LG Chem to showcase CO2-based eco-friendly plastic at beauty trade show in Italy

[Courtesy of LG Chem]

SEOUL -- LG Chem, the chemical unit of South Korea's LG Group, will showcase a carbon dioxide-based environmentally friendly plastic material at "Cosmoprof Bologna 2024," an international beauty trade show scheduled to be held for four days starting March 21 in Bologna, Italy. The plastic material called polyethylene carbonate uses a carbon-capturing technique during the production process.

Polyethylene carbonate (PEC) is a type of biodegradable polymer that has gained attention for its potential applications in various fields, including packaging, biomedical materials, and environmental protection. One of the key aspects of PEC is its ability to incorporate carbon dioxide (CO2) during its synthesis, which is a form of carbon capture.

PEC synthesis involves the reaction of ethylene oxide with CO2 in the presence of a catalyst. In this process, CO2 acts as a reactant and becomes incorporated into the polymer backbone, contributing to the carbon content of PEC. By utilizing CO2 as a raw material, PEC production facilitates the capture and utilization of this greenhouse gas, thus mitigating its release into the atmosphere.

LG Chem said that the company will showcase beauty product packaging made of the new PEC material at a booth operated by partner company COSMAX, a major South Korean original design manufacturer of cosmetics products, in the international cosmetics show.

The global demand for eco-friendly plastic materials is steadily increasing due to the strengthened international regulations on the use of plastics and such regulatory movements pushed the global cosmetics industry to adopt more environmentally friendly materials.

The South Korean chemical giant said that the company has the world's top production capability of CO2-based plastic material thanks to its self-developed catalyst and manufacturing techniques. "We will contribute to the prevention of global warming by strengthening partnerships with our clients in the global cosmetics sector through the new next-generation PEC made by capturing carbon," an LG Chem official told Aju Korea Daily on March 20.