CJ CheilJedang announced on the 31st that it has entered into a partnership with Swedish bio-material compounding company 'BIQ Materials' to expand the commercialization of 'PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable polymers) applied artificial turf infill.' BIQ Materials is the first company in Europe to develop PHA-based infill and holds a patent for it.

PHA is a polymer material naturally produced by microorganisms consuming plant-derived ingredients, which completely decomposes not only in industrial and household composting facilities but also in soil and marine environments. As it does not cause microplastic issues, it is gaining attention as an eco-friendly next-generation material that can replace conventional petroleum-based plastics. CJ CheilJedang began commercial production of PHA in 2022 and launched a specialized biodegradable material brand called 'PHACT.'

Artificial turf infill supports artificial turf on fields such as football pitches and mitigates impact to prevent player injuries. The EU plans to ban the use of petroleum-based infill that generates microplastics from 2031, and demand for biodegradable infill is expected to increase significantly as a result.

Under this agreement, CJ CheilJedang will supply PHA materials for artificial turf, and BIQ Materials will manufacture products using these materials. The collaboration between CJ CheilJedang, a global leader in the PHA field, and BIQ Materials, the only European manufacturer of PHA-based infill, is expected to accelerate the commercialization of PHA.

The signing ceremony, held on the 30th at the CJ BIO distribution corporation in Frankfurt, Germany, was attended by Jeong Hyuk-seong, Head of BMS at CJ CheilJedang, Fredrik Beriegor, Chairman of BIQ Materials, and other representatives from both companies. Jeong stated, “This agreement will expand the scope of PHA use in the European market and continue to launch innovative material solutions that reduce environmental impact.”

Additionally, CJ CheilJedang's U.S. subsidiary, CJ Biomaterials, recently received the '2025 Bioplastics Award for Innovation' from the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) in the United States. This award recognizes innovation and sustainability in the bioplastics industry, and CJ CheilJedang was selected for its world-first commercialization of amorphous PHA (aPHA) technology. The association evaluated that aPHA expands the applicability of bioplastics and pioneers new application fields.

Furthermore, in September, CJ CheilJedang signed a memorandum of understanding with Cosmax, the world's leading cosmetics ODM company, to develop PHA-applied cosmetic containers. In March of this year, it began collaborating with Itochu Plastics, a subsidiary of Japan's Itochu Corporation, to accelerate its entry into the local bioplastics market.

Through this cooperation, CJ CheilJedang plans to further strengthen its position in the global eco-friendly materials market centered on the biodegradable bio-material 'PHA' and lead the sustainable future materials industry.

Popular News