LG Electronics is stepping up efforts to target the Asian market with Purotec, its antibacterial functional material. LG Electronics said on Wednesday it will showcase Purotec at Plastindia in New Delhi, India. Plastindia is India’s largest industrial materials exhibition. LG Electronics is taking part in the event for the first time.

Purotec is an antibacterial and anti-mould functional material in the form of glass powder. When added in small amounts during the production of materials such as plastics, paint and rubber, it prevents odours and contamination caused by microorganisms. LG Electronics is introducing Purotec solutions to B2B customers in India that can be applied across areas including home appliances, construction materials, hygiene products and packaging.

LG Electronics plans to build a second glass powder production base at its Hai Phong plant in Vietnam this year and start operations within the year. It currently has production facilities with an annual capacity of 4,500 tonnes at its Smart Park in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. It is responding to demand for functional glass powder, including Purotec. Since 2023, glass powder sales have grown by more than twofold each year.

It recently completed registrations under antibacterial agent-related regulations needed to enter the European and U.S. markets. In Europe and the United States, functional products such as antibacterial and sterilising items can be distributed and supplied in the market only if their safety is proven through harmfulness assessments. Last year, the company signed a business agreement with international testing and certification body SGS Korea to enhance LG Electronics’ antibacterial material quality capabilities and sustainable development, and agreed to jointly develop an international certification that officially recognises the antibacterial performance of LG Purotec.

Kim Young-seok (김영석), head of the HS Functional Materials Business Office, said, "Based on the technological capabilities we have built up, we will expand our functional materials business so it can be applied to various products in line with B2B customer demand."