South Korea's CJ Group PHA passed the marine degradation performance test of the national testing agency
Recently, CJ BIO amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) demonstrated excellent biodegradability in natural marine environments in tests conducted by the Korea National Laboratory (KCL).
Marine biodegradability testing of its eco-friendly amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material by the Korea Qualification Laboratory (KCL) showed a 57% weight loss after just 11 weeks, proving the polymer's marine biodegradability the ability to rapidly biodegrade. Amorphous PHA in the natural environment is a softer, more elastic form with different performance characteristics compared to the crystalline or semi-crystalline forms currently in the mainstream PHA market. Initial applications of this technology will be used as modifiers for other compostable polymers and biopolymers to improve functional and processing properties and enable these products to achieve faster biodegradation or composting rates.
In testing, amorphous PHA (aPHA) experienced a 57.1% weight loss over 11 weeks, greater degradation than semi-crystalline PHA and PLA.
Among the member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), South Korea ranks second among the countries with the highest recycling rate of municipal solid waste, with a recycling rate of about 60%.
KCL is a government-appointed national supplier organization that tests, evaluates and certifies products and services in the building, living and environmental sectors. The Korean Ministry of Industry, Trade and Resources organized the test through KCL to further the government's efforts to research technologies that can help Asian countries continue to improve global environmental health and reduce their global footprint.
KCL placed amorphous PHA supplied by CJ BIO together with semi-crystalline PHA and polylactic acid (PLA) film (A4 paper size) into Seohae, Korea, and measured weight changes every two weeks for 11 weeks. Amorphous PHA was reduced by 57%, but semi-crystalline PHA was reduced by 28%, and PLA was reduced by 1.2%.
"KCL's experiments on the west coast are important because they have demonstrated the excellent biodegradability and industrial value of PHA outside the laboratory and under real-world conditions," said Seung Jin Lee, head of the biomaterials business. "We hope that mixing our amorphous PHA with other materials, such as PLA and PBAT, will increase the level of biodegradability of these polymers, and we will continue our research and development on these and other materials."
CJ BIO is the world's first and only producer of amorphous PHA that is TUV OK certified for industrial and home composting, soil biodegradation and marine biodegradation. It's considered "home compostable," which means it doesn't require specialized equipment or high temperatures to degrade completely. The market segments and applications of amorphous PHA sold under the PHACT® brand are numerous. The immediate focus will be on flexible and rigid packaging, which account for more than 50% of single-use plastics. Other markets include agriculture, organic waste management, coatings and adhesives, personal care and healthcare.
CJ BIO, in collaboration with KCL, continues to analyze the biodegradable properties of PHA. Over the past month, marine biodegradation experiments have been conducted on products such as packaging and straws made from a blend of PHA and other biodegradable materials, and the impact on the ecosystem is being measured.
Amorphous PHA has been produced at CJ BIO's manufacturing facility in Pasuruan, Indonesia, which has a rated capacity of 5,000 tonnes and plans to increase production to meet anticipated demand.
About CJ Bio CJ BIO is a division of CJ CheilJedang, the core subsidiary of CJ Group Korea responsible for the food and bioengineering business units. CJ Group has grown its business portfolio into four core areas: Food & Food Services, Bio & Pharmaceuticals, Entertainment & Media, and Retail & Logistics.
CJ BIO is the world's leading supplier of fermented bioproducts for animal nutrition, human nutrition and biomaterials with production sites in 13 manufacturing facilities worldwide. As a socially responsible company, CJ BIO is committed to achieving carbon neutral manufacturing operations by utilizing renewable raw materials and developing value-added by-products to minimize environmental waste.
