CJ CheilJedang, "Contributing to the 'Circular Economy' with Eco-Friendly Packaging"

On the 2nd, at the 'Korea-Switzerland Innovation Week 2020,' Grace Kim, Head of Packaging Center at CJ CheilJedang (right small photo), is introducing CJ CheilJedang's eco-friendly packaging strategy.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] CJ CheilJedang announced on the 3rd that it introduced its differentiated eco-friendly packaging research and development (R&D) competitiveness and its role in fulfilling social responsibility at the ‘Korea-Switzerland Innovation Week 2020.’

The ‘Korea-Switzerland Innovation Week 2020,’ held until the 5th, is an event hosted by the Science and Technology Cooperation Office of the Swiss Embassy in Korea. It is a gathering where industry, academia, and government officials from Korea and Switzerland come together to share information to promote mutual cooperation in the field of science and technology. This year’s event, conducted via non-face-to-face video discussions, focuses on the theme of ‘circular economy,’ including waste prevention, transformation, and management.

On the first day of the event, the 2nd, a discussion was held under the theme of ‘organic cooperation and value preservation.’ Participants included Suh Kotetan, Vice President and Head of Food Research Institute at CJ CheilJedang; Grace Kim, Executive Director of CJ CheilJedang Packaging Center; Carsten Quime, CEO of Nestl? Korea; Geraldine O’Grady, Head of Sustainable Management at Jibodan; and Han Chae-eun, Head of Sustainable Strategy Team at the Sustainable Development Business Council, among other domestic and international experts.

At the event, CJ CheilJedang introduced its packaging policy ‘3R’ strategy for a sustainable environment that considers reducing waste caused by packaging and caring for nature and society. It emphasized continuous improvements in plastic packaging across products based on ‘eco-friendly packaging design,’ ‘use of renewable materials,’ and ‘use of nature-based eco-friendly raw materials.’

They also shared achievements in eco-friendly packaging. As a representative example of R&D that reduces packaging material usage while ensuring the same quality, they cited the Hetbahn container. Through ‘packaging optimization,’ which reduces container thickness while maintaining content protection, it was introduced that approximately 340 tons of plastic reduction and 550 tons of carbon dioxide reduction per year were achieved.

The ‘Baeksul Premium Oil Package Renewal’ case was also highlighted. They explained that changing the colored PET bottle to a transparent color and attaching the product label with a ‘water-separable adhesive’ improved recyclability, and reducing plastic used in the cap and container by about 10% is expected to reduce plastic usage by approximately 111 tons annually.

In addition, CJ CheilJedang detailed various efforts to create an eco-friendly packaging ecosystem and fulfill social responsibility, including ▲ the ‘Hetbahn Gardening’ social contribution activity, an upcycling activity that creates mini gardens using Hetbahn containers ▲ a joint declaration agreement with major companies to establish a circular resource ecosystem for plastic packaging ▲ and open innovation with various industry-academic sectors.

Suh Kotetan, Head of Food Research Institute at CJ CheilJedang, stated, “The CJ CheilJedang Food Research Institute will continue to pursue innovation to realize a ‘technology-based circular economy’ through redesigning packaging materials to reduce plastic and food waste and adding high value to by-products.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.