Chairman Lee Jay-hyun of CJ Group.

A bio-degradable plastic that completely melts away in the sea will be mass produced with Korean-developed technology.

Of late, CJ Cheiljedang succeeded in developing Polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHA, a core material for producing an eco-friendly, bio-degradable plastic. Mass production of the material is to be launched early next year.

 
PHA is a material used for producing marine bio-degradable plastic, and PHA, containing materials extracted from microorganisms, is naturally degraded when it meets soil and sea water.

The material can be used to produce disposable straws, PET bottles, and packaging products. CJ Cheiljedang plans to produce 5,000 ton of PHA annually at a bio plant in Indonesia.

A technology to produce a plastic that can be degraded in soil is now available. BGF, the holding company of the distribution company BGF Retail, acquired a venture company specializing in packaging products and succeeded in developing a technology to produce a bio-degradable material.

It is first time in Korea that CJ Cheiljedang has developed PHA that can be degraded in the sea. A few companies possess proprietary technologies to produce PHA. They include Kaneka Corporation of Japan.

CJ Cheiljedang’s technology is superior to the foreign PHA makers’ CJ Cheiljedang said PHA, made by the company, can be applied not only to solid plastics but also vinyl films.

Diverse plastic products, made with Polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHA, a core material for producing an eco-friendly, bio-degradable plastic, developed by CJ Cheiljedang.

With the mass production of PHA, CJ Cheiljedang plans to enter the “white bio” industry in earnest.

The white bio industry is an industrial segment in which biological resources like PHA are developed into industrial materials.

Business sources said the value of the global bio-degradable plastic market, standing at 1 trillion won this year, is predicted to grow to 3 trillion won in five years.

The bio-degradable industry is expected to seek government support. The government is expected to announce strategies to boost the bio-degradable industry as one of its major bio industry policies.

A CJ Cheiljedang official said as global environment restrictions get stricter and social demand for the protection of the environment is mounting, the bio-degradable industry is emerging as an essential technology.

Pre-orders have streamed before the mass production of PHA, the official added.

A view of CJ Group building in Jung-gu, Seoul. (Photos: CJ Group)