CJ Biomaterials, Inc., a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang and a primary producer of polyhydroxyalkanoates has appointed the Netherlands-based Helian Polymers as a distributing partner. Going forward, Helian will distribute CJ Biomaterials’ proprietary PHACT A1000P amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate - aPHA - biopolymer in Europe.
CJ Biomaterials launched its biopolymer activities in 2010. As part of the CJ Corporation, CJ Biomaterials plays a significant part in its global operations with production sites in Indonesia, Malaysia, China, the USA, and Brazil.
It is the first company in the world to produce aPHA, a softer, more rubbery version of PHA that offers fundamentally different performance characteristics than crystalline or semi-crystalline forms of the biopolymer. A 5,000-ton-per-year dedicated PHA plant in Indonesia was commissioned in 2022; aPHA has been available from the plant since Q1 of 2022.
CJ Biomaterials’ aPHA is TüV certified home and industrial compostable and marine and soil (ambient) biodegradable It can be used as a modifier with PLA and other biopolymers to improve their mechanical properties, such as toughness and ductility, while maintaining clarity. aPHA can also be used to tune the biodegradability of PLA, which could potentially lead to a home compostable product.
Helian Polymers is a materials company headquartered in the southern part of the Netherlands that specialises in the development of PHA biopolymers. The company has been active for over fifteen years in the biobased raw materials space and has proven capabilities to develop new custom-tailored biodegradable compounds, to meet specific needs.
“Helian possesses impressive research and development capabilities along with manufacturing expertise in introducing innovative solutions to market, and we are confident that they will greatly enhance our presence and expansion in the region,” said Max Senechal, Chief Commercial Officer at CJ Biomaterials.
CJ BIO and Helian previously collaborated on the development of a sustainable 3D printing filament consisting of 100% PHA-based building blocks. Working with CJ Biomaterial’s flexible and amorphous PHA grade, Helian Polymers was able to fine-tune the material’s mechanical properties and overcome problems with crystalline PHA like brittleness and shrinkage. In 2021, Helian Polymers, working together with CJ BIO and Helian sister company colorFabb, successfully launched a portfolio of PHA-based filaments with different properties.