SK Leaveo to start fertilizer coating with biodegradable materials

South Korea's SK Leaveo, a subsidiary of SKC Ltd. specializing in biodegradable materials, will enter the fertilizer coating market that uses polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT).

The company announced on Sunday that it signed a business agreement with agricultural company Nousbo to commercialize eco-friendly, biodegradable slow-release coated fertilizers.

SK Leaveo was established in 2021 as a joint venture between SKC and domestic food company Daesang Corp.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop technologies for raw materials, processes, and designs to launch a new controlled-release fertilizer product in the first quarter of next year.

Slow-release fertilizers, designed to release nutrients gradually according to crop growth periods, help prevent excessive fertilizer use and reduce soil and water pollution.

Unlike traditional coatings that use polyethylene (PE) and other plastic resins, the new product will utilize biodegradable materials.

Once the fertilizer is fully released, the coating will naturally decompose.

The coating's thickness can be adjusted to synchronize nutrient release with crop growth stages.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com