CJ Biomaterials PHA-Based Polybag Makes Same-Day Delivery More Sustainable

A new biodegradable polybag has been developed by CJ Biomaterials (U.S. office Woburn, Massachusetts) that is said to have properties similar to traditional polybags made from PVC. According to the company, the bags will be used by South Korea-based health and beauty retailer CJ Olive Young, enabling a sustainable solution for the company’s same-day delivery service. The polybag was manufactured by one of CJ Biomaterials’ partner converters in Korea, named ‘Jo Eun Pack’.

CJ Biomaterials researched how its PHA technology could be used to replace PVC, and it successfully created a bag with properties that are similar to those of typical options. With the increased biocontent, these bags that incorporate PHA are durable enough to carry heavy or sharp-edged items without tearing. They are said to have excellent opacity, preventing contents from being visible from the outside. The bags also have adhesive properties that enable shipping labels to be applied and easily remain in place, making it suitable for multiple applications where polybags are necessary.

According to strategic marketing v.p. Heidi Lebel, although PHA is marine degradable, the polybag is not as it is not 100% PHA based. “We cannot disclose the whole composition of this polybag, but what we can share is that compostable or biodegradable materials were used to make this polybag with PHA. CJ Biomaterials is trying to develop products that are more economical and functionally superior,” Lebel says. She also explains that in Korea, the policy/regulation environment or awareness of biodegradable materials or products is evolving, as a result, the company was unable to secure biodegradable certification for the polybag itself. However, because other compostable or biodegradable materials were used in addition to PHA, it is assumed the polybag can also be composted in industrial conditions.