Darwin Group (CEO: Park Jae-min) announced the launch of GRICO, an eco-friendly biodegradable plastic brand utilizing surplus grains.

Along with the launch announcement, GRICO stated,
“We have successfully developed the world’s first biodegradable plastic made from surplus grains capable of withstanding temperatures up to 180°C.”

The company further revealed that it has signed export agreements with various countries across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, as well as contracts with leading domestic corporations.

In practice, GRICO has secured new products and technologies that improve upon existing biodegradable materials, which often face issues such as uncompetitive pricing and mismatched biodegradation conditions — where decomposition temperatures and timelines do not align with real soil environments, resulting in residual microplastics during degradation.

The company has also completed safety testing for domestic sales, including the Ministry of Environment’s EL724 certification. For overseas customers, GRICO has obtained global certifications such as FDA approval and completed cosmetic stability and container compatibility testing through the Korea Testing & Research Institute.

A GRICO representative stated,
“Unlike ordinary brands that only manufacture products, we are currently operating across the entire process from raw materials to production and distribution. We aim to establish ourselves as a ‘Total Solution’ brand for biodegradable plastics, including the development of biodegradable plastic processing facilities.”

Meanwhile, on April 4, Park Jae-min of Darwin Group delivered a presentation at the forum titled ‘The Present and Future of Eco-Friendly Plastics’. During the discussion, he emphasized the importance of developing and commercializing alternatives to conventional plastics as well as establishing eco-friendly processing infrastructure, proposing a “Green New Deal” strategy in which humanity and plastics can coexist sustainably.