LG Chem Kicks Off Shipment of Bio-Balanced Material

LG Chem Ltd.’s petrochemical factory in Yeosu, 455 kilometers south of Seoul, is seen in this file photo provided by the company on Nov. 7, 2020.

SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — LG Chem Ltd., South Korea’s leading chemical firm, exported the first shipment of its bio-balanced superabsorbent polymer (SAP) on Wednesday.

Bio-balanced SAPs are produced with renewable raw materials such as waste cooking oil and palm byproducts.

The new SAP can absorb 200 times its weight in water, and is used primarily for hygiene products such as diapers and sanitary pads.

LG Chem’s bio-balanced SAP also received the ISCC Plus international sustainability certification.

The product, shipped from the firm’s plant in Yeosu, will be delivered to Jordan-based company Baby Life for use in making diapers.

LG Chem expects its bio-balanced SAP business to expand beyond clients in the Middle East towards the world’s major personal hygiene product makers in Europe and the U.S. in the latter half of this year.

“This shipment is the starting point for a full-fledged shift in the product portfolio of the petrochemical business towards eco-friendly materials,” said Noh Kug-lae, head of LG Chem’s petrochemicals business.

Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)