HYOSUNG

Not all plastic is the same! Hyosung Chemical manufactures plastic films that are used in packing instant foods we often purchase. However, can the same packaging be used for all foods? No, it cannot. Different plastic films may need to be used, considering the types and characteristics of the food and its cooking methods. What packaging materials should be used to keep food safe for a long time? Hyosung Chemical, which leads the plastic film industry, will give you the right answer.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to lockdown in many regions where people had to prepare all meals at home. As the pandemic continued, people became tired of cooking their meals every time and started to look for a convenient way to enjoy their food, such as ready-to-eat or pre-cooked products. As a result, savory, suitable home meal replacement (HMR) products have been in high demand even in the third consecutive year of the pandemic.

Grand View Research, a global research firm, reported the size of the packaged food market as 14.386 trillion dollars in 2021, predicting an annual growth of 5.1% on average from 2022 to 2030.

There are various criteria for selecting pre-cooked food products. Packaging is one of the essential elements for selection because the freshness of food depends on it. Packaging methods vary depending on the type of food, such as sweets, soup, pre-cooked curry or rice, and sandwiches. It is common to utilize plastic films for packaging pre-cooked products. Hyosung Chemical's Film PU produces and supplies PET and nylon films under the Filmore brand. Let’s take a close look at the types of plastic films Hyosung Chemical manufactures.

Remember, not all food packaging is the same! Packaging Materials vary by Foods

Films are primarily divided into nylon and PET films as packaging materials. In the food industry, nylon films are commonly used for frozen and refrigerated foods, retort foods, easy adhesion, and pharmaceutical packaging; PET films are for general packaging, including food packaging. Hyosung Chemical produces both of these films.

Hyosung Chemical’s nylon films can be produced in different thicknesses for different uses, depending on the needs of individual clients. These films also have excellent oxygen barrier properties, making them suitable for packaging food and pharmaceutical products that need long-term storage. Hyosung Chemical's nylon films have been accredited as non-toxic in Korea, the United States, and Japan, assuring consumers of the safety of use.

Nylon films for general packaging are used for packaging frozen foods, manufactured meat (ex. ham), and the lid of instant rice products. These films are suitable for maintaining the freshness of the food for a long time since they boast excellent oxygen and gas blockage. In addition, the outstanding printability and durability make these films effective for products prone to tearing or breakages, such as ice, seafood, and frozen foods.

Nylon films are used for packaging retort food because of their high-temperature, high-pressure resistance. Retort food is a product that can be heated and eaten in a packaged state, such as instant curry or sauce. Thus, the nylon films used to package retort food protect the product and its contents from deformation with excellent resistance against heat and pressure. Hyosung Chemical's nylon films can protect retort food from oxygen and gas with its impressive thickness, superior adhesion strength, and outstanding durability.

The easily adhesive nylon films used for the packaging of instant rice, fresh noodles, and capsules are coated on one side to improve their printability and packaging adhesion compared to other films. Hyosung Chemical, the only domestic supplier of easily adhesive nylon films, manufactures products with enhanced adhesion and gas barrier properties. These films are typically used for general food packaging, instant rice or tofu packaging lids, and spout pouches or bottoms for pouch packaging.

Pharmaceutical nylon films are mainly used for packaging capsules or pills. You may have experienced taking out a medicine by pressing the convex part from the plastic package. The package is called blister packaging or packs, made of pharmaceutical nylon films. These films feature excellent durability and moldability.

Hyosung Chemical, which produces such high-quality nylon films, is leading the industry in the domestic nylon market and the global market.

With their excellent gas and moisture barrier, Hyosung Chemical's PET films are widely used in general packaging, including foods, snacks, retort food, instant coffee packets, and packaged sauce. These films have outstanding adhesion, making them suitable for products that need to be boiled or sterilized at high temperatures using hot water or a microwave. Hyosung Chemical's PET films for general packaging have good printability and adhesion with uniform thickness and heat resistance. Also, these films' versatility makes them valuable in a wide range of foods (confectionery, coffee mix, or retort food packaging that should withstand high temperature and pressure) and non-food packing (detergent refill pouches, cosmetic packaging, etc.).

Hyosung Chemical - an R&D Leader of Exceptional Films for Optics and Windows, as well as Food and Daily Necessities

PET films strongly reflect light and resist long-term heat, making them useful in various fields. PET films are suitable for optical films in electronic devices such as smartphones, desktops, and computer screens that we use all the time. Optical films are thicker than other films, which blocks harmful substances from electronic devices and increases resistance to external scratches. These films are also crucial in adequately adjusting screens' contrast ratio. PET films for vehicle windows and buildings provide thermal insulation and UV protection. High-gloss sheets for decorative sheets applied to home appliances like refrigerators and washing machines prevent scratches from daily use. Hyosung Chemical also produces PET films for lamination, advertisements, and general usage.

Hyosung Chemical produces industrial, optical, and nylon PET films for general packaging at four different locations (domestic and overseas), establishing a research institute for consistent R&D. Even in the food sector, Hyosung Chemical has never stopped its research and development in unique film functions such as antibacterial and antioxidant films as well as films to keep food fresh. Hyosung Chemical has also laid a foothold for growth and increased customer satisfaction by its foray into film fields such as optical, process release, and window applications. Hyosung Chemical uses eco-friendly materials and never stops developing new technologies. This is what makes Hyosung Chemical recognized as the leader in the global film market and a future thriving firm.