by Park Haesook
Published 24 Apr.2023 15:31(KST)
Incheon City announced on the 24th that it will launch the first certification testing service for the export of biodegradable bioplastic (PLA, Poly Lactic Acid) in collaboration with the Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL).
PLA refers to eco-friendly plastic made from corn starch or sugarcane that is decomposed by microorganisms.
This certification test by KCL was initiated when Isol Industry Co., Ltd. (Bupyeong-gu, Incheon), a PLA sheet production company, applied for certification to export biodegradable plastic containers overseas in the second half of this year.
Until now, PLA manufacturers have faced difficulties due to the lack of domestic certification service agencies, resulting in significant time and cost to obtain foreign certifications required by export countries.
Accordingly, Incheon City has been supporting KCL in the biodegradability evaluation and certification project since 2021 through the 'Bioplastic Support Center Construction Project (2021?2025)' in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to foster the biodegradable plastic industry.
Based on this, KCL was designated as the first domestic testing agency (under composting conditions) by DIN CERTCO, a German biodegradable material certification body, in January, and has started the first certification test for Isol Industry’s PLA sheets.
With KCL’s designation as a domestic testing agency, it is expected that the export of biodegradable plastics produced by domestic companies will improve.
Additionally, the biodegradability evaluation test (composting conditions, approximately 6 months) will be exempted, and only about one month of hazardous substance and material analysis will be conducted, simplifying the Ministry of Environment’s eco-label certification process, which is also expected to help stimulate domestic demand.
An official from Incheon City stated, "We plan to support KCL to be additionally designated as a testing agency for various certification conditions such as natural soil and marine environments, not only the composting conditions designated this time," and added, "We will coordinate with overseas certification bodies in the United States, Australia, and others to ensure that domestic companies do not face certification difficulties when exporting PLA products."
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