What Smart Plastic Technologies does

Smart Plastic Technologies is a Buffalo Grove, Illinois-based materials company founded in 2016 that develops SPTek ECLIPSE™, a patent-pending bio-assimilation additive for polyolefins (PE and PP). Approximately a 1% drop-in masterbatch, ECLIPSE™ is integrated into existing extrusion lines without retooling and programs the plastic to fully bio-assimilate into CO2, water, and biomass over 6-42 months in marine, terrestrial, or anaerobic landfill conditions once it escapes the recycling stream, leaving zero microplastic residue. The technology has been validated through a first-of-its-kind C-13 carbon labeling study conducted with LMPE, Pisa University, and CNR Laboratories, and is FDA GRAS compliant, EU 10/2011 compliant, ASTM D5511 and ASTM 6954 Tier 1 equivalent, and California Prop 65 compliant.

The company monetizes through two streams: (1) licensing and additive sales to converters and brand owners, and (2) sales of finished ECLIPSE™-branded products (Stretch Film, Straw, Pouch, Co-Ex Films, Zipper) plus co-branded manufactured goods. Distribution is anchored by exclusive co-development partnerships with Sigma Plastics Group (VANISH stretch film across five North American facilities, ~30M lbs/year), Munchkin (baby lifestyle products), PFNonwovens (hygiene and medical nonwovens, headquartered in Prague), and Fairfield Processing (Inspiration Gown™ isolation gowns). The company additionally markets a portfolio of complementary additives: SPTek SERVO™, GARD™, SERVOGARD™, OYSTERPLUS™, and TRACER™.

Commercial motion is enterprise-direct with brand owners, converters, and packaging buyers, supplemented by manufacturing and distribution partnerships and event-driven visibility at PACK EXPO, the National Restaurant Association Show, and Trellis Impact 26. The company is B Corp certified, holds multiple regulatory clearances across food contact and biodegradation standards, and was named Trellis Climate Tech Startup of the Year in June 2026. Reported cumulative sales exceeded $1.1M through Q1 2026; the company operates at Seed-to-Series A scale with 11-50 employees. Founder and CEO Tim Murtaugh passed away in March 2026, with board leadership provided by Aargus Plastics CEO Jerry Starr.

Name

Smart Plastic Technologies

Legal name

Smart Plastic Technologies

Website

https://changetheplastic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smart Plastic Technologies develops SPTek ECLIPSE™, a drop-in bio-assimilation additive for polyolefins that lets plastic fully degrade to biomass without microplastics. It licenses the technology and sells finished products to converters, brand owners, and manufacturers across packaging, foodservice, medical, and stretch-film markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Plastic Additives

NAICS

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)

SIC

Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Mono-Material & Recyclability-Designed Packaging (Design-for-Recycling, Barrier Alternatives) (IMALAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Polyolefin Films (PE/PP: Cast, Blown, BOPP) (IMALABAA), Flexible Plastic Packaging (Bags, Pouches, Sachets) Manufacturing (IMANAEAC), Recyclable/Mono-Material Flexible Packaging (PE/PP-Based, Compatibilized Structures) (IMALABAN)

Keywords

• Bio-assimilation additives
• Sustainable plastic packaging
• Polyolefin additive technology
• Biodegradable polymer solutions
• Plastic waste reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Additive Sales and Licensing: Sale of SPTek ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation additive to manufacturers and converters. Revenue generated through additive masterbatch sales and technology licensing arrangements with manufacturing partners.
2. Finished Products: Sale of ECLIPSE™ branded finished products including stretch film, straws, pouches, and co-ex films. Products sold through distribution partners and direct sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Smart Plastic Technologies develops and sells the SPTek additive platform, with SPTek ECLIPSE™ as its flagship: a patent-pending, roughly 1% drop-in bio-assimilation additive for polyolefins (PE and PP) that enables plastic to fully convert to CO2, water, and biomass with no microplastic residue when it escapes recycling. The company also licenses the technology to converters and brand owners, and sells finished ECLIPSE™ branded products (stretch film, straws, pouches, co-ex films, zippers) manufactured through partners such as Sigma Plastics Group.

