SKC

● SK Leaveo-KleanNara-Bonoa have come to an agreement to commercialize biodegradable eco-friendly hygienic materials ··· putting heads together to develop innovative new products

●​ Conventional hygienic products made of plastic are increasingly identified as a ‘source of pollution embedded in daily life’··· PBAT·biodegradable LIMEX to contribute towards addressing the challenge

SK Leaveo, the biodegradable material production arm of SKC (CEO: Woncheol Park), collaborates with KleanNara, a premium paper product manufacturer in Korea, to develop hygienic products made of biodegradable materials.

On the 23rd, SK Leaveo, KleanNara, and KleanNara’s subsidiary Bonoa convened at SKC head office in Jongro-gu, Seoul to formalize an agreement on the commercialization of biodegradable eco-friendly hygienic materials. The signing ceremony was honored by the attendance of the top management officials representing each party to the agreement, namely, CEO Hojin Yang of SK Leaveo, CEO Hyunsoo Choi of KleanNara and CEO Yongil Kim of Bonoa. 

SK Leaveo and KleanNara have entered into an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize a range of hygienic products utilizing biodegradable PBAT(Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) and LIMEX materials. They also intend to launch a separate joint research initiative focused on developing a comprehensive lifecycle circulation model spanning from production to disposal.

The first collaboration item between the two companies will be wet wipes frequently used in our daily life. Unlike dry paper tissues, conventional wet wipes are composed of a blend of fabric infused with plastic materials such as polyester. According to the Korean Ministry of Environment, the annual consumption of wet wipes in homes, restaurants and other establishments in Korea amounts to 1.6 million tons. Due to the characteristics of polyester, wet wipes are resistant to decomposition when reclaimed and may release hazardous substances when incinerated, thus earning criticism as a “source of pollution embedded in daily life.”

To address these challenges, SK Leaveo and KleanNara are targeting the launch of new wet wipes, utilizing high-strength PBAT and biodegradable LIMEX, in the third quarter of this year. Their objective is to provide a solution that naturally decomposes while delivering strength and price competitiveness comparable to conventional polyester-based wet wipes. Additionally, they seek to expand their collaborative efforts to facilitate the commercialization of products derived from biodegradable materials. These products will replace items such as diapers and women’s specialty items, currently manufactured from plastic vinyl or non-woven cloth, which may present similar environmental concerns as wet wipes.

Meanwhile, SK Leaveo will begin construction on the world’s largest PBAT production plant, with a capacity of 70,000 tons per year, in Hai Phong, Vietnam during the first half of this year. The plant will also accommodate the production facilities of SK TBMGeostone, an SKC investee specializing in biodegradable LIMEX production, to enhance synergy between the two entities.

“Collaborating with KleanNara allows us to swiftly broaden the use of biodegradable materials to encompass a wide array of everyday hygienic products,” remarked a representative from SK Leaveo. “We are committed to further develop high-value biodegradable products at a commercial scale to cater to an even broader range of applications.” [End]

[On April 23rd, SK Leaveo, SKC’s biodegradable material subsidiary, entered into an agreement with KleanNara and Bonoa for the development of eco-friendly biodegradable hygienic materials. The signed copies of the agreement were presented by CEO Hojin Yang of SK Leaveo, CEO Hyunsoo Choi of KleanNara and CEO Yongil Kim of Bonoa.]​