CJ HDC biosol celebrates completion of bioplastic plant

CJ HDC biosol (biosol) and CJ Biomaterials, Inc., a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang and a primary producer of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), will work together to accelerate the development and commercialisation of ecofriendly bioplastics. biosol has completed construction of a new South Korean bioplastic compounding plant in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, which has capacity to produce 11,000 tonnes of bioplastics annually. CJ HDC biosol, established in February 2022, is the result of the joint venture between CJ CheilJedang and HDC Hyundai EP, South Korea’s largest plastic compounding manufacturer, to create an eco-friendly material compounding business.  

Compounding is a process of mixing or blending polymers and additives together to create a customised plastic solution to meet specific colour, property and performance requirements. biosol’s new facility will focus on developing sustainable solutions using a variety of biopolymers, such as CJ Biomaterials’ amorphous PHA, cellulose, polylactic acid (PLA) and others. CJ Biomaterials is the leading producer of amorphous PHA, which is a softer, more rubbery version of PHA that offers fundamentally different performance characteristics than crystalline or semi-crystalline forms of PHA and is a very good modifier for other bioplastics. It has strong biodegradability and compostability properties and can contribute to marine or soil biodegradable, or home compostable products in a variety of applications. 

biosol has started production at its approximately 40,000 square-foot compounding facility, which will help bolster the success of CJ CheilJedang and HDC Hyundai EP commitments to a sustainable future. The new plant will allow CJ CheilJedang to expand its business area to encompass more eco-friendly materials beyond its PHA technology, introducing a new growth engine for the company, while HDC Hyundai EP is expected to further consolidate its position as South Korea’s leading compounding business.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, CJ CheilJedang CEO Choi Eun Seok said: “We are committed to devoting resources to support biosol and the goals of the joint venture to become a leading eco-friendly material solutions company by providing our differentiated PHA material to combine with the cutting-edge compounding capabilities of HDC Hyundai EP.”

Chung Joong Kyu, CEO of biosol, added: “We are focused on the development of differentiated eco-friendly materials and committed to moving forward as a ‘Global Green Product Hub’ to help establish a ‘plastic circular economy.”