Product overview

Smart Plastic Technologies offers a platform of bio-assimilation additives (SPTek™ technologies) and finished ECLIPSE™ branded products. The core technology is SPTek ECLIPSE™, a 1% drop-in additive for polyolefins (PE and PP) that enables plastic to bio-assimilate—converting to CO₂, water, and biomass with no microplastic residue. The product portfolio consists of two main categories: (1) SPTek Additive Technologies including ECLIPSE™, SERVO™, GARD™, SERVOGARD™, OYSTERPLUS™, and TRACER™ for manufacturers to integrate into their products, and (2) ECLIPSE™ finished products including Stretch Film, Straw, Pouch, Co-Ex Films, and Zipper for direct use. The company also has co-branded products like Sigma Stretch VANISH and Inspiration Gown™ through manufacturing partnerships. All products are designed to be recyclable first, with ECLIPSE™ serving as an end-of-life safety net if plastic escapes the recycling system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECLIPSE™: Product line of additives and products designed for proper disposal of plastics, including Stretch Film, Straw, Pouch, Co-Ex Films, and Zipper.
• SPTek ECLIPSE™
• SPTek SERVO™
• SPTek GARD™
• SPTek SERVOGARD™
• SPTek OYSTERPLUS™
• SPTek TRACER™

Products and services

• SPTek ECLIPSE™ Patent-pending bio-assimilation additive for polyolefins (PE and PP) sold to plastics converters and manufacturers. Added at roughly 1% inclusion with no retooling, it preserves performance and recyclability during use while delivering complete bio-assimilation within 6–42 months with zero microplastic residue if the plastic escapes recycling.
• ECLIPSE™ Stretch Film Stretch film infused with SPTek ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology designed for load containment in shipping and transportation. Guaranteed 2-year functional life with bio-assimilation within 6–24 months if not recycled, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional stretch film without performance loss.
• ECLIPSE™ Straw Plastic straw manufactured with SPTek ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology, 100% recyclable, and bio-assimilating within approximately 42 months to eliminate legacy plastic's long-lasting environmental harm.
• ECLIPSE™ Pouch Stand-up pouch made entirely from homogeneous recyclable material including zipper for hassle-free recycling. If inappropriately disposed, the pouch will fully bio-assimilate without microplastic residue.
• ECLIPSE™ Co-Ex Films Coextruded films manufactured with SPTek ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology for various packaging applications, providing a sustainable alternative while maintaining film performance properties.
• ECLIPSE™ Zipper Zipper with SPTek ECLIPSE™ bio-assimilation technology designed for integration with ECLIPSE™ Pouches, made from homogeneous material to ensure recyclable packaging.
• SPTek SERVO™ Performance additive in the SPTek portfolio designed to reduce the harmful environmental impact of conventional plastic.
• SPTek GARD™ Performance additive in the SPTek portfolio designed to reduce the harmful environmental impact of conventional plastic.
• SPTek SERVOGARD™ Performance additive combining SPTek SERVO™ and SPTek GARD™ technologies for enhanced environmental protection of conventional plastic.
• SPTek OYSTERPLUS™ Bio-based additive that uses carbon sourced from oyster shells to reduce environmental impact of conventional plastic; improves mechanical characteristics, reduces processing times and temperatures, and decreases dependence on fossil fuel-based resins.
• SPTek TRACER™

