From 17 to 20 April 2023, LG Chem participated in ‘Chinaplas 2023,’ held for 4 days in Shenzhen, China. ‘Chinaplas’ is one of the Top 3 global chemical industry fairs, acknowledged for its greatest scale in Asia. This year’s fair welcomed global chemical companies, along with 150 countries and approximately 3,900 businesses. It aroused unprecedented expectation and attention from many chemical companies, especially since this was the first event held after China’s blockade had been alleviated. The theme of Chinaplas 2023 was ‘A Brighter and Shared Future, Powered by Innovation,’ inviting major global chemical companies to present their eco-friendly recycling technologies. At this year’s event, LG Chem displayed over 50 types of products at a 398㎡ wide booth, larger than that of any other participating companies. Take a look at which of LG Chem’s materials were displayed, through a vivid scene of Chinaplas 2023 delivered to you.

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Catch global customers’ eyes
with eco-friendly, recycled, future materials

The theme of LG Chem’s exhibition was ‘The New LG Chem.’ It was then, again, split into two sections; ‘Sustainability Solution & LETZero Zone,’ and ‘Future Solution Zone.’ The first section introduced eco-friendly materials such as compostable and recycled plastics. The second section displayed future materials in the solarㆍmedicalㆍbattery sectors. First of all, the ‘Sustainability Solution & LETZero Zone’ addressed future eco-friendly technologies including PBAT (Poly Butylene Adipate-co-Terephthalate), PLA (Poly Lactic Acid), and PCR (Post Consumer Recycled) products. PBAT is a petroleum-based eco-friendly plastic that is quickly decomposed in nature by oxygen, heat, light, and enzyme reactions. It is usually found in agricultural and disposable films. PLA is a material that breaks down naturally within a few months by microbial reactions under certain conditions. It’s a popular item for food containers, straws, and PET water bottles. PCR is a recycled material obtained from waste plastics used and discarded by end-consumers, taking the form of recycled plastics such as ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene), PC (Polycarbonate), etc. At Chinaplas 2023, LG Chem drew visitors’ attention by displaying products such as sacks made of eco-friendly and recycled plastic materials. In line with the soaring global interest and demand for eco-friendly products, LG Chem, too, is planning to develop and produce eco-friendly materials to meet customers’ needs. Already in progress is the construction of PBAT plant in Daesan, South Chungcheong Province, Korea, estimated to return an annual capacity of 50,000 tons and is due for commercialization by 2024.

At the ‘Future Solution Zone,’ LG Chem introduced POE (Polyolefin Elastomer), their high-value-added strategic material for solar panel films, CNT (Carbon Nanotube), a battery material based on the company’s proprietary technology, and NBL (Nitrile Butadiene Latex), a material applicable to medical gloves. Among these products, the expansion of renewable energy market has brought a rise in the global demand for POE. Since 2021, LG Chem has been setting up an additional POE plant for solar panels with a production capacity of 100,000 tons. This is due to start mass-production in 2023, yielding a total of 380,000 tons, by which LG Chem will secure the world’s second-largest scale of POE production. Next, CNT is a battery material which features electricity and heat conductivity equivalent to copper and diamond, but whose strength is 100 times that of steel. It is applied to various places, for example, in a battery conductive material to smoothen the flow of electricity and electrons. By the 2nd half of 2024, LG Chem intends to expand their 4th CNT plant in Daesan, South Chungcheong Province, Korea, to secure a production capacity of 6,100 tons. The last product exhibited at Chinaplas was NBL, a synthetic rubber based on butadiene and a core raw material of nitrile gloves. LG Chem produces annual 280,000 tons and 210,000 tons of NBL in Yeosu, Korea and China respectively. Now, the company plans to invest another $143 million (KRW 186 billion) to build a new NBL plant in Malaysia by the 1st half of 2023.

At Chinaplas 2023, LG Chem took one step further from exhibiting eco-friendly and future materials to arranging a unique booth which offered visitors to experience the company’s new development of a comprehensive digital sales platform, LG Chem On. This platform provides customers with a real-time view of their purchase from orders to shipments, just like an online shopping mall. The booth was a great opportunity for LG Chem’s global partners to hear the description of LG Chem On and have a hands-on experience of the platform. Additionally, a business lounge and 7 meeting rooms were prepared for a smoother communication.

Focus on sustainable materials
in line with the global market trend of eco-friendliness

The main keywords of Chinaplas 2023 were eco-friendly material, recycle, and sustainability. Like as mentioned before, LG Chem played their part of sustainable future by exhibiting eco-friendly materials such as PBAT which decomposes at landfill within 6 months, PCR plastics, PLA of 100% bio raw material content, as well as new materials in the solar ∙ battery sectors. Chinaplas 2023 showed a major shift from a traditional chemical materials-focused exhibition to an event with recycling products at the center. Visitors could feel increased attention and demands for eco-friendly and recycled materials with their skin. In line with the trend, LG Chem plans to focus more on developing eco-friendly materials and new materials. Keep supporting LG Chem while the company makes movements towards a sustainable future!