Huvis : to Supply its ECOPET (PET foam material) for Containers of Baemin Mart's Steamed Dishes

Huvis (CEO You Dong Shin) will supply its polyester (PET) foam material (ECOPET) for containers of steamed dishes delivered by Baemin Mart.
ECOPET is a polyester foam that has tiny pockets of air and is not harmful for human bodies. This makes it ideal for food containers. Being highly heat-resistant and insulative, containers of ECOPET can keep food warm over a long time. The outer surface of the containers is not hot and therefore safe to touch.
Baemin Mart, a subsidiary of Woowa Brothers (CEO: Kim Beom-joon), is a vendor of supplies for catering service providers, including food ingredients, food delivery containers and packaging materials.
Huvis and Baemin Mart started to work together last May to develop containers made of ECOPET. Over those months, Baemin Mart focused on determining the applications and design that would ensure the best use of ECOPET, based on its extensive experience. Efforts were made to identify the design points that would make the material ideal for packaging and delivery, including compatibility with other packaging materials. A series of tests were conducted to ensure the insulation required for delivery and whether the tightness would be enough to prevent any leakage.
The upcoming ECOPET containers are optimal for steamed dishes, such as steamed chicken and steamed angler fish, whose insulation as well as durability and tightness have been proven acceptable. They have also passed the test conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in accordance with the Korean Food Packaging Standards Codex.
Baemin Mart will organize an event via its website to also provide the public with an opportunity to experience the containers. By signing up, existing customers will be given one set of the containers free of charge. New customers can get 20 sets worth 10,000 won for 100 won. The event is Baemin Mart's plan to let retailers discover and experience the material that is to be newly applied to the mart's products as well as the material's strengths.
"ECOPET, when applied to our containers for delivery, has proven more robust than existing materials in terms of insulation and keeping food warm. This is fully consistent with our efforts to keep food warm until it is delivered," says one source of Baemin Mart.
"The adoption of ECOPET by Baemin Mart demonstrates its full applicability to delivery purposes," says Kim Bong-seob, Director, Huvis. "We will put more resources to improve its design and ease of use, add more functionality and make it safer for human bodies and the environment."
Developed as the first of its kind in Korea in 2017, ECOPET has since been recognized three times at local and international packaging related awards. In particular, it was awarded the Jang Yeong-sil prize by the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2020. Its applications include food containers for delivery, packaging including shock absorbers for display panels and liners for industrial purposes including vehicles, electronics, and home appliances. Cooperation with relevant enterprises to broaden its adoption is in progress on a large scale.

[Photo] A container made of ECOPET for steamed dishes available from Baemin Mart (Courtesy of Baemin Mart)