PHA producer CJ Biomaterials, a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang recently took part in the launch of the Bioplastics Future Tech Forum, the Innopolis Special R&D Zone Research Council that will actively promote the development of the sustainable materials industry, including PHA technology. Participating organisations will work together to accelerate the development of low carbon, bio-based materials like CJ Bio’s PHACT PHA or NatureWorks’ Ingeo PLA through expanded research and development and product demonstration. The event was hosted on 29 Nov by the South Korea Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korea Innovation Foundation.
Representatives from CJ Biomaterials and other Korean-based companies including SKC, HDC Hyundai EP, and BGF Eco-Bio were in attendance. Global organizations were also present, including PLA manufacturer TotalEnergies Corbion and CJ Bio’s collaboration partner, NatureWorks.
In Korea, an Innopolis, or Innovation Foundation, is a type of science park comprised of R&D-leading innovation clusters where industry collaborates with research and other academic institutes with the aim of developing and supporting technological excellence.
With the launch of the new Forum, CJ Biomaterials and other organisations working with the Foundation are able to test their bio-based materials in food waste treatment facilities, check how effectively they are composting, and receive certification from the Foundation, based on the results. Through the affiliation with the MSIT, participants can also experiment with the methane gas that is generated when their eco-friendly materials decompose, possibly creating a value chain by collecting waste from restaurants, coffee shops, and movie theatres, processing it into methane gas, and selling the gas to facilities that need it.
In the present programme, the gas will be used by a dormitory at Incheon University. The data yielded by the various R&D and verification processes will enable the Foundation to monitor the developments and where needed, recommend system improvements and policy proposals directed at accelerating the adoption and use of eco-friendly materials.
"This year, we are working with global companies such as NatureWorks, Yuhan-Kimberly, the Accor hotel chain, and makeup brand 'BANILACO' to expand the adoption of eco-friendly materials,” said Seung-Jin Lee, Head of the Biomaterials Business for CJ CheilJedang.