Evacuaid: APR compliant PET with micro textured surface for efficient sauce evacuation
EvacuAid is a PET bottle featuring a micro textured inner surface engineered to facilitate the efficient evacuation of viscous sauces like ketchup and mayo, achieving over 95% evacuation without altering the product formulation.
Overview
EvacuAid is an innovative solution designed to enhance the evacuation efficiency of PET bottles for viscous sauces such as ketchup and mayonnaise. Utilizing an engineered micro riblet surface, the bottle achieves over 95% evacuation, minimizing waste and improving user experience. This technology maintains full recyclability compliance with the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) standards, as no new chemicals are introduced, and the food contact path remains consistent with conventional PET materials.
Technical specifications
The core innovation of EvacuAid lies in its mono material PET bottle featuring an inner micro riblet surface. The micro riblets, with dimensions of 10–50 µm pitch and 5–20 µm height, are created by laser texturing the injection mold core rod. During stretch blow molding, these features align to reduce the real contact area, functioning in the Cassie Baxter regime to effectively vent air and enable near-total evacuation of contents. This design does not require modifications to product formulations, preserving the existing supply chain and recyclability.
Key Features:
- Micro riblet surface to enhance evacuation
- Anisotropic design to maintain partial non-wetting and micro venting
- Compatible with existing PET recycling processes
- No additional chemicals required
Technology readiness level
Currently at Technology Readiness Level 5, EvacuAid has undergone initial validation with a digital twin model and Bayesian optimization to refine texture and geometry parameters, ensuring optimal performance in evacuation. The process is moving towards further validation and pilot production phases to confirm manufacturability and scalability.
About Re-Du Company
RE-DU is a recycling technology company that has developed a patented process for the chemical deconstruction of mixed plastic waste. By breaking down diverse plastic types—such as PET, PC, PU, and PA—into monomers, the company enables the transformation of previously difficult-to-recycle materials into commercially valuable chemical products. This technology eliminates the need for costly sorting of mixed waste streams and offers an efficient, cost-effective alternative to traditional plastic management systems, which often rely on outdated processes that fail to address the majority of global plastic waste.
By providing a scalable solution for chemical recycling, RE-DU aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and minimize the environmental impact of plastic pollution in landfills. The company serves as a partner for industries seeking sustainable chemical feedstocks and is contributing to the development of a circular economy. Supported by initiatives like the Innovation Crossroads Award and research collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, RE-DU is positioned to help transition toward a net-zero carbon society by proving that mixed plastic waste can be successfully converted into high-quality, reusable resources.
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