-coated paper tableware that is now current.
Does not show: It does not show BIOTEN products comply with or were tested to the standard, nor that DBC led or proposed it (the association's 2025 approval notice names Asia Pulp & Paper (China) Investment and others as lead drafters); group standards are voluntary, not national standards; the full text is not public, so clause details cannot be cited publicly.
Object: Group standard T/SAFCM 052—2026 and its drafting units

View sourcePublic register · 全国团体标准信息平台（中国标准化研究院建设）；上海市食品接触材料协会 · checked 2026-10-22

EV-043Company disclosureDBC's posts of 11–12 Aug 2026 on a coffee cup's 'second life': a cup with a designated BIOTEN PHA waterborne barrier system serves the drink first, then after proper handling holds a stabilised coffee-grounds substrate and seeds; the article sets under 30 days as a target window for physical disintegration and loosening and says 'starting to disintegrate' is not biodegradation or composting within 30 days; it proposes a pilot of one cup type, 1–3 stores and records at day 0/7/14/21/30/45, and invites partners.2026-08-11 · DBC 都佰城 / BIOTEN（dbc.cn）

Shows: It is a public scenario concept and pilot invitation with the validation path and record points spelled out.
Does not show: There are no completed pilot data; it does not show that any used cup can raise seedlings, be buried or is lower-carbon; the article's 'much higher seedling survival' has no data behind it.
Object: Second use of designated coffee cups for seedlings (concept and pilot)

View sourceCompany disclosure · DBC 都佰城 / BIOTEN（dbc.cn） · checked 2026-10-22

Product validation has not started for the 101 proposed BIOTEN routes listed here; this does not describe the maturity of paper products across the industry. Each application page sets out proposed controls, inputs, a first comparison and go/stop criteria. Define the target pack, current reference and use conditions before agreeing an executable validation plan.

Start with one target product

Product identity and naming

Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating 4108Listed in the BPI catalog as Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (SKU 4108), Components/Coatings. DIN CERTCO and ABA register the family name without grades, so those registrations are not attributed to 4108 specifically.
Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating 4110Listed in the BPI catalog as Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (SKU 4110). The platform does not treat it as the same product as 4108.
Bioten™ 1030 PHA waterborne emulsionListed in the BPI catalog as Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (SKU 1030); public product name Bioten™ 1030 PHA waterborne emulsion.
Bioten™ PHA Barrier Coating (family; certified object name)BPI, DIN CERTCO and ABA all register under this name, as a coating component or material. The maximum thicknesses — 3.46 mm (industrial/commercial composting) and 1.97 mm (home composting) — are certification test limits, not recommended coat weights. These material registrations do not by themselves establish certification of a finished item.

Not yet shown — and how it could be

These questions have no public answer yet. Each states the result that would close it. Together they are the work list ahead; bring a target product and help close one.

4108's food-contact evidence is still one partially public report: the full report, the other reports and their link to the current commercial formulation, base paper and coat weight are not public.Closes when: Obtain and archive the full original reports; build a controlled sample–grade–formulation map; define what is covered and what still needs testing by target food and conditions (fat, alcohol, temperature, time); update this page once the publishable fields are confirmed.
No finished item (cup, bag, burger wrap, etc.) holds a compostability certification; all current certificates cover the coating component or material.Closes when: Pick one finished item and certify it with BPI, DIN CERTCO, ABA or similar for its structure, inks, adhesives, thickness and site, separately for industrial and home.
There is no public repulpability or recyclability report on a finished structure.Closes when: Test one target finished item with a market-relevant method (e.g. Cepi V3 with the 4evergreen protocol, GB/T 43588 Method B) and publish a report summary together with local collection and mill-acceptance conditions.
There is no public test report on bio-based content.Closes when: Have a report issued for a named grade under ASTM D6866 or GB/T 39715.2 and publish the object and basis (bio-based carbon as share of total organic carbon or otherwise).
There is no LCA or PCF, so no carbon-reduction claim can be made.Closes when: Complete an ISO 14040/14044 and ISO 14067 study with a defined functional unit and boundary, appropriately reviewed and compared with a like-for-like baseline.
Certificate validity and coverage: ABA certificates expire on 20 Jan 2027; BPI is valid to 31 Jan 2029; DIN CERTCO to 30 Nov 2031; DIN CERTCO and ABA list no grades.Closes when: Re-check renewals before expiry; attribute the DIN CERTCO and ABA registrations to a specific grade only after the holder confirms coverage in writing.
None of the 101 applications has started product validation.Closes when: Pick one priority co-research application, run the first comparison in its validationPlan and publish a validation summary (object, method, conditions, results, limits).
US: no public ingredient-level FDA basis for the whole 4108 formulation; FCN 2368 covers only its notifier's substance.Closes when: Establish a 21 CFR, FCN or TOR basis for every ingredient with supply-chain assurances and defined uses and conditions.
EU: single-use-plastics classification (partly plastic), PPWR finished-pack PFAS testing and Member State food-contact rules for paper have not been assessed for any finished item.Closes when: Assess a chosen country and finished item; until then, statements for the EU never say 'plastic-free'.
The full text of T/SAFCM 052—2026 is not public, so its clauses cannot yet be cited.Closes when: The association publishes the full text or foreword, or agrees a citable scope.

Give your packaging problem an engineering path you can verify.

Tell us the target product, its contents, temperature and line. We build the validation chain around it — raw-material conditions first, then the finished pack — and write down at every step what result lets work continue and when to stop.

Start with one target product Samples & project intake

Evidence register as of 2026-10-22 · This platform is built by BIOTEN (DBC); entries about BIOTEN itself are labelled. This page is not legal advice; regulatory status follows the official sources.