Korea Paper Expands Nanocellulose Business, Aiming to Secure Future Growth Engines

Expanding Applications to Non-Paper Industries
Exploring Further Growth in High-Performance Materials

Korea Paper is leveraging its paper manufacturing technology to expand into the high-performance materials business based on nanocellulose, aiming to secure future growth engines.

According to global market research firm MarketsandMarkets on May 11, the global nanocellulose market is projected to grow from USD 600 million in 2024 to USD 3.4 billion by 2032. Major application areas include secondary batteries, composite materials, paints and coatings, biomedical and pharmaceutical products, as well as electronics and sensors.

Nanocellulose is a high-performance material created by refining cellulose fibers—used as the raw material for paper—down to the nanometer scale. Compared to ordinary cellulose, it has a finer structure, making it lighter and stronger, and it offers various functionalities such as dispersibility, viscosity control, film formation, and reinforcement. Thanks to these characteristics, its potential applications are being explored in areas such as special coating additives, cellulose composites, electronic materials, and secondary batteries.

Korea Paper has been engaged in research and development related to nanocellulose since 2018 and is currently selling nanocellulose for use as a special coating additive. Building on this foundation, the company plans to leverage its accumulated raw material and process technology from the paper industry to expand applications into non-paper industries and broaden its business domain to include the materials industry.

The company is also considering expanding its scope beyond special coating additives to high-performance materials such as cellulose composites and secondary battery materials. Through these efforts, Korea Paper aims to connect its technological capabilities to future growth drivers and strengthen its foundation for mid- to long-term growth in the high value-added materials industry.

Kang Joonseok, CEO of Korea Paper, stated, "Nanocellulose is a high-performance material that can be expanded into various industries such as packaging, coatings, composite materials, electronic materials, and secondary batteries. We will continue to seek new growth opportunities in the materials industry beyond our existing paper business and advance research and development to create high added value."

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