In the past we worried about plastic in the oceans, rivers, rain and tap water, when in reality we should be worried about plastics inside our bodies, given the many recent studies demonstrated, the problem of generational accumulation of microplastics in our bodies can be the worst type of plastic pollution.
The need for innovative plastic alternatives has never been more critical. Plastic pollution has left a devastating mark on Earth’s once pristine environments. The material’s skyrocketing use is evident in the impacted marine and wildlife ecosystems. A strong example is the 1.6 million square kilometer-wide Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which affects at least 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year. Plastic has now made its way into our bodies in the form of microplastics, making it clear that the time for change is now.
“Imagine a material that looks and feels just like plastic but disappears overnight after its intended use. This is precisely what we have developed,” says Manuel Rendon.
As the inventor of polar, time-programmable and water-soluble plastics that break down completely after a predetermined period, Rendon stands at the helm of Timeplast, a trailblazing chemical technology company innovating viable replacements for plastic.
The Man Behind the Innovation
Rendon’s journey as a conservationist began at the age of 17 when he embarked on a path to study environmental engineering, driven by a desire to address the challenges preventing society from advancing to a Type I civilization on the Kardashev scale. In the first semester of college, he demonstrated his longstanding passion for environmental sustainability by publishing his first paper on the polarity of conventional plastics in 2004. After graduating, Rendon continued to develop the project—focused on the orderly depolymerization of plastic—that would eventually become Timeplast.
Before starting his career at PepsiCo in 2014, Rendon filed a patent for his novel chemical pathways, ensuring that he retained the intellectual property rights to his innovation. At PepsiCo, he quickly rose to the role of International Coordinator for the company’s environmental health and safety system, MyEHS. This is where he met and interacted with Brad Rodgers, then global packaging discovery director. During their time together, Rodgers played a pivotal role in exploring innovative pathways for plastics, dedicating significant time and effort to testing Rendon’s ideas.
Rendon’s collaboration with Rogers at PepsiCo allowed him to delve deeply into concepts that aimed to advance the sustainability of packaging materials.
After completing his tenure, he fully dedicated himself to Timeplast, with a renewed focus on creating a new type of plastic material rather than merely addressing existing plastic waste. His vision was corroborated in 2018 with a groundbreaking scientific paper published in Nature Chemistry journal that supported his research. It explored the possibility of creating a new plastic material by depolymerizing existing plastics and repolymerizing them into a high-quality, virgin material.
“When we examined this paper, we found that it closely aligned with the technology we have at Timeplast, and we identified a few additional ingredients that we could incorporate from their research,” says Rendon.
This culminated in the development of Timeplast resin, a revolutionary thermoplastic material crafted from a proprietary blend of alcohol, cellulose and vinegar. This substance transforms under heat and pressure during molding, increasing its molecular weight significantly to create a durable yet fully dissolvable polymer. This resin is at the heart of all of Timeplast’s innovations.
Science That Feels Like Magic
Timeplast resin is not just a pioneering material; it’s also userfriendly. The company has invested significant effort in making it a plug-and-play solution for manufacturers. Businesses interested in using the compound can easily select the desired dissolution rate—ranging from 60 minutes to 60 years. The resin is shipped in conventional, 50-pound bags and comes with a plastics processing guide, curated using insights from over 30 industrial-scale trials demonstrating the material’s versatility.
An excellent example of this is a partnership with Nestlé Waters of North America (now BlueTriton Brands), which supported the development of Rendon’s orderly depolymerization technology for use in its PET bottles. Unfortunately, the sale of the entire water division and the subsequent change in business strategy led to Timeplast taking a backseat. Despite this setback, Timeplast innovated its flagship product TimeplastRAW, a polar, water-soluble material that depolymerizes in a controlled manner. Unlike traditional plastics, TimeplastRAW is programmable to maintain its structural integrity for a designated period. This versatile, environmentally friendly alternative addresses the limitations of traditional synthetic polymers.
