SKC

• To expand biodegradable film to SPC Group’s packing materials for diverse products, including those made by Baskin Robbins, Paris Croissant, etc.

• To expand the country’s biodegradable plastic market through the development of products desired by customer, and to contribute to Net Zero Plastic

Having become the world’s first business to commercialize biodegradable PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) film packing materials, SKC (President Lee Wan-jae) has decided to work more closely with SPC Pack (President Kim Chang-dae), an affiliate of SPC Group that is in charge of packing material production, for expansion of its operation of eco-friendly biodegradable packing materials. SKC’s eco-friendly biodegradable film is an eco-friendly packing material that is biodegraded underground within a short period of time.

On April 29, SKC and SPC signed an agreement on business cooperation in eco-friendly packing materials at a ceremony held at SKC’s headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Under the agreement, SPC Pack will use biodegradable films supplied from SKC to pack goods supplied by its affiliates, such as Baskin Robbins, Paris Croissant, Dunkin Donuts, etc. SPC Pack will also develop/produce eco-friendly packing materials, using other biodegradable materials supplied from SKC.

The first item to which the agreement will be applied is disposable packing materials used at Baskin Robbins. Then, SKC’s biodegradable films are to be used for packing Dunkin’s individual items and SPC Samlip bread. The two companies also agreed to expand to products made by other SPC affiliates, such as Paris Baguette, Paris Croissant, and Pascucci.

This agreement is a result of the two companies’ efforts to pursue eco-friendliness. SPC Pack has strived for the safety of consumer food and the realization of social value. In 2018, it won the Green Technology/Green Product certification through the development of safe food packing materials. It also won the Green Business certification through the use of eco-friendly ink. It was also selected as the winner of the World Star packaging award in the food sector, which was presented by the World Packaging Organization.

SKC became the world’s first business to commercialize biodegradable PLA packing materials extracted from corn in 2009, and has expanded its eco-friendly biodegradable material business on the strength of its sheer technological prowess. By 2018, SKC started supplying banana packing materials to Starbucks Korea, then to Starbucks Korea Bakery the following year.

In 2020, SKC started the commercialization of heavy-duty PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate co Terephthalate), which has improved the weaknesses of the existing PBAT. Recently, SKC has added PLA film to its lineup of biodegradable materials, with the addition of PHA (Polyhydroxy Alkanoate) and expanded the supply.

Commenting on the matter, an SKC officer said, “Our eco-friendly biodegradable packing materials are biodegraded underground within a short period of time. We expect that they will pose as a solution to the problems caused by waste plastic. We at SKC will strive to expand the domestic market for biodegradable plastic and contribute to Net Zero Plastic in cooperation with customer businesses, including SPC PACK.”

[SKC President Lee Wan-jae (left) and SPC PACK President Kim Chang-dae pose for photo after signing an agreement on business cooperation in eco-friendly packing materials at a ceremony held at SKC’s headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul on April 29.]