● Signing an agreement with agricultural products wholesaler Nousbo on May 24 to commercialize biodegradable polymer-coated CRF fertilizers

●​ Collaboratively developing PBAT-coated ecofriendly product to replace conventional plastic-_ base_d coating agents

SK Leaveo, the biodegradable material production subsidiary of SKC (CEO: Woncheol Park), enters into the biodegradable material (PBAT)-coated fertilizer market. Established as a joint venture between SKC and food manufacturer Daesang in 2021 to commercialize biodegradable materials, SK Leaveo is rapidly expanding its market coverage from ordinary disposable products to hygiene products such as wet wipe and diaper, and even agricultural fertilizer coating agents.

SK Leaveo signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with agricultural products wholesaler Nousbo at its head office in Jongro-gu, Seoul on the 24th to collaborate on the commercialization of eco-friendly biodegradable slow-release coating fertilizers. The signing ceremony was attended by the management leaders of the two companies including CEO Hojin Yang of SK Leaveo and CEO Changgyun Kim of Nousbo.

SK Leaveo and Nousbo have reached an agreement to collaborative develop ingredients, materials, processes, and product designs for the commercial launch of a new product by the first quarter of next year. They will also expand their partnership to include business model development and global marketing efforts, with the goal of further expanding their market presence.

Slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) utilize coating agents to gradually release fertilizer, allowing for precise control of nutrient release aligned with crop growth. The use of SRFs is steadily increasingly due to their ability to significantly reduce soil and groundwater pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the need for labor by preventing fertilizer overuse. However, the majority of conventional fertilizer coatings are composed of plastic resins like polyester (PE), which can contaminate soil with residual microplastics.

In contrast, the biodegradable slow-release coating fertilizers being jointly developed by SK Leaveo and Nousbo offer an innovative solution to these issues. PBAT, which biodegrades in the natural environment, is utilized as the coating material instead of conventional plastics, leaving no residual coating once the fertilizer is fully released. In addition, the biodegradation interval can be adjusted by varying the coating thickness, ensuring greater ease of control over the fertilizer release rate in alignment with the crop growth pattern.

As concerns about microplastics in soil continue to rise, the biodegradable coating fertilizer market is expected to expand even further. Europe, one of the biggest fertilizer markets along with North America, intends to implement a ban on fertilizers coated with plastic resins from 2026.

SK Leaveo held a groundbreaking ceremony in Hai Phong, Vietnam on May 11 to commence the construction of the world’s biggest single PBAT production plant capable, with a capacity to produce 70,000 tons annually. “The partnership MoU with Nousbo will facilitate the expansion of our biodegradable material business,” said an official at SK Leaveo. “We are dedicated to discovering additional applications for biodegradable materials by maintaining our commitment to technology development initiatives.” [End]

[SK Leaveo and Nousbo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development and commercialization of biodegradable slow-release coating fertilizer at the SKC head office in Jongro-gu, Seoul on the 24th. CEO Hojin Yang of SK Leaveo (left) and CEO Changgyun Kim of Nousbo present copies of the MoU.]​