With the growing focus on sustainability, the choice of materials for our products has never been more important. For decades, montan wax has been a staple in the coatings and plastics industries, prized for its performance and cost-effectiveness. However, it’s time to rethink our reliance on fossil-based materials like montan wax. Rice bran wax is a renewable, bio-based alternative that offers comparable performance to montan wax, with a minimal environmental impact. Let’s explore why switching to rice wax is not only beneficial, but critical to the future of coatings and plastics.
Mineral wax is derived from lignite, a non-renewable fossil fuel. Here’s why long-term reliance on fossil fuels is problematic:
Rice bran wax is a by-product of the rice industry, making it a renewable and more environmentally friendly option. Unlike brown wax, which is extracted from limited fossil resources, rice bran wax is extracted from crops. Using this by-product not only avoids the environmental risks associated with mining, but also adds value to existing industries.
Clariant’s Licocare™ RBW Vita rice bran waxes demonstrate the potential of this bio-alternative. With a renewable carbon index of over 98%, these waxes can reduce the carbon footprint by up to 80% compared to fossil-fuel-based waxes. This reduction in carbon emissions offers significant benefits in meeting regulatory requirements and achieving corporate sustainability goals.
Rice bran wax disproves the notion that choosing a more eco-friendly wax means sacrificing performance. It delivers impressive gloss, hardness, and compatibility with coatings, consumer products, and care products, making it a superior alternative to mountain wax. In some cases, it even offers additional benefits, making it a great choice for a variety of applications, such as metal packaging coating, furniture finishing, protective coatings, and powder coatings.
Licocare RBW Vita additives also act as effective lubricants, dispersants and nucleating agents for engineering thermoplastics and biopolymers, further reducing the industry’s reliance on fossil-based materials. By adding rice bran wax to plastic formulations, manufacturers can improve processing efficiency and enhance material properties. The latest rice bran wax formulations are designed to meet the high performance demands of the coatings and plastics industries, while facilitating the transition to renewable and more sustainable materials.
As coatings and plastics manufacturers continue to prioritize sustainability, the choice between montan wax and rice wax has become clear. While montan wax does have a role to play, it faces increasing sustainability pressures due to its fossil origins and high environmental costs, making it an unsuitable option for the future. Rice wax, on the other hand, is based on renewable resources and offers high performance, representing the future of sustainable coatings and plastics.
Scientists, product managers and formulators believe that using rice bran wax can improve environmental performance while maintaining or potentially improving product performance, contributing to a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13: Climate Action, Reduce Dependence on Fossil Resources and Reduce Emissions. The switch to rice bran wax is driving innovation and offers significant opportunities to achieve the broader SDGs.
Post time: Sep-01-2025