CJ CheilJedang's new biodegradable PHA-based wrapper for shipping products / Courtesy of CJ CheilJedang

CJ CheilJedang is expanding the use of its newly developed biodegradable packaging for shipping products to reduce the use of plastic and ramp up its eco-friendly measures, according to the food company, Tuesday.

The company's new vinyl wrapper, made out of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), went into use by Olive Young, its subsidiary brand, which sells beauty and hygiene products. The brand has begun using the material for its rapid-shipping service.

The material is a thermoplastic polyester derived from microorganisms. The company said it is degradable in almost all terrestrial and maritime environments and mass-produced by only a few companies worldwide.

The material has the ability to replace polyvinyl chloride (PVC), another material that is often used in packaging but is known to emit chemicals that are harmful to the environment as well as human health, throughout its entire lifecycle from manufacturing to after-use treatment.

"We conducted a research to come up with a material to replace PVC," a company official said. "And a PHA-based material proved to be very similar to the conventional plastic bag."

The PHA material had all the attributes that the company was looking for. It is durable enough to carry sharp and heavy items. Its shielding feature prevents items inside from being seen from outside. It was also made adhesive-friendly so that each parcel's information sticker can be adhered easily when packaging.

The company has begun using the material at two local logistic depots in Gyeonggi Province for Olive Young's rapid-shipping service. Each of the depots will use the material to package about 40,000 to 100,000 items each month, contributing to the company's environmental initiative to use less plastics, according to the company.

The company started the initiative last October when it began using paper materials for packaging fragile items and taping boxes instead of plastic materials.

"We will promote the new future material to consumers and spread its use across the industry," said Lee Seung-jin, the company's White BIO CIC and CEO.

The company previously created a PHA-based paper coating technology that is microwaveable and applied it to containers for cup noodles that were then sold at CU convenience stores across the country.