I'm Eco Launches Full-Scale Sales of Premium Water 'I'm Eco Sam' Free from Microplastics Concerns

Development of 100% Bioabsorbable Eco-Friendly Cap Material
Patent Application Filed

'I'm Eco Sam' Renewal Notice. (Photo by I'm Eco)

I'm Eco, an eco-friendly bottled water brand, has launched and begun full-scale sales of its premium water product 'I'm Eco Sam,' which is a renewal of its previous labeled product 'Gomaun Sam' as a label-free version. 'I'm Eco Sam' is an environmentally conscious water product that uses a PLA bottle made from sugarcane-based raw materials. PLA is known as a material that, after use, decomposes through a biological recycling process and can be converted into biogas or compost, thereby contributing to resource circulation.

I'm Eco operates its own quality management standard, the 'E.C.O. Safety Standard (Enhanced Quality Control & Oversight Safety Standard),' to enhance product quality and safety. This standard is approximately six times stricter than the quality management systems required by the Korean Drinking Water Management Act.

In the production process, an ultrafine water cleansing method using product water is applied to thoroughly wash both the bottle and cap at ultra-high pressure, and safety is further reinforced by using a combi-block system and stainless steel equipment.

I'm Eco Sam showed no detection of microplastics at the 5μm level, which is the minimum detection threshold set by domestic certification bodies, and also received certification of non-detection of nanoplastics down to 0.2μm from internationally accredited testing institutions.

User convenience has also been incorporated into the product design. Braille embossing is applied to the exterior of the bottle, and the bottle's durability and grip are enhanced through vertical raised lines and rib structures inspired by the ripple of water droplets. This design excellence led to the brand winning the Main Award in the Brand & Communication category at the 2025 Red Dot Design Awards.

Meanwhile, after about two years of research and development, I'm Eco succeeded in independently developing an eco-friendly cap material in which all components are 100% bioabsorbable, and the technology is currently under patent application.

Bioabsorbable materials are known for their ability to naturally decompose and be absorbed in the human body over time, with proven safety as they are used in medical sutures and similar applications. However, conventional bioabsorbable materials have had limitations in achieving complete bioabsorbability because certain additive components are often used in the manufacturing process.

In response, I'm Eco applied its proprietary bonding process technology that stably combines materials, allowing all components—including various additives—to be made exclusively from 100% bioabsorbable substances. Furthermore, this is the only material that exhibits physical properties similar to general petrochemical plastics, such as HDPE and PP. The company expects that this technology can expand its applications to a wide range of food and beverage packaging materials, including caps.

Kim Jihun, CEO of I’m Eco. (Photo 2=I’m Eco)

CEO Jihun Kim stated, "This renewal is not just a package change but a reinforcement of the brand's sustainable direction through the use of eco-friendly materials and enhanced quality management systems," adding, "Based on our proprietary 100% bioabsorbable cap material technology, we will secure differentiated competitiveness in the eco-friendly packaging market as well."

I'm Eco plans to continue strengthening its competitiveness in the premium bottled water market by developing eco-friendly materials and reinforcing quality management.

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