CJ CheilJedang Targets Global PHA Leadership Within Three Years

About a decade ago, the world was shocked by footage of a sea turtle suffering from a plastic straw lodged in its nose. The incident sparked global discussions about marine debris, including plastic fishing nets and microplastics, raising awareness about the broader problems of plastic pollution.

"Governments worldwide are tightening plastic regulations and companies are implementing ESG policies, driving rapid growth in the bioplastics market," said Jung Hyuk-sung, Head of CJ CheilJedang's BMS (Biomaterials) Division and CEO of CJ Biomaterials, in an interview with Seoul Economic Daily. "CJ CheilJedang's biodegradable plastic PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) is already gaining prominence in global markets, and we aim to become the world's number one in the PHA market within three years."

Bio-based biodegradable plastics are divided into PHA and PLA. Unlike PLA, PHA completely biodegrades in both soil and marine environments. However, only a handful of companies possess production capabilities, and prices roughly double those of PLA remain a barrier. "We are developing an innovative process that can dramatically reduce PHA prices to PLA levels, and we will announce this soon," Jung said.

Regarding the company's competitive edge in innovative processes, he explained, "PHA shares process similarities with amino acids in that raw materials are fed to microorganisms and undergo fermentation. CJ CheilJedang has long operated amino acid businesses and holds the top position in scale, which translates to excellent PHA development capabilities."

Global companies are already actively adopting CJ CheilJedang's PHA. A prime example is artificial turf infill at Swedish soccer stadiums. Infill supports grass blades and absorbs impact to prevent player injuries, traditionally made from waste tires. With the European Union banning petroleum-based infill materials from 2031, PHA-based infill is gaining attention. "Europe alone has about 50,000 artificial turf soccer fields, with infill replacement occurring every four to eight years," Jung emphasized. "Full-scale infill replacement is expected to begin this year, opening a massive market."

Market expansion into Japan and the United States is also materializing. "We are collaborating with Itochu Corporation and will debut PHA products in Japan in the first half of this year," he added. CJ CheilJedang also supplies PHA-based disposable straws, tableware, and containers to coffee chains in the United States and domestic beauty brands.

Jung projected the PHA market will expand rapidly. "PHA could capture about 10% of the global plastics market by 2050," he stated. Fishing gear and nets prone to ocean leakage, along with mulching film buried in soil, require replacement with fully biodegradable PHA. Personal hygiene products like diapers that contact skin also favor PHA conversion due to microplastic concerns.

CJ CheilJedang acquired intellectual property rights and other assets from U.S. biotech venture Metabolix in 2016, then established a dedicated PHA production line at its Pasuruan bio-plant in Indonesia in 2021. The company founded its U.S. subsidiary CJ Biomaterials in 2022, fully launching related operations.