ECLIPSE™ is our flagship technology that mitigates the environmental impact of plastic waste, without impacting recyclability. ECLIPSE™ acts as a crucial safety net in case plastic products evade the recycling system, ensuring they do not persist in the environment for generations. This technology is a critical part of the solution to global plastic waste.

First and foremost, all ECLIPSE™ enabled products are designed to be recycled. ECLIPSE™ technology is a critical safety net should products evade the recycling system, not an excuse to incorrectly dispose of plastic.

Bio-assimilation is the final and conclusive stage of biodegradation where microorganisms can convert the material into CO2, water, and biomass.

ECLIPSE bio-assimilation technology causes the complete molecular transformation of plastic. In other words, it breaks the carbon-to-carbon bonds within the polymer molecules, allowing microorganisms to feed on the available carbon. Once this process is initiated, it becomes a runaway freight train that can't be stopped, resulting in zero microplastics.

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of what happens during the bio-assimilation process.

• At the end of an ECLIPSE™ enabled product’s functional life, the molecular structure of the polymer within the material has a molecular mass of approximately 200,000 Daltons.
• ‍Stage 1 (200,000 Da): The free radical process begins and carbon-to-carbon bonds within the material begin to break. The molecular mass of the material rapidly reduces as the long-chain molecular structure transforms into shorter and shorter chains.
• Stage 2 (40,000 Da): As the molecular transformation continues, these shorter chain molecular structures change from being hydrophobic (repelling water) to being hydrophilic (attracting water), surrounding them with microorganism-rich water (known as a bio-film).
• Stage 3 (5,000 Da): As the free radical process continues to transform the molecular structure and expose more and more carbon, the surrounding microorganisms begin to utilize this carbon as nutrients.
• Stage 4 (0 Da): As the microorganisms consume all of the available carbon, the molecular mass of the original polymer continues to reduce until there is nothing left but water, C0₂ and biomass.

CO2, water and biomass. No microplastics are left behind.

Yes! First and foremost, ECLIPSE™ enabled products are designed to be recycled. The addition of ECLIPSE™ technology does not negatively impact the recyclability of the products or the recycle stream, provided the plastic has been collected and recycled before the bio-assimilation process has begun. If the material still has the mechanical characteristics of its original product, it can be recycled. The addition of ECLIPSE technology acts as a safety net in the event that the item evades the recycling system. It is not meant to encourage disposal in landfill.

ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film has gone through rigorous efficacy and performance testing which determined that it performs exactly like original products. The addition of SPTek ECLIPSE™ technology does not alter the benefits of conventional stretch film.

We have conclusively proven our ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology through rigorous independent third-party testing and a world’s first C-13 bio-assimilation study conducted at LMPE, a leading Ecosustainable Polymeric Material Laboratory located in Italy. ECLIPSE™ technology is also compliant with recognized ASTM standards.

There is a low inclusion rate of ECLIPSE™ at only 1%, which adds a minimal cost to the overall price. To determine the optimal amount of film for each customer’s unique need, the Rite-Gauging Assessment is used. This assessment ensures customers aren’t paying extra for any material they will not use.

ECLIPSE Stretch Film is available in both hand and machine formats in a number of different gauges. Learn more about SPTek ECLIPSE Stretch Film here.

Following its guaranteed functional life span of 2-years, if ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film evades the recycling system, it will bio-assimilate in 6-24 months depending on environmental conditions.

ECLIPSE™ enabled material will bio-assimilate in marine, terrestrial, and landfill environments. However, the inclusion of ECLIPSE™ is not designed to promote the improper disposal of plastic products. ECLIPSE™ enabled products should always be recycled whenever possible.

Will they compost, yes? ECLIPSE™ enabled material will decompose in a composting environment. However, ECLIPSE™ enabled materials are not ASTM D6400 compliant, due to the nature of the bio-assimilation process. With ECLIPSE, the vast majority of carbon in bio-assimilated material is sequestered as biomass whereas ASTM D6400 requires the majority of carbon within the material to be turned into CO2.