“TimeplastRAW is a significant leap forward in plastic technology as it offers a viable way to overcome the limitations of synthetic polymers like PVA, which readily dissolves upon contact with water,” says Rendon.
Timeplast’s next innovation takes this idea further by reimagining what plastic can do in the future. Building on the programmable nature of its materials, it developed Time-MASS, an advanced filament that allows manufacturers to create 4-dimensional objects. Designed to redefine traditional 3D printing, this advanced material incorporates time into the printing process.
Unlocking New Production Concepts with 4D
Time-MASS takes Timeplast’s concept of programmability to the next level, expanding its applications from dissolving waste to unlocking new possibilities in product engineering, especially in fields like product printing and environmental restoration.
A game-changing concept powered by the Time-MASS technology is Bloominite. With a trademark applied by String Cubed, Inc., this application comprises a time-programmable device that is designed to support vegetation without human intervention. The printed object, made from Time-MASS filaments, contains everything necessary for a seed to thrive—water, nutrients, and mechanical protection from the sun, predators and wind. It features a slow-release mechanism optimized for the gradual interaction of growth factors with the soil. This makes Bloominite ideal for challenging environments, such as arid regions, where it can enable reforestation or agriculture with minimal resource input.
For example, planting a tree in the Sahara desert would typically be costly, requiring daily watering and care. Bloominite can bypass these challenges by activating upon contact with the soil, triggering water reservoirs and nutrient release lasting up to three to five years, allowing the seed to grow independently. This approach eliminates the need for labor, agricultural equipment, or pesticides, making it particularly valuable in areas where food production is difficult or expensive.
Leveraging 4D printing technology to create self-sustaining growth systems, Bloominite represents a groundbreaking shift in sustainable agriculture and reforestation.
Straight Out of Sci-Fi
Beyond TimeplastRAW and Time-MASS, Rendon and his team developed PABYSS. This innovative device answers the question: “What happens if a Timeplast product has served its purpose before its dissolution time?”
Taking a cue from advanced sci-fi worlds where all the materials in a container dissolve down to their molecular level, PABYSS is developed with a vision for a future where waste isn’t just managed; it’s made to disappear efficiently and sustainably.
“Our patented PABYSS system accelerates the molecular breakdown of Timeplast materials,” states Rendon.
Further enhancing Timeplast’s sustainability is its emphasis on creating a pipeline of products free of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Through an independent, certified study, the company ensures its offerings contain no ‘forever chemicals.’
Timeplast has also obtained independent verification of its product’s water solubility. Rendon stresses how water is the universal solvent as intended by nature and considers it the gold standard for testing his materials. Equipped with this mindset, the company is delivering a product that aligns with the highest environmental benchmarks. Timeplast is now poised to transform the plastics industry by providing a versatile, sustainable material that simplifies manufacturing and recycling processes.
Ready to Make a Huge Impact
Timeplast is currently in the market penetration stage and is a pre-revenue company. Its focus is on the single-use market, targeting products such as cutlery, plates, straws and stretch films. It is set to launch its second crowdfunding campaign, which it anticipates will fund a vast market penetration strategy and propel the company into the revenue phase. Timeplast also plans to go public, aiming to offer a unique alternative to the dominant petrochemical companies that currently monopolize the market.
Strategically positioning to enter many markets with its superior applicability, Timeplast is set to cover 95 percent of all plastic markets. One of its latest developments, Time Wrap—which can replace traditional plastic wrap and be used in industrial-grade applications—is set to take Timeplast to new heights.
It envisions a future of vertical integration, particularly in synthesizing vinyl acetate monomers from alcohol distilled from organic waste. This approach could revolutionize various industries, including paints, lubricants and other petrochemical-dependent materials, by replacing traditional petrochemical sources with sustainable, alcohol-based alternatives derived from organic waste.
