(Untitle)● SK chemicals’ novel environmentally-friendly bio -material,
ECOZEN®, approved by the U.S.A’s FDA
SK chemicals(CEO, Chang-Geun Kim) announced that its novel, independently-developed, high-performance material, *ECOZEN®, obtained marketing approval from the U.S.A’s FDA. *ECOZEN® is the first chemical material to be developed in Korea and approved by the FDA, demonstrating that SK chemicals possesses world-class technology in the field of environmentally-friendly material development.
ECOZEN® was commercialized as the first-ever highly heat-resistant clear bio-plastic material in 2010. It is a novel, environmentally-friendly material made by adding chemical resistance, heat resistance, and environmental-friendliness to the strengths of conventional high-performance **PETG polymers, such as clarity and processability.
Since ECOZEN® is produced with Bio-monomers extracted from plant sources such as corn and wheat without using the controversial environment hormone Bisphenol A, which has a harmful effect on humans, it has succeeded in obtaining the 『****FCN (Food Contact Notification)』from the U.S.A.’s FDA by passing the defined extraction and toxicity tests for food container constituent materials.
Besides the FDA notification, ECOZEN® won the silver prize at the『Korea Technology Awards 2010』, the most prestigious industrial technology awards in Korea, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy(MKE) and the Korea Institute for the Advancement of Technology (KIAT). It was also recognized as an advanced technology for environmentally-friendly materials following its nomination as one of the Korea Top 10 Novel Technologies 2010』.
Thanks to the FCN certification, it is possible to apply ECOZEN® to a diverse range of products including electronic materials, food containers and construction materials that meet the global environmentally-friendly standard. Furthermore, it is expected to create and expand its market in various fields in and outside the country.
Currently, the company is pushing ahead with its plan to diversify its applications, especially for food containers, and parts of electronics and boost its material exports, with the aim of posting KRW 1 trillion in sales by 2015.
SK chemicals is writing a new chapter in its history as a world-class environmentally-friendly company dedicated to improving human health based on its accumulated technological prowess, with the aim of becoming 『a global leading company that provides environmentally-friendly materials and total healthcare solutions』in accordance with its mission ‘to improve human health and protect the earth’s environment’.
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*Picture
- Sports bottle using ECOZEN®
*Terminology
*ECOZEN®
- The name of an environmentally-friendly highly heat-resistant plastic material made by combining ECO(Eco-Friendly) and ZEN(Zenith), meaning ‘a material at the zenith of eco-friendly components’ and ‘placing top priority on environmental-friendliness’. The name reflects SK chemicals’ mission ‘to improve human health and protect the earth’s environment’.
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**PETG(Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
- This new environmentally-friendly material was developed by adding a new constituent to the conventional PET applied to food containers such as water and fruit juice bottles. Due to its excellent clarity, eco-friendliness, chemical resistance, and plasticity, it has been used in a variety of products including cosmetics containers, toothbrush handles, clear windows for drum-type washing machines, decorative seats for doors, walls, and furniture and so forth.
***Bisphenol A
- A chemical compound made by synthesizing two phenols and one acetone molecule. It is used as a component for the synthesis of polycarbonate, epoxy polymer, and polysulfone, as well as phenolymers, sanitizers, rubber antioxidant and so forth.
****FCN(Food Contact Notification)
- A certification system established and run by the U.S.A.’s FDA for individual food contact substances(FCS: materials used in food containers, packing materials for foods and drugs, food contact products, and so on) that are not listed in the Code of Federal Regulations(CFR).