BGF Ecobio Develops Eco-Friendly Antiviral Packaging Technology

Antiviral Function 'PLA Foam Sheet'
Used for Food Containers and Industrial Cushioning Materials

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] BGF Group announced on the 11th that its subsidiary BGF Ecobio has succeeded in developing the world's first PLA foam sheet with antiviral functionality in the biodegradable bioplastic category.

KBF, a subsidiary of BGF Ecobio, obtained a patent in 2017 for special PLA technology with added antibacterial functionality, and based on this patent, BGF Ecobio developed a PLA foam sheet with antiviral functionality after about three years of research.

According to antiviral tests conducted by BGF Ecobio at a government-funded institution under room temperature conditions of approximately 23 degrees Celsius, significant virus inactivation effects against the feline coronavirus (FCoV: Feline coronavirus) test strain were observed in four independently developed materials, and the influenza A virus (H3N2) test strain was reduced by 99.999% within two hours.

This result is the only case worldwide to verify effective virus suppression by imparting antiviral functionality to biodegradable bioplastics, and BGF Ecobio has currently filed a patent for this technology.

BGF Ecobio's antiviral PLA foam sheet can be processed into various products such as food containers and industrial cushioning materials for practical use, providing an eco-friendly option that users can trust more confidently. It is expected that placing eggs in nests processed with BGF Ecobio's antiviral PLA foam sheet can reduce concerns about the spread of avian influenza (AI) virus during distribution.

Based on the research results, BGF Ecobio plans to commercialize the antiviral PLA foam sheet and launch eco-friendly antiviral packaging materials. With the recent expansion of interest in eco-friendly consumption and daily quarantine measures in Korea due to COVID-19, BGF Ecobio is researching ways to apply this material not only to private businesses such as manufacturers but also to schools and public institutions.

Dr. Jeong Jong-gu of BGF Ecobio said, “BGF Ecobio, pioneering the eco-friendly container market with the only domestic PLA foaming technology, has introduced a new material that can enhance public hygiene,” adding, “We take pride in inventing the world's first eco-friendly PLA foam sheet with proven antiviral functionality in Korea, and we will continue research to bring functional packaging materials into daily life as soon as possible while expanding the eco-friendly material business through packaging innovation.”