Water Dispersible Potential Partner Candidates

Nohbo

• Nohbo is a sustainable beauty and personal care technology company located in Melbourne in Florida, US and incorporated in 2014.
• Nohbo is a small company with 11-50 employees.
• Nohbo a Florida based startup commercialized the world’s first, single-use, water soluble personal care line of products. Nohbo appears in Shark Tank and securing an investment from Mark Cuban.
• It has developed and commercialized cutting-edge plastic waste-free consumer good products that dissolve without a trace.
• Nohbo’s philosophy is to create a superior line of eco-friendly personal care products that lather, cleanse and nourish without compromise to quality, sustainability, or performance.
• Two patent families of Nohbo have been identified in the domain.

Nohbo was started by Bejamin Stern, as a passion project after viewing a documentary in his biology class covering the ins and outs of the plastic bottling industry, in the year 2014. Shortly, Nohbo was funded by Mark Cuban in 2016 and $3M Series Seed Led By Material Impact in 2020.

Nohbo’s technology is to use Material science innovations to solve the plastic waste problem. It uses single-use water soluble solutions. It utilizes Utilizing  earth derived  compounds  and  novel green chemistry practices to safely and efficaciously encapsulate (pod) personal care products in water soluble film.

Currently, the company deals in Personal care drops and slips. The personal care drops are composed of patented anhydrous liquid chassis comprised of naturally derived esters & diols + water soluble film in a thermo/solvent sealed pod​​.The Slips are Emulsified water-soluble film embedded with personal care actives. Nohbo has a brand named Sunrise Session which is a personal care products brand.

Nohbo has two patents in this domain. Patent application family US20190216699A1 titled “Hygiene Product Pod And Methods Of Using Same” filed in 2018 discloses a hygiene product pod including a water soluble envelope and the hygiene product sealed in the envelope. The other patent family US11045397B2 titled “Hygiene Product Pod And Methods Of Using Same” filed in 2019, discloses a hygiene product pod including a water soluble envelope and the hygiene product sealed in the envelope.

Nohbo raised a total of $3M in funding over 1 round. This was a Seed round raised on Mar 27, 2020, funded by 3 investors Radical Investments LP and Safer Made.

Decomer Technology

• Decomer Technology is a company based in Tallinn in Estonia, Europe with office in San Francisco, California as well. It was incorporated in 2017.
• The company is developing a novel water-soluble and edible packaging material as well as products thereof. The material is plant-based, tasteless, transparent and hypoallergenic and can be used in food-, detergent-, pharmaceutical-, agricultural and other industries.
• Decomer Technology, an Estonian startup has raised investments worth $350,000 (€314,000) so far and is planning to raise an additional $1.1million in 2020.
• One patent family of Decomer Technology has been identified in this domain.

Decomer Technology was cofounded by Kelly Kangur and Salumäe in the year 2017. It was initially based in Estonia, Europe but now it also has an office in California, Europe.

Decomer Technology deals with the production of eco-friendly polymers. It has developed a novel water-soluble and edible packaging material as well as products thereof. The material is plant-based, tasteless, transparent and hypoallergenic and can be used in food-, detergent-, pharmaceutical-, agricultural and other industries.

The company has a brand called Blenday which deals in superfoods that are in form of plant based blendable pillows. The brand is known to combine convenience, eco-friendliness and high quality superfood. Blenday can be mixed into smoothies to keep daily vitamin and mineral levels in check.

Honeydrops water-soluble honey packages make consuming honey in drinks more convenient. One simply takes a package, adds it to the drink, lets it melt and can enjoy the drink. The packaging material is completely edible. Honeydrops™ is a trademark of Decomer Technology OÜ.

The company has filed a PCT Application WO2020/264063A1 in 2020 titled “Hydro-liquid soluble films, products and uses thereof” which discloses films compositions for packaging and delivering a foodstuff, pharmaceutical, industrial, manufacturing and agricultural materials and uses. The film can be formed from at least one biodegradable film forming agent, and at least one biodegradable plasticizer.

