2024 UV+EB Degradability Challenge

The RadTech RadLaunch Committee is pleased to announce the 2024 UV+EB Degradability Challenge. We invite applications for UV+EB materials designed to be biodegradable and/or compostable themselves, and/or not substantially reduce substrate degradability. RadLaunch Challenge winners will receive an expenses-paid trip to RadTech 2024 in May in Orlando to present their work, as well as cash prizes.

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Submission Options

This Radlaunch challenge invites innovative submissions across the degradability spectrum and product development chain. This includes but is not limited to:

Degradable raw materials used in the development of UV+EB cure formulations
Degradable formulated UV+EB inks, coatings, adhesives, composites, and 3D printing resins
Finished products converted with UV+EB that are degradable, such as 3D printed items, consumer electronics, or food packaging

Judging Criteria

Criteria for award winners includes:

Displays disruptive technical innovation in the area of degradability for UV+EB products
Shows a pathway toward practical use in commercial application
Recipient is capable and interested in continuing the development of the innovation

Types of Degradability

As plastic pollution continues to wreak havoc on global ecosystems, it is crucial to incorporate End-Of-Life (EOL) into product design. When a product reaches its EOL, it should ideally be either recycled, composted, or disposed of in a landfill. However, some items may leak from their intended EOL trajectory and end up littering the ground or ocean. With this in mind, applications for the 2024 UV+EB Degradability Challenge must meet one or more of the following degradability standards:

Industrial
Compostable

Physical and chemical breakdown must occur within 180 days in an industrial composting facility and the final product must be non-toxic. Compliant with ASTM 06400, BPI, EN 13432, or TUV Austria OK Industrial Compost certification.

Home
Compostable

Materials must be able to fully decompose into the soil in home composting conditions within a year and the final product must be non-toxic.

Soil
Degradable

Materials must be able to fully disintegrate in an ambient soil environment

Marine
Degradable

Materials must be able physically break down within 3 months and fully biodegrade within 6 months. Compliant with ASTM 06691, TUV Austria OK Biodegradable Marine.

Landfill
Degradable

Materials must be able to fully disintegrate in a landfill environment. Compliant with ASTM 05526.

Biodegradable vs. Compostable

While compostable and biodegradable are often used interchangeably, they have important differences. All compostable items are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable items are compostable. To be certified as compostable, a product must be certified by a 3rd party to completely break down into nutrient-rich compost within a certain amount of time in an industrial composting facility. Given the limited availability of industrial composting facilities, the most sustainable EOL design is soil degradable.

For further information, please see:

Certified Compostable Products: What to Look For and What It Means

BPI Comercial Compostability Certification

Biodegradable or Compostable: What’s the Difference?