South Korea generates more than 300,000 tons of oyster shell waste annually. (The image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
DAEJEON, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean startup PMI BioTech, a spinoff from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), has signed a five-year export contract worth approximately 12 billion won (roughly $9 million USD) with a major U.S.-based global distributor for its high-purity calcium product derived from oyster shells, the institute announced on Sunday.
The deal marks a significant milestone in the commercialization of sustainable calcium alternatives, addressing both environmental and supply chain concerns. South Korea generates more than 300,000 tons of oyster shell waste annually, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
These shells have long posed a costly environmental hazard due to odor, land and water contamination, and disposal expenses running into the hundreds of billions of won.
While past efforts to repurpose shell waste into calcium products have relied on energy-intensive processes involving high-heat calcination or harsh chemicals, PMI has developed a cleaner alternative.
The company’s proprietary process extracts calcium by channeling hydroxide ions through a solution containing dissolved shells. This method avoids fuel combustion, drastically reduces power usage through renewable energy, and captures both wastewater and carbon dioxide for reuse—significantly lowering carbon emissions.
The result is a premium-grade, food-safe calcium powder boasting more than 99% purity, ultra-low heavy metal content (0.1–1% of conventional levels), and a bioavailability rate more than three times higher than existing calcium products. The material is aimed at the food and nutritional supplement industries.
“This is the first case in which Korea has successfully localized the production of eco-friendly calcium, which had previously been entirely imported,” said Park Jung-kyu, CEO of PMI BioTech. “We’ve validated the product’s superior quality through testing with various domestic and international partners.”
The development positions PMI BioTech as a potential leader in sustainable biomaterials while offering a scalable model for turning marine waste into valuable exports.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
