Recently, LG Chem announced that the company has successfully developed a new biodegradable material. The company uses corn-based glucose and waste glycerin to develop a 100% biodegradable biomaterial for the first time. This material has the mechanical strength and transparency of synthetic resins such as polypropylene (PP), and can replace related plastic applications.
LG Chem said that unlike degradable materials that need to be blended with other plastic materials, the material itself can achieve similar quality and physical properties to petrochemical materials. Compared with traditional biodegradable products, the new product’s flexibility is increased by more than 20 times, and its transparency is good. It is suitable for replacing packaging materials and can be used for plastic bags, air cap cushioning materials, disposable cups, mask non-woven fabrics, etc. In addition, certified by the German DIN CERTCO, an international certification body for biodegradable materials, the material has "over 90% biodegradable within 120 days."
LG Chem said that it hopes to cooperate with a company that intends to use this material for trial production in 2022. If the effect is good, it will start mass production in 2025.
LG Chem Chief Technology Officer Lu Jizhu emphasized that the use of proprietary technology to develop biodegradable materials with 100% biological raw materials is of great significance. Through the development of ecological materials, the company will take the lead in becoming a leading enterprise in the virtuous cycle of resources and ecosystem protection. The market size of biodegradable materials last year was approximately 4.2 trillion won. LG Chem expects to increase to 9.7 trillion won by 2025 when the material is mass-produced.