Polye Material Co. Ltd

About Company

Polye Materials Co., Ltd is a professional high-tech industrial company focused on R&D, manufacturing and exporting Starch-based biodegradable materials, water-soluble materials, and functional packaging bags. It is located in Xiongxing Industrial Park, Qingyuan city, Guangdong province, China. It was founded in 2008

In 2016 SOLUMAT™ SOLUBAG™ were introduced to the market as environmental friendly water soluble pellets, films, and bags. And in 2017 POLYEMAT produces functional packaging film/bag which can adsorb and degrade Methanal in clothes, furniture, plastic products, diapers and so on.

Product Range

Polye Technology has a large range of products. This includes cold water soluble Cast PVA/PVOH cold water soluble film for packaging liquid detergent laundry pods, Cold Water Soluble Bag For Chemical And Pesticide Packaging, cold water soluble material (Blown film grade and injection molding grade, flushable dog poop bag, water soluble film for packaging dishwasher tablets and water soluble bags.

Patents

In 2012, Polye Materials filed 2 patents. Patent family CN102700143B discloses preparation method of a thin film bag with different parts simultaneously having two different water soluble speeds. On the other hand CN202574851U discloses a utility model relates to a film bag with two different water-soluble speeds on different parts simultaneously. The bag is a water disposable environment-friendly bag.

Jiangmen Proudly Water Soluble Plastic

About Company

Guangdong Proudly New Material Technology Corp. (Former name: Jiangmen Proudly Water-soluble Plastic Co., Ltd.) is a National High & New Tech Enterprise unifying development, production and sales. Proudly's orientation is to be a professional provider of big health products and services with functional materials. Proudly devotes herself in providing safe, health and eco-friendly customized solutions with functional, eco-friendly and water-soluble packaging materials. Proudly has innovative patent and knowhow in the development and manufacturing of the functional biodegradable new materials and water soluble packaging. The new materials have been widely used in the medical & healthcare, industrial, agricultural and daily consumer goods, etc.

Product Range

The product range of Jiangmen Proudly Water Soluble Plastic includes Water soluble laundry bag for infection control in hospitals, Water soluble laundry bag, Flushable dog waste bag, Water-soluble Fully Bio-degradable Dressing Bag, Water soluble packaging film/bag for pollutant chemicals, Biodegradable fresh-keeping packaging film/bag, water-soluble net bag for bait packing, Aquasoluble shopping bag.

Patents

Jiangmen Proudly Water-soluble Plastic has filed two patents. Utility model CN215101047U filed in 2021 discloses a film bag processing mechanism in which the film bag is made of water soluble bio-based material. Utility model CN211498685U filed in 2019 discloses a  water-soluble excrement picking bag.

Guangzhou Dade Packing Machinery Co., Ltd.

About Company

Guangzhou Dade Packing Machinery Co., Ltd. is a research and development, production and sales of packaging machinery, filling equipment manufacturers; company focused on packaging machinery, filling machinery, automatic labeling machines and related non-standard class complete sets of equipment production, sales, and provides OEM custom packaging services; company has strong technical team, professional manufacturing capabilities and comprehensive service system.

Product Range

The company has a wide range of machinery. Water Soluble Film Packaging Machine for Cleaner Liquid, Soluble film packaging machine, teabag packing machine.

Patents

Guangzhou Dade Packing Machinery Co., Ltd. Has two patents filed in 2018, in its name. CN208828377U is a utility model disclosing a water-soluble packaging bag. Patent application CN109229814A which also discloses a water-soluble packaging bag.

Most Cited Players

• PROCTER & GAMBLE produces a water soluble sachet for laundry additive composition. The sachet has at least two compartments. The composition of the sachet includes PVA and HPMC.
• RHÔNE-POULENC products produces water-soluble polymers, such as packaging for pesticide gels that would dissolve in water before being applied to crops.
• CLOROX has developed pouches made from water soluble films composed of hydroxybutylmethylcellulose (HBMC)/ hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) blend and PVA. The pouches are used to store wash additives.
• UNILEVER manufactures a laundry treatment product in a water soluble sachet form capable of releasing contents of the sachet into a wash liquor during laundering. The sachet is formed of bio based polymers like cellulose(and derivatives), starch, gelatin, natural gums, dextrin. 
• BAYER AGRICULTURE has developed a package containing a toxic liquid(e.g. pesticide) and an envelope surrounding it. The envelope is made of water soluble or water dispersible materials like methylcellulose or PVA.
• HENKEL produces a multi-phase detergent composition contained in a water soluble pouch having a single chamber. The pouch is made out of a film which is composed of cellulose and/or its derivatives, guar gum, starch, PVA and their combinations.

Patents/Applications Owned by Individuals

US11147287B2

Legal Status – Alive

This patent relates to a compartmentalized water soluble beverage pod for beverage preparation that includes a plurality of secondary shells that is coupled to a primary shell. An associated subtance comprises at least one of a beverage concentrate, a sweetening agent, a creamer concentrate, and a flavoring agent, is positioned in each of the interior space and the internal spaces of the shells. The primary shell and the plurality of secondary shells comprise at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, casein, whey, starch, pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose, collagen, gelatin, chitosan, alginate, and carrageenan.

Patent is filed on April 2019 and gets published on October 2021. Filing country of the patent is US and it does not include other jurisdiction. Patent cited total 9 patents and no non-patent literature and it does not include any forward citation.

US10538888B2

Legal Status – Alive

The present invention is a water soluble collection bag for the disposal of bodily waste and pet fecal matter in a toilet. The present invention includes a method of use that prevents plumbing system clogs when disposing of bodily fluids and pet fecal matter in a toilet. The water soluble material of the bag may a plant based material.

Patent is filed on August 2017 and gets published on January 2020. Filing country of the patent is US and it does not include other jurisdiction. Patent cited total 14 patents and no non-patent citation and also does not include any forward citation.

CN112063084A

Legal Status – Alive

The invention discloses a water-soluble film, a preparation method thereof and a water-soluble environment-friendly bag.The water-soluble film provided by the invention comprises polyvinyl alcohol, glycerol, water, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, benzoic acid, benzophenone, titanium dioxide, an anti-adhesion agent, a stiffness increasing agent, amylose, diethylene glycol and stearic acid. Wherein, the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose can improve the biomass content and the dissolubility of the water-soluble film. The anti-blocking agent and the stiffness increasing agent can improve the characteristics of the water-soluble film and improve the barrier property of the water-soluble film. The water-soluble film is natural in raw materials, reduces dependence on petroleum products, is low in production cost, and is more energy-saving and environment-friendly.

Patent is filed on August 2020 and gets published in the same year in December 2020. Filing country of the patent is China and it does not include other jurisdiction. Patent does not include any patent and non-patent citation and also does not include any forward citation.

JP2070542C

Legal Status – Dead

The invention discloses a sealing bag for a bathing agent capable of rapidly and uniformly diffusing the bathing agent into bath hot water and dissolving the bathing agent while producing a comfortable sound without floating partially undissolved. A foamable bathing agent is wrapped in a water-soluble sealing bag.  A material consisting essentially of polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, 4,4,6-tri-glu copolysaccharide, etc., is cited as the material for the water-soluble sealing bag and may contain a colorant, odorant, etc. The film thickness is 10-80mu.The dissolution characteristics can be readily regulated by adjusting the film thickness. Furthermore, pasteboard, e.g. polyester, etc., can be applied to a water-soluble film to increase the processing strength in filling the bathing agent.

Patent is filed on November 1986 and gets published on July 1996.Filing country of the patent is Japan and it does not include other jurisdiction. Patent cited total 5 patents and no non-patent literature and total 6 forward citations.

US20180112088A1

Legal Status – Dead

A water-soluble pouch for coloring a water-based coating, such as a paint or a stucco, is disclosed. The water-soluble pouch includes first and second sheets of water-soluble material that are plastically deformed and at least partially joined together such that interior surfaces of the first and second sheets cooperate to define at least one interior chamber. The first and second sheets are at least partially joined together by way of a bonding process. One or more pigments are contained within the at least one interior chamber. The water-soluble pouch is configured to dissolve and release the one or more pigments into the water-based coating when mixed with the water-based coating for at least a predetermined period of time. A method for coloring a water-based coating is also disclosed. The first and second water-soluble materials each comprise a material selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, polysaccharide and cellulose ether.

Patent is filed on October 2017 and gets published on April 2018. Filing country of the patent is US and it does not include other jurisdiction. Patent cited total 3 patents and no non-patent literature and it does not include any forward citation.

Trends, Shift in R&D Strategy

In year 2017, 17 Patent families have been filed out of which 3 Patent families have been filed in CN Jurisdiction, namely by the following assignees “JIESHOU MOUTAINTOP LEISURE GOODS”, “TAICANG YAAO PLASTIC” and “ANHUI HUAMAO FLEXIBLE PACKAGE” focused on composition of water-soluble pouches. Out of 17 families, 13 Patent families have been filed in US Jurisdiction and few of those key assignees are as follows: “PROCTER & GAMBLE”, “UNILEVER” and “MONOSOL” focusing on method of manufacturing of water soluble pouches and their composition. One Patent family filed as a PCT application in 2017 by “HENKEL” which focuses on Multi-compartment water soluble pouch (WO2018/046344A1).

In year 2018, 15 Patent families have been filed out of 5 Patent families have been filed in CN Jurisdiction which focuses on method of manufacturing of water soluble pouches by following assignees: “GUANGZHOU DADE PACKING MACHINERY” & “CHANGZHOU HETUO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY”. 7 Patent families have been filed in US Jurisdiction which focuses on method of manufacturing and water soluble articles and few of those key assignees are as follows: “HENKEL”, “PROCTER & GAMBLE” and “NOHBO”. One Patent family filed in KR Jurisdiction which focuses on manufacturing of water soluble sheets (KR102061966B1). One Patent family filed in JP Jurisdiction which focuses on water soluble pouch by “PROCTER & GAMBLE”. One family filed in TW focuses on sugar package structure by “DAIKEN BIOMEDICAL”.

In year 2019, 12 Patent families have been filed out of which 4 Patent families have been filed in CN Jurisdiction having a focus on composition of water-soluble pouches, by the following assignees: “BEIJING YISIDE LOGISTICS TECHNOLOGY”, “JIANGMEN PROUDLY WATER SOLUBLE PLASTIC” & “GUANGZHOU LVHUI NEW MATERIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE”. 5 Patent families have been filed in US Jurisdiction focusing on multi-compartment water-soluble containers and are namely filed by the following assignees: “ELC MANAGEMENT”, “NOHBO”, “MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL” and “NICOVENTURES TRADING”. One Patent family filed in EP Jurisdiction (EP3786272A1) by “BLUESUN CONSUMER BRANDS” which focuses on unit dose of a liquid laundry detergent composition. One Patent family filed in JP Jurisdiction (JP2020007559A) by “PROCTER & GAMBLE” focusing on single or multi-compartment water-soluble cleaning pouch. One Patent family filed as a PCT application in 2019 by “BASF” which focuses on production of water-soluble containers (WO2019/238730A1).

In year 2020, 21 Patent families have been filed out of which 4 Patent families have been filed in CN Jurisdiction focusing on composition of water-soluble pouches by the following assignees: “BEIJING YISIDE LOGISTICS TECHNOLOGY”, “ZHONGGUANGJIAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY” and “PROCTER & GAMBLE”. Out of 21 Patent families, 7 Patent families have been filed in US Jurisdiction focusing on composition of water-soluble pouches, filed by the following assignees: “PROCTER & GAMBLE”, “US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE”, “METHOD PRODUCTS PBC”, “HENKEL” and “NCP NEXTGEN”. 7 PCT applications filed by the following assignees: “MONOSOL”, “PEARTREE CHEMICALS”, “R P SCHERER TECHNOLOGIES” and “DECOMER TECHNOLOGY” focusing on method of manufacturing and composition of water soluble films. WO2020/264063A1 discloses a Plant-derived PVA film. One Patent family filed in JP Jurisdiction (JP2021178940A) by “CXS” focusing on cleaning agent composition in a water soluble pouch. One Patent family filed in EP Jurisdiction (EP3858966A1) by “PROCTER & GAMBLE” which focuses on vacuum packaging method. One Patent family filed in KR Jurisdiction which focuses on powdery detergent composition in water soluble bag (KR102171856B1) by “BLUE WASH”.

In year 2021, 5 Patent families have been filed out of which 2 Patent families have been filed in CN Jurisdiction having following assignee: “SHANDONG UNIVERSITY” and “JIANGMEN PROUDLY WATER SOLUBLE PLASTIC” having the focus on Composition of water soluble film and method of manufacturing. While 3 Patent families have been filed in US Jurisdiction having following assignee: “KURARAY”, “NICOVENTURES TRADING” and “PROCTER & GAMBLE” focusing on water-soluble unit dose films.

In last five years (2022-2017), 51% of patent filing activity is dominated by top assignees such as 12 Patent families filed by “PROCTER & GAMBLE”, 6 Patent families filed by “MONOSOL” and 5 Patent families filed by “HENKEL”. With maximum patent targeting EP Jurisdiction with 32 Patent families filed in EP Jurisdiction followed by 29 Patent families filed in US Jurisdiction and 22 Patent families filed in CN Jurisdiction.

In year 2021, 29 Patent families have been published out of which 18 Patent families have been published in each EP and US Jurisdiction related to “Unit dose format product formed from water soluble bio based polymer”. Among these 29 Patent Families, 2 patent were focused on Method/Process of making “Unit dose format water soluble bio-based pouch/Bags ”, and 3 patents were focused on “films” made up of water soluble bio-based polymer which are further used to make unit dose packets. After US and EP , mostly Patents are published in WO (13 patent families) ,CN (6 patent Families) and 3 patent Family each were published in CA, GB, JP. Top players in 2021 were HENKEL, MONSOL AND P&G with 4 Published patent families each.

In year 2020, 23 Patent families have been published out of which 11 Patent families have been published in EP Jurisdiction related to “Unit dose format product formed from water soluble bio-based polymer.” Followed by CN and US with 8  patent family each .Among these 23 patent families 5 were  focused on  “films” made up of water soluble bio-based polymer which are further used to make unit dose packets . 3 patent families were published  focusing on Composition of sachets or pouches. 8 patent families were published in CA Jurisdiction , 6 Patent Families each in BR & JP, 5 Patent families each in DE & WO AND 4 Patent families each in FR & GB. Top Players in 2020 were P&G with 5 Published Patent families Followed by BEIJING YISIDE LOGISTICS TECHNOLOGY and MONOSOL with 2 Published Patent families each.

In year 2019, 13 Patent families have been published out of which 9 Patent families have been published in CN Jurisdiction related to “Unit dose format product formed from water soluble bio-based polymer”. Among these 13 patent families 2 Patent families were focused on Method/Process of making “Unit dose format water soluble bio based bags/pouches, 1 patent family was published  focusing on Composition of sachets or pouches. After CN , 5 patent families were published in EP Jurisdiction, 4 patent families were published in US Jurisdiction  and 2 patent family each were published in CA ,DE,ES,FR,GB,IN and JP Jurisdiction. Top Players in 2019 were P&G with 3 Published Patent families Followed by GUANGZHOU DADE PACKING MACHINERY with 2 Published Patent families each.

In year 2017, 18 Patent families have been published out of which 9 Patent families have been published in EP Jurisdiction related to “Unit dose format product  water soluble bio-based polymer. Among these 18 Patent families, 2 patent families were focused on Method/Process of manufacturing Unit dose format water soluble bio based bags/pouches. 3 patent families were focused on “films” made up of water soluble bio-based polymer which are further used to make unit dose packets. After EP, 7 patent families were published in CN Jurisdiction  and 6 patent family each were published in DE,GB,US and JP Jurisdiction. 5 patent families each were published in CA and FR Jurisdiction and 4 patent families each in ES and IN Jurisdiction. Top Players in 2017 were P&G with 9 Published Patent families Followed by MONOSOL with 4 Published Patent families.

In year 2018, 12 Patent families have been published out of which 5 Patent families have been published in US Jurisdiction related to “Unit dose format product formed from water soluble bio-based polymer” Among these 5 patent families 2 were focused on method/Process of making of Unit dose format water soluble bio-based pouch/Bags. Among theses 12 Patent families 2 patent families were focused on “Films” made up of water soluble bio-based polymer which are further used to make unit dose packets, After US, 3 patent Family each were published in CN,DE,EP,GB,IN,JP AND MX Jurisdiction and 2 patent family each were published in CA and FR Jurisdiction. Top Players in 2019 were P&G with 4 Published Patent families Followed by MONOSOL, HENKEL, with 1 Published Patent families each.

Bibliographic Trends

Top Assignee

Top Assignee V/S Earliest Priority Year

Top SMEs and Start-ups

Top SMEs and Start-ups Vs. Earliest Priority Year

Technology Trends

Technology Trends – Recent Patent Filing (last 5 years)

IPC Class based Trend

CPC Class based Trend

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