HOW RELOOP WORKS

An infographic illustrating the lifecycle of biodegradable plastic, showing five stages: 1) Plastic performs like normal plastic, 2) Inactive during use and recycling, 3) Activated by microbes in landfill or marine environment, 4) Microbes break down the plastic, creating a biofilm, 5) Plastic renews into nature with plants growing.

FAQs

  • When a product made with the Reloop additive ends up in a microbe-rich environment — such as landfill or marine conditions — it naturally attracts over 600 types of microbes found in both aerobic and anaerobic settings. These microbes form a biofilm on the plastic surface and begin secreting enzymes. When these enzymes interact with the Reloop additive, they trigger a catalytic reaction that breaks down the plastic’s complex polymer chains. The result? A complete return to nature — leaving behind only small amounts of biomass, water, and carbon dioxide.

  • As the plastic breaks down with the help of the Reloop additive, the majority of its mass is released as gases like carbon dioxide — which can be safely absorbed by the environment or even converted into renewable energy through landfill gas recovery systems. Unlike conventional plastics that persist for centuries, Reloop packaging bio-renews into harmless byproducts within just 3–6 years.

  • Reloop plastic only begins its bio-renewable breakdown when it enters an active microbial environment — such as a landfill, marine ecosystem, or biologically rich soil. These environments contain the microbes needed to trigger the breakdown process.

    Importantly, Reloop packaging remains completely stable during use, storage, and transport. It will not degrade on a warehouse shelf or in the hands of consumers. The smart additive stays dormant until the right microbial conditions are present — ensuring performance first, and breakdown only when needed.

  • No.
    Microplastics are plastic fragments < 5 mm that do not biodegrade. Reloop packaging breaks down biologically — microbes consume the polymer, converting most of its mass into natural gases and leaving only trace biomass and water. Because Reloop triggers a biotic (microbe-driven) process, not the heat- or light-based fragmentation used in oxo-degradable plastics, it does not create microplastics at any stage.

  • Yes.
    Reloop’s additive is food safe and FDA compliant, meeting the standards for materials considered Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. FDA.

  • Yes.
    Reloop packaging is completely shelf-stable and won’t degrade during storage, transit, or use. Unlike oxo-degradable plastics that break down with exposure to heat, light, or mechanical stress (often leaving behind microplastics), Reloop’s additive stays dormant until it encounters an active microbial environment — such as landfill, soil, or marine settings. Only when microbes are present does the bio-renewable process begin, ensuring product integrity throughout its lifecycle.

  • Yes.
    Reloop plastics are fully recyclable. The additive does not affect the recycling stream or alter the recycling designation of the material. It behaves just like standard plastic during collection, sorting, and reprocessing — ensuring compatibility with existing recycling systems.