A new packaging technology using eco-friendly materials has been developed to extend the shelf life of instant rice by up to three months.

In a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper, Kim Young-jin, co-chief executive officer (CEO) of TwoDM Co., said that the company recently finalized development of a new container that dramatically blocks moisture and oxygen, which allows instant rice to last up to 12 months instead of the usual 9 months.

The technology uses a graphene barrier developed by TwoDM and manufactured into containers by Dae-A C&I.

Conventional instant rice containers are made with polypropylene (PP) and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) composites, but EVOH is costly to produce and requires imported materials. “Our container uses a graphene barrier to provide superior moisture and oxygen resistance and is recyclable,” Kim said.

Tests by the Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL) found that the new container’s moisture permeability was 0.22, 62 percent lower than the market standard (0.58), while oxygen permeability was 0.022, 15 percent lower than the typical container (0.026).

Kim also said that the manufacturing process is simpler, reducing production costs by up to 20 percent.

Kim, who spent 14 years working in R&D at Tokusen’s U.S. office before returning to Korea, founded TwoDM in 2018 as a company specializing in two-dimensional materials. These materials, only one-300,000th the thickness of a human hair, exhibit unique electrical, mechanical, and optical properties.

The company also produces carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS), which are used in lithium-ion batteries and other applications.

The graphene barrier technology, originally developed for food packaging, has potential applications across industries.

“We’re looking at opportunities in battery materials, household goods, and food containers,” Kim said.

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