Could you introduce CJ Foods?

CJ’s predecessor was Cheil Jedang Corporation, founded in 1953 in Busan, South Korea, by Lee Byung-chul—the founder of Samsung. The company’s name 'CJ' derives from the English abbreviation of 'Cheil Jedang', meaning 'First Sugar Refinery', and it belonged to the broader Samsung conglomerate. As its name suggests, CJ began its business by refining white sugar. Cheil Jedang’s flagship products were 'Baekseol' brand granulated sugar and flour. In 1963, it launched the seasoning product 'Mipung' (‘Flavor Wind’), directly challenging the MSG giant Wooyoung Group—a rivalry famously dubbed the 'Seasoning War'. Despite prolonged competition, Cheil Jedang repeatedly failed to overtake Wooyoung. In his autobiography, Lee Byung-chul even wrote: 'There are three things in life that defy my wishes: my children, my golf swing, and Wooyoung.' However, Cheil Jedang later turned the tide by developing 'Dasida', a beef-flavored seasoning, eventually surpassing Wooyoung. In 1982 and 1987, it expanded into pharmaceuticals and frozen foods, respectively.

A $20-billion market & two strategic pathways! Why is the bio-based nylon sector so attractive?

Recently, LG Chem and CJ CheilJedang Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as 'CJ') signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) to establish a joint venture dedicated to producing and selling eco-friendly nylon (PA) based on the bio-derived material pentamethylenediamine (also known as 'cadaverine'). As leading authorities in Korea’s chemical and food-biotech sectors respectively, the two companies aim—through this agreement—to become the first domestic enterprises capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of bio-based PA, from raw materials to finished products, thereby securing stable commercial competitiveness. The core of this collaboration lies in CJ supplying pentamethylenediamine—the key building block for bio-based PA—to LG Chem. CJ will leverage its proprietary technology to produce pentamethylenediamine from lysine extracted from corn and sugarcane; LG Chem, in turn, will polymerize this feedstock at its facilities to manufacture bio-based PA products. This bio-based PA, made entirely from renewable biological sources, matches petroleum-based PA in heat resistance and durability, and finds broad application across textiles, automotive components, electronics, and medical devices. Notably, its production using bio-based feedstocks significantly reduces carbon emissions. LG Chem CEO Shin Hak-cheol stated that this partnership aligns with LG Chem’s broader strategic pillars—namely, growth in batteries, eco-friendly materials, and innovative pharmaceuticals. He emphasized the importance of this collaboration in advancing the low-carbon economy, highlighting it as a landmark alliance between industry leaders pursuing a shared net-zero emissions goal. He further underscored LG Chem’s commitment to promoting sustainability across the plastics industry, pledging continued advancement of its plastic business using environmentally friendly, low-carbon materials—and positioning LG Chem as a pioneering leader in carbon reduction. The collaboration originated three years ago. It is reported that LG Chem and CJ initially planned, as early as June 2021, to form a joint venture focused on biodegradable plastics for environmental applications. However, no tangible progress followed. Recently, tightening global environmental regulations—and particularly the mandatory disclosure of Scope 3 carbon emissions (i.e., indirect emissions from upstream material procurement and transportation, and downstream product use) in the U.S. and Europe—are expected to sustain strong demand for eco-friendly products. Moreover, the expanding adoption of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)—which quantifies carbon emissions at every stage of textile, automotive, and consumer electronics manufacturing—is steadily increasing customer interest in bio-based PA. LG Chem forecasts robust global demand growth for bio-based PA, projecting an increase from 400,000 tons in 2023 to 1.4 million tons by 2028—a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29%. Industries including automotive, fashion, and home appliances are anticipated to adopt these sustainable solutions, and LG Chem is already engaging in discussions with both domestic and international potential customers. Thus, after a three-year hiatus, the collaboration between these two major corporations has now been formally finalized—with bio-based PA selected as their strategic focus. The bio-based PA market is vast. Compared to conventional petroleum-based materials, bio-based alternatives—derived from sugarcane, corn, straw, grains, and other biomass—offer advantages such as feedstock renewability and dramatically reduced carbon emissions. They not only help reduce humanity’s dependence on petroleum resources but also play a vital role in mitigating the global energy crisis.

CJ CheilJedang, ADM plan amino acids joint venture

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CJ CheilJedang and ADM plan a joint venture for feed-grade amino acids in the Americas, combining fermentation plants and sales offices. The move seeks to improve competitiveness against surging Chinese lysine imports and address US trade investigations.

chemweek

2026-10-12

CJ CheilJedang, ADM plan amino acids joint venture

CJ CheilJedang, ADM plan amino acids joint venture

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