Timeplast’s vision of a sustainable, integrated production process aligns with its commitment to providing environmentally friendly solutions that challenge the status quo in the plastics and petrochemical industries.
The need for innovative plastic alternatives has never been more critical. Plastic pollution has left a devastating mark on Earth’s once pristine environments. The material’s skyrocketing use is evident in the impacted marine and wildlife ecosystems. A strong example is the 1.6 million square kilometer-wide Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which affects at least 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year. Plastic has now made its way into our bodies in the form of microplastics, making it clear that the time for change is now.
“Imagine a material that looks and feels just like plastic but disappears overnight after its intended use. This is precisely what we have developed,” says Manuel Rendon.
Our patented PABYSS system accelerates the molecular breakdown of Timeplast materials
The Man Behind the Innovation
Rendon’s journey as a conservationist began at the age of 17 when he embarked on a path to study environmental engineering, driven by a desire to address the challenges preventing society from advancing to a Type I civilization on the Kardashev scale. In the first semester of college, he demonstrated his longstanding passion for environmental sustainability by publishing his first paper on the polarity of conventional plastics in 2004. After graduating, Rendon continued to develop the project—focused on the orderly depolymerization of plastic—that would eventually become Timeplast.
Before starting his career at PepsiCo in 2014, Rendon filed a patent for his novel chemical pathways, ensuring that he retained the intellectual property rights to his innovation. At PepsiCo, he quickly rose to the role of International Coordinator for the company’s environmental health and safety system, MyEHS. This is where he met and interacted with Brad Rodgers, then global packaging discovery director. During their time together, Rodgers played a pivotal role in exploring innovative pathways for plastics, dedicating significant time and effort to testing Rendon’s ideas.
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Imagine a material that looks and feels just like plastic but disappears overnight after its intended use. This is precisely what we have developed
Rendon’s collaboration with Rogers at PepsiCo allowed him to delve deeply into concepts that aimed to advance the sustainability of packaging materials.
After completing his tenure, he fully dedicated himself to Timeplast, with a renewed focus on creating a new type of plastic material rather than merely addressing existing plastic waste. His vision was corroborated in 2018 with a groundbreaking scientific paper published in Nature Chemistry journal that supported his research. It explored the possibility of creating a new plastic material by depolymerizing existing plastics and repolymerizing them into a high-quality, virgin material. “When we examined this paper, we found that it closely aligned with the technology we have at Timeplast, and we identified a few additional ingredients that we could incorporate from their research,” says Rendon.
This culminated in the development of Timeplast resin, a revolutionary thermoplastic material crafted from a proprietary blend of alcohol, cellulose and vinegar. This substance transforms under heat and pressure during molding, increasing its molecular weight significantly to create a durable yet fully dissolvable polymer. This resin is at the heart of all of Timeplast’s innovations.
Science That Feels Like Magic
Timeplast resin is not just a pioneering material; it’s also userfriendly. The company has invested significant effort in making it a plug-and-play solution for manufacturers. Businesses interested in using the compound can easily select the desired dissolution rate—ranging from 60 minutes to 60 years. The resin is shipped in conventional, 50-pound bags and comes with a plastics processing guide, curated using insights from over 30 industrial-scale trials demonstrating the material’s versatility.
An excellent example of this is a partnership with Nestlé Waters of North America (now BlueTriton Brands), which supported the development of Rendon’s orderly depolymerization technology for use in its PET bottles. Unfortunately, the sale of the entire water division and the subsequent change in business strategy led to Timeplast taking a backseat. Despite this setback, Timeplast innovated its flagship product TimeplastRAW, a polar, water-soluble material that depolymerizes in a controlled manner. Unlike traditional plastics, TimeplastRAW is programmable to maintain its structural integrity for a designated period. This versatile, environmentally friendly alternative addresses the limitations of traditional synthetic polymers.
