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EU Microplastics Restriction

  • EU Microplastic Restriction

Navigating the Microplastic Restriction with Technical Ingredient Research

The EU’s microplastics restriction forces R&D teams to find SPM-free alternatives. GreyB helps them choose the right alternative faster.

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Why GreyB?

Regulatory consultants file the dossier. We make sure you're filing the right one.

REACH compliance firms are experts in what’s required. GreyB is an expert in what’s possible — patent landscape, technology alternatives, and who owns the IP around them.

REACH compliance firms

What they cover

  • ECHA dossier preparation (REACH-IT, IUCLID submissions)
  • SPM classification and exemption eligibility mapping
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS) updates and labeling compliance
  • Annual emission reporting support
  • Regulatory monitoring and alert services

GreyB

What we add on top

  • Patent landscape of all viable SPM alternatives before you commit R&D budget
  • Freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis for reformulated products
  • Competitor patent tracking: what BASF, Clariant, IFF, and Syngenta are patenting right now
  • Startup and technology scouting for biodegradable polymer innovations
  • White space analysis to identify where your company can build defensible IP around compliant formulations
  • Patent filing strategy for your own SPM-free innovations

We don’t file your ECHA dossier — We Find Solutions.

GreyB is not a regulatory compliance firm. We work best alongside your REACH consultant by handling the R&D intelligence layer they cannot: what material to reformulate into, whether that material is patent-clear, and how to turn your compliance obligation into a competitive IP advantage.

650M+

Patents & papers in our database

18+

Years of IP intelligence experience

Slate

Proprietary AI-Powered
R&D Intelligence Tool

3-4wks

landscape delivery time

Services

Six ways GreyB helps you navigate the IP dimension of compliance

Each service targets a specific question your R&D, IP, or innovation team needs answered before they can act.

01

Alternative Material Patent Landscape

A comprehensive map of who owns patents on biodegradable polymers, starch-based carriers, cellulose microbeads, biopolymer encapsulation, and other SPM replacements. Shows what’s protected, what’s expired, and where white spaces exist.

CSO · CTO · Strategy

02

Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis

Before scaling a reformulated product, ensure your new formulation doesn’t infringe live patents. As companies race to comply, FTO searches prevent costly injunctions on products launched under tight deadlines.

CTO · General Counsel

03

Competitor Reformulation Intelligence

Real-time tracking of patent filings by BASF, Clariant, Givaudan, IFF, Syngenta, and others. Reveals which SPM alternatives your rivals are betting on, and where the race is still open for your team to lead.

Strategy · R&D

04

Startup & Technology Scouting

Surface biotech and materials startups developing microplastic-free delivery systems, sustainable texture agents, and encapsulation technologies — before your competitors find them. Enables M&A or licensing before valuations spike.
CSO · CTO · Strategy

05

IP Protection for Compliant Innovations

Companies that develop novel SPM alternatives first have a patent filing opportunity. GreyB identifies white spaces in the alternative materials landscape and helps develop a filing strategy that turns compliance spend into IP assets.
CTO · General Counsel

06

Regulatory + IP Intersection Analysis

Is the alternative both REACH-compliant and patent-clear? GreyB bridges the technical exemption criteria (biodegradability, solubility thresholds) with FTO analysis, a unique combination no pure regulatory firm can offer.

Reg Affairs · R&D · Legal
Compliance Deadlines

The clock is running on multiple fronts simultaneously

Each deadline is a reformulation sprint for a different product category. GreyB’s patent intelligence is most valuable 18–24 months before each date.

2023

Immediate ban: loose glitter, microbeads

May 2026

First ECHA emission report deadline

2027

Rinse-off cosmetics ban

2028

Fertilizers, detergents, waxes

2029

Fragrances, leave-on cosmetics, medical devices

2031

Sports surfaces, plant protection products

2035

Sports surfaces, plant protection products

Who we serve

Industries under the most pressure

GreyB works with the R&D, IP, and Innovation functions inside these sectors. If your product portfolio contains intentionally added polymers, we should talk.

Deadline: 2027–2035

Cosmetics & Personal Care

R&D Head

CSO · CTO · Strategy

IP Counsel

IP Counsel

CSO

Deadline: 2028–2031

Agriculture & Agrochemicals

R&D Director
CTO
Reg Affairs

Reporting: 2026 onward

Industrial Chemicals & Coatings

Innovation Lead
IP Counsel
General Counsel

Deadline: 2028

Detergents & Cleaning Products

R&D Lead
CPO
Sustainability

Deadline: 2029

Medical Devices & Pharma

R&D VP
Reg Affairs
IP Counsel

Deadline: 2031

Sports Surfaces & Construction

Innovation Lead
R&D Manager

How we frame the conversation

What we say to each decision-maker

"We need to reformulate our rinse-off line by 2027 — where do we even start?"

We map the patent landscape for biodegradable alternatives in 3 weeks, showing you what’s protected, what’s free, and where the innovation white spaces are.

"Our competitors are reformulating too — how do we know we won't copy what they've already patented?"

GreyB tracks live patent filings from your top 10 competitors. We tell you what they’re betting on before it becomes prior art that blocks your path.

"Is there a startup that's already solved our encapsulation problem?"

Our tech scouting surfaces early-stage companies with biodegradable encapsulation tech — identified from patent filings, papers, and startup databases before your competitors find them.

"We found an alternative ingredient — but how do we know we're not infringing someone's IP?"

We run a rigorous FTO analysis before your team scales the new formulation, giving your legal team the evidence they need to proceed with confidence.

"We're spending millions complying — how do we turn this into an advantage, not just a cost?"

Companies that innovate first in SPM alternatives can file defensible patents. We identify the white spaces and build a filing strategy that turns your compliance investment into IP assets.
FAQ

Questions we get from R&D and IP teams

Do we need to hire a REACH consultant separately, or does GreyB cover that?
Yes — you will need a REACH-specialist firm (such as REACH24H, Ecomundo, or H2 Compliance) to handle your ECHA dossier, SDS updates, and emission reporting. GreyB is not a regulatory compliance firm. We operate at the R&D intelligence layer: what material to reformulate into, whether it’s patent-safe, and how to build IP around your compliant innovation. The two are complementary, not competing.
A standard patent landscape covering a defined technology area (e.g. starch-based encapsulation for cosmetics, or polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizers) typically takes 2–4 weeks. For a broader multi-category landscape, we recommend a scoping call first to define the boundaries and prioritize by your nearest deadline.
Absolutely. Industrial sites operating under derogations face ECHA emission reporting from May 2026 onward, and many are investing in alternative binders, abrasives, and processing aids. GreyB works across all affected sectors — cosmetics, agriculture, industrial chemicals, coatings, medical devices, and sports surfaces.
Yes — this is one of the highest-value engagements we offer. When a company reformulates under regulatory pressure, the resulting innovation (a new delivery system, a novel biodegradable carrier, a performance-matched alternative) is frequently patentable. We run white space analysis to identify what’s claimable and help you develop a filing strategy that protects the innovation before competitors arrive at the same solution.
GreyB’s scouting draws on 650M+ patents and scientific papers, cross-referenced with startup databases and market signals. We identify companies 18–36 months before they become visible through press coverage — when valuations are lower and partnership terms are more favorable. We also filter for IP strength, technical readiness level, and regulatory alignment, so you’re not chasing early-stage science that won’t meet your 2027 deadline.
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Before you reformulate, know the tech landscape.

Get in touch with our team to map your situation and prioritize which questions need answering first.

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