AsiaNanoTech Develops 'Eco-friendly Nano Cellulose' to Protect Nature and People

Greenpost Korea · 2024.01.17

AsiaNanoTech received the ESG Technology Award (Minister of Environment Award) at the 2023 Environmental Economy Awards. In an interview at the company's headquarters in Seoul, Group Chairman Choong-hoon Lee talked about the company's eco-friendly technology and its vision.

He explained that cellulose is a dietary fiber obtained mainly from plants, harmless enough to eat and the most abundant natural polymer. Nanocellulose maximizes the strengths of cellulose, such as biodegradability, transparency and thermal stability, by processing it to nano size, opening uses from cosmetics, absorbents and food ingredients to engineering plastics and secondary-battery separators.

The company turned to nanocellulose to replace petrochemical materials such as plastics, which drive greenhouse gas emissions and microplastic pollution, noting that plants offer a renewable and virtually unlimited supply of raw material.

Its flagship product, CELLTELLA, is a plant-based natural super absorbent. Nano-sizing creates porosity that captures more water, giving absorbency equal to chemical SAP, a petroleum-based material linked to health concerns that takes more than 500 years to break down. CELLTELLA has been verified for safety by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and other certification bodies.

Lee also introduced O-CNF, an ultra-small nanocellulose developed with the company's own technology from special trees in Southeast Asia, which can be supplied in lengths tailored to customer needs.

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