Quantifiable outcome

• Packaging degrades up to 63% in 6 months under simulated landfill conditions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Aargus Plastics (Jerry Starr)minorOthers · 1 August 2023Jerry Starr, CEO of Aargus Plastics, appointed as Board of Directors Chairman. Aargus Plastics founded in 1959, is a versatile polyethylene extruder with 22 extrusion lines and flexographic printing capabilities.
• LMPE (Eco-compatible Polymeric Materials Laboratory)coreTechnology or Integration · 3 June 2022Long-standing technical partnership since 2016. LMPE is an Italian innovative startup and affiliated Spin-off to INSTM (National Inter-University Consortium of Materials Science and Technology). Together designed and conducted first-ever C-13 carbon labeling bio-assimilation test. Located in Lucca, Italy.
• Sigma Plastics Group (Sigma Stretch)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2022Manufacturing partnership for production of Sigma Stretch VANISH powered by SPTek ECLIPSE™. Production expanded to all five Sigma Stretch production facilities across North America. Initial launch generated significant interest from brand owners seeking sustainability solutions. Additional 30 million pounds of VANISH capacity estimated for 2022.
• PFNonwovens (PFN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2022Exclusive joint development agreement for use of ECLIPSE™ technology in hygiene and medical nonwoven products. PFNonwovens headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic. Partnership focuses on diapers, fem care, adult incontinence, medical gowns, and face masks. Pilot-scale equipment validation successfully demonstrated.
• MunchkincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2022Exclusive multi-year co-development and co-marketing agreement to create baby lifestyle products using ECLIPSE™ technology. Partnership aims to make Munchkin products disappear after useful life with zero microplastics. Targets baby lifestyle market estimated at USD 25 billion by 2028.
• Fairfield Processing CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership for Inspiration Gown™ - sustainable isolation gowns with ECLIPSE bio-assimilation technology. Capacity to produce millions of gowns per month domestically. AAMI Level 1 & 2 compliant.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Symphony Environmental Technologies: Symphony's d2w oxo-biodegradable masterbatch is added to PE/PP films to enable degradation when plastic escapes recycling—directly comparable to Smart Plastic's ECLIPSE drop-in additive approach. Both target converters and brand owners seeking end-of-life safety nets and compete for the same sustainability procurement budget.
• EPI Environmental Technologies: EPI's TDPA and related degradable additive masterbatches are incorporated into PE/PP products to provide controlled degradation in landfill, marine, and terrestrial environments. The technology positioning, regulatory pathway (ASTM testing), and converter go-to-market are highly analogous to ECLIPSE.
• Bio-Tec Environmental: Bio-Tec's EcoPure additive accelerates biodegradation of plastic in landfills and is sold as a drop-in masterbatch to packaging manufacturers. It competes directly with ECLIPSE for the same PE/PP film and rigid container applications and similar brand-owner sustainability mandates.
• Novamont: Novamont's Mater-Bi bioplastic family targets compostable and bio-based flexible packaging, carrier bags, and food-contact films. While based on different chemistry (starch/PBAT blends), Novamont competes with ECLIPSE for the same converter sustainability budgets and EU 2019/904-driven brand-owner demand.
• Danimer Scientific: Danimer's Nodax PHA biopolymer is designed for biodegradation in marine and soil environments and is sold to packaging converters and consumer brands. It is a leading competing platform to ECLIPSE for ESG-driven flexible packaging and food-service applications.

Broad incumbents

• NatureWorks: NatureWorks' Ingeo PLA is one of the largest-scale bio-based plastics platforms globally, used across food packaging, foodservice, and nonwovens. As an established incumbent with deep converter relationships, it competes for the same brand-owner sustainability budgets targeted by ECLIPSE.
• TotalEnergies Corbion: TotalEnergies Corbion produces Luminy PLA bioplastics for packaging, foodservice, and durable goods applications. It is a major incumbent alternative to bio-assimilation additives like ECLIPSE in the same flexible packaging and foodservice end-markets.
• BASF (ecoflex / ecovio): BASF's ecovio and ecoflex bioplastic portfolios target compostable packaging, bags, and food-contact applications. As a global chemical major, BASF offers converters a broad sustainability portfolio that overlaps with ECLIPSE's value proposition in flexible films and food packaging.
• Ampacet: Ampacet is one of the largest global masterbatch and specialty additive suppliers, serving the same PE/PP film and packaging converter customers as Smart Plastic. While not exclusively focused on bio-assimilation, its sustainability additive lines compete for similar brand-owner sustainability briefs.

Emerging players

• CJ CheilJedang (CJ BIO PHA): CJ BIO's PHA biopolymer platform targets marine and soil biodegradable packaging, foodservice, and nonwovens. As a newer entrant with significant capacity investment, it competes with ECLIPSE-enabled PE/PP films for the same sustainability-mandated end-markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/smartplastichq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartplastichq
• Instagraminstagram.com/smartplastichq

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smart Plastic Technologies