This photo provided by Kolon Industries Inc. shows the company’s Gimcheon Plant.
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — SK Geocentric Co., a chemical affiliate of South Korea’s energy giant SK Innovation Co., announced Wednesday the commercial release of a biodegradable plastic that was developed jointly with Kolon Industries Inc., a textile and chemical materials maker.
The two parties have been developing poly butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) since last year.
Unlike general plastic products that take about 100 years to decompose naturally, PBAT decomposes more than 90 percent within six months after being buried.
Thanks to these characteristics, PBAT is used primarily for various one-off plastic bags and agricultural vinyl.
After signing a strategic partnership in April, the two parties went through the process of producing trial products and acquiring related certificates and announced the release of a commercial product eight months after the partnership was formed.
SK Geocentric, the nation’s only producer of 1,4-butanediol, a main component of PBAT, will supply raw materials to Kolon Industries.
Kolon Industries will produce high-quality PBAT at its Gumi plant, which the capacity to produce 3,000 tons per year. The two parties intend to expand the annual production capacity to 60,000 tons by 2024.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
