On October 1, 2025, CJ Biomaterials, Inc. of South Korea launched a new PHA compound designed for extrusion coating of paper and paperboard in the food packaging and tableware sectors.
CJ Biomaterials, a subsidiary of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang, is a leading producer of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers.
This new coating material combines the properties of CJ's proprietary amorphous PHA (aPHA) and semicrystalline PHA (scPHA) to create a completely bio-based PHA compound. These compounds form a stable melt layer during processing while exhibiting excellent barrier properties, effectively preventing the permeation of liquids and oils.
The new coating also demonstrated excellent adhesion, passing sealing and piping tests on hot and cold cups, as well as trays, bowls, and lids used for takeout food.
After use, food packaging made with these PHA compounds can be composted in both home and commercial settings, diverting food waste from landfills and contributing to compost production. Furthermore, these coatings have been laboratory-tested for reusability, making them more adaptable to varying local composting and recycling infrastructure requirements.
Max Senechal, Chief Commercial Officer, stated that foodservice companies and brands are increasingly choosing bio-based materials, such as paper and PHA biopolymers, for packaging that aligns with their sustainability commitments and meets increasingly stringent Extended Producer Responsibility regulations in the United States. This new platform demonstrates how we are continuously advancing the performance of novel PHA compounds to meet market demand for products that do not negatively impact human health or persist in the environment.
PHACT™ PHA has received food contact safety certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is certified by TÜV Austria as biodegradable for marine environments, soil environments, home composting, and industrial composting. It has also been certified as commercially compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute. Furthermore, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's BioPreferred Program, PHACT™ PHA is 100% biobased. Its inherent biodegradability and certification ensure that it will not contribute to the problem of persistent microplastics in the environment.
