Recent development of biodegradable polymers and plastics in Korea

초록

Significant progress in development and research of environmentally degradable plastics has been made on Korea since 1990 when Kohap Ltd. began operating a PHB/PHA pilot plant. Aliphatic polyester and starch-based EDP were introduced commercially by SK Chemicals in 1993, and the first 5-year national research project on EDP was launched by a KIST research team in1992. However, there was no actual market for EDP in Korea until the goverment decided to enforce in1999 the volume based collection fee system, which necessitated the use of bio-disintegratable trach bags. At the same year, several companies and research groups officially founded the KOREA Biodegrdable Plastics Association.