“TimeplastRAW is a significant leap forward in plastic technology as it offers a viable way to overcome the limitations of synthetic polymers like PVA, which readily dissolves upon contact with water,” says Rendon.
Timeplast’s next innovation takes this idea further by reimagining what plastic can do in the future. Building on the programmable nature of its materials, it developed Time-MASS, an advanced filament that allows manufacturers to create 4-dimensional objects. Designed to redefine traditional 3D printing, this advanced material incorporates time into the printing process.
Unlocking New Production Concepts with 4D
Time-MASS takes Timeplast’s concept of programmability to the next level, expanding its applications from dissolving waste to unlocking new possibilities in product engineering, especially in fields like product printing and environmental restoration.
A game-changing concept powered by the Time-MASS technology is Bloominite. With a trademark applied by String Cubed, Inc., this application comprises a time-programmable device that is designed to support vegetation without human intervention. The printed object, made from Time-MASS filaments, contains everything necessary for a seed to thrive—water, nutrients, and mechanical protection from the sun, predators and wind. It features a slow-release mechanism optimized for the gradual interaction of growth factors with the soil. This makes Bloominite ideal for challenging environments, such as arid regions, where it can enable reforestation or agriculture with minimal resource input. For example, planting a tree in the Sahara desert would typically be costly, requiring daily watering and care. Bloominite can bypass these challenges by activating upon contact with the soil, triggering water reservoirs and nutrient release lasting up to three to five years, allowing the seed to grow independently. This approach eliminates the need for labor, agricultural equipment, or pesticides, making it particularly valuable in areas where food production is difficult or expensive. Leveraging 4D printing technology to create self-sustaining growth systems, Bloominite represents a groundbreaking shift in sustainable agriculture and reforestation.
Straight Out of Sci-Fi
Beyond TimeplastRAW and Time-MASS, Rendon and his team developed PABYSS. This innovative device answers the question: “What happens if a Timeplast product has served its purpose before its dissolution time?”
Taking a cue from advanced sci-fi worlds where all the materials in a container dissolve down to their molecular level, PABYSS is developed with a vision for a future where waste isn’t just managed; it’s made to disappear efficiently and sustainably. “Our patented PABYSS system accelerates the molecular breakdown of Timeplast materials,” states Rendon.
Further enhancing Timeplast’s sustainability is its emphasis on creating a pipeline of products free of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Through an independent, certified study, the company ensures its offerings contain no ‘forever chemicals.’
Timeplast has also obtained independent verification of its product’s water solubility. Rendon stresses how water is the universal solvent as intended by nature and considers it the gold standard for testing his materials. Equipped with this mindset, the company is delivering a product that aligns with the highest environmental benchmarks. Timeplast is now poised to transform the plastics industry by providing a versatile, sustainable material that simplifies manufacturing and recycling processes.
Ready to Make a Huge Impact
Timeplast is currently in the market penetration stage and is a pre-revenue company. Its focus is on the single-use market, targeting products such as cutlery, plates, straws and stretch films. It is set to launch its second crowdfunding campaign, which it anticipates will fund a vast market penetration strategy and propel the company into the revenue phase. Timeplast also plans to go public, aiming to offer a unique alternative to the dominant petrochemical companies that currently monopolize the market.
Strategically positioning to enter many markets with its superior applicability, Timeplast is set to cover 95 percent of all plastic markets. One of its latest developments, Time Wrap—which can replace traditional plastic wrap and be used in industrial-grade applications—is set to take Timeplast to new heights.
It envisions a future of vertical integration, particularly in synthesizing vinyl acetate monomers from alcohol distilled from organic waste. This approach could revolutionize various industries, including paints, lubricants and other petrochemical-dependent materials, by replacing traditional petrochemical sources with sustainable, alcohol-based alternatives derived from organic waste.
Timeplast’s vision of a sustainable, integrated production process aligns with its commitment to providing environmentally friendly solutions that challenge the status quo in the plastics and petrochemical industries.
