BGF ecobio develops polylactic acid foam sheets with antiviral activities

SEOUL -- BGF ecobio, the producer of biodegradable plastics in South Korea, has developed polylactic acid foam sheets with antiviral activities that can be used for eco-friendly packaging materials such as food containers.

Polylactic acid (PLA), which is a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester obtained by the synthesis of lactic acid, which can be produced from renewable resources such as corn and sugar. Its unique physical properties make it useful in diverse applications, including surgical and medical applications, paper coating, fibers, films and packaging.

In a test commissioned by a government-funded institution, BGF ecobio said its patented PLA foam sheets showed significant virus degeneration for the feline coronavirus while the Influenza A H3N2 virus decreased by 99.999 percent in just two hours.

Due to a COVID-19 pandemic, various materials have been developed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Researchers have tried to develop PLA-based materials capable of hindering the growth and spread of microorganisms.