• Applied ECOTRION to Golf Ball Cover, Reducing Carbon Emissions by 30%
• Enhancing Golf Ball Performance While Meeting the Value-Driven Consumer Trend

SK chemicals has applied bio-based materials to golf equipment.

SK chemicals (CEO & President: Ahn Jae-hyun) announced on 29th that it has begun applying its bio-based material ECOTRION to the 2025 Z-Star series (hereinafter referred to as the “New Z-Star Series”) golf balls from SRIXON, a global golf brand under Dunlop Sports Korea.

Dunlop Sports Korea is a global sports company that supplies a wide range of sporting goods to the Korean market, including products for golf, tennis, squash, and badminton. In particular, through globally recognized golf brands such as Srixon, XXIO, and Cleveland Golf, the company has established a strong position as a premium brand in the Korean golf market.

The New Z-Star Series, now featuring ECOTRION, is widely recognized for its reliability and is chosen by top global tour professionals such as Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama, as well as many players on the KPGA(Korea Professional Golfers' Association) Tour, including Choi Kyung-ju.

The material used in the New Z-Star Series is ECOTRION, a bio-based polyol made entirely from 100% bio-derived ingredients. ECOTRION is characterized by excellent elasticity, resilience, and abrasion resistance, making it suitable for use in applications such as urethane and spandex. According to Dunlop’s research lab, the contact time at impact for the New Z-Star Series, which uses ECOTRION in the ball cover, increased by up to 18% compared to the company’s previous models.

Industry experts see the application of ECOTRION to the New Z-Star Series as achieving enhanced performance and alignment with the growing consumer trend toward value-driven consumption.

According to the company, the application of ECOTRION not only enhances golf ball performance but also aligns with the latest golf and leisure trends that emphasize value-driven consumption, including the environment. Through life cycle assessment (LCA), ECOTRION has been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% compared to conventional petrochemical-based polyol production processes.

SK Chemicals plans to actively expand into the sports and leisure market by leveraging ECOTRION's strengths—its excellent materiality and lower carbon emissions compared to petroleum-based alternatives. 

A representative from Dunlop stated, “With global interest in sustainability on the rise, the golf industry is also making various efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental impact. The adoption of ECOTRION in the New Z-Star Series is part of our commitment to contributing to a circular society through the use of sustainable raw materials.”

Kim Eung-soo, Head of the Green Materials Business Division at SK chemicals, stated, “Bio-based materials are one of the most powerful alternatives to petrochemical materials. By collaborating with various brands leveraging ECOTRION, we aim to build an ecosystem that delivers both high functionality and sustainability.”

# Photo Description: SRIXON, a global golf brand under Dunlop Sports Korea, has applied SK chemicals' 100% bio-based material ECOTRION to the 2025 Z-Star Series golf balls. Pictured is the New Z-Star Series Golf Balls