Any conversation about modern manufacturing touches plastics, coatings, and superabsorbent polymers somewhere along the way. LG Chem—one of the biggest chemical makers in Korea—sits in the middle of this flow, producing massive amounts of acrylic acid each year. For most folks, this might sound distant from day-to-day life, but acrylic acid crops up everywhere. Baby diapers? Check. Paints and adhesives in your home? Check again.
I’ve seen how something as basic as paint quality comes from its main building blocks. Acrylic acid steers much of this. Drop by any hardware store, pull a can off the shelf, you’ll hold a product shaped by decisions made in LG Chem’s labs and factories. Besides the usual suspects, acrylic acid also lands in water treatment, textiles, and detergents—places you wouldn’t expect unless you peeked behind the curtain.
South Korea’s chemical sector packs a punch, with LG Chem at the front. In 2022, the company’s acrylic acid output crossed over one million tons annually. That volume means a lot of pressure on energy, logistics, and community resources. The manufacturing process for acrylic acid pulls heavy on fossil fuels and creates hazardous byproducts. I’ve walked past chemical plants, smelled the mix in the air, and talked with folks worried about local rivers. Runoff can spike chemical levels in water, and air emissions can raise health concerns for nearby communities.
Trying to be “greener” isn’t just about ticking a box on a marketing plan. Making acrylic acid from bio-based materials stands as a real research frontier. Several companies, including LG Chem, claim they’re making advances in this direction. Last year, they announced steps toward commercial-scale production of bio-acrylic acid. This means less reliance on petroleum and a smaller carbon footprint. Reports from industry groups suggest bio-based acrylic acid could cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% compared to traditional methods.
The long-term health effects of inhaling acