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Okosix is set to present its biodegradable plastic at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Okosix is set to present its biodegradable plastic at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Bitget-RWA2025/10/06 19:03
By:Bitget-RWA

The healthcare sector relies heavily on disposable plastics. Every day, healthcare institutions in the United States discard over 2,800 tons of plastic items and packaging. 

Eddie Yu is especially conscious of this issue. At the onset of the pandemic, Yu launched a business producing single-use masks. While he was sorting recyclables one day, his niece asked if his masks could be recycled.

“I explained to her that the masks actually aren’t recyclable,” he shared with TechCrunch. “She immediately responded, ‘So you’re making a lot of garbage every day.’”

Her comment lingered with Yu, and after he sold his mask company in 2021, he decided to take action.

To address the challenge of single-use plastics in healthcare, Yu’s new venture, Okosix, has created a biodegradable, bio-based polymer. Okosix is participating in Startup Battlefield and will showcase its innovation at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco later this month. 

Okosix’s material combines several ingredients, such as cellulose, chitosan sourced from shellfish, wax, and a proprietary component. According to Yu, this blend is less expensive than polylactic acid (PLA)—a common biodegradable plastic—while offering equal or superior performance.

Yu pointed out that “biodegradability” is often misunderstood when it comes to plastics. Some plastics only break down under very specific conditions, while others degrade into micro- or nanoplastics. 

“We have obtained international certifications confirming that our material fully decomposes within six months,” Yu stated. 

Initially, Okosix is producing face masks, but Yu said the company also aims to manufacture surgical gowns, diapers, and sanitary pads. “Our goal is to use a safe, non-plastic material to replace fossil-based plastics in disposable goods.”

Although a comprehensive lifecycle assessment has not yet been completed, Yu believes Okosix’s product will have a carbon footprint about 90% lower than polypropylene, a commonly used disposable plastic.

Okosix supplies its material to other companies, which then manufacture various products from it. “Right now, our approach is similar to Gore-tex,” Yu explained. “We don’t produce finished goods ourselves; instead, we supply the material and collaborate with partners like 3M.” He also mentioned that, like Gore-tex, branding could play a major role in their business strategy.

The company has secured $2.3 million in funding, with contributions from the founders and several angel investors.

Discover more from Okosix and many other startups, join insightful workshops, and build valuable relationships at this year’s Disrupt, happening from October 27 to 29 in San Francisco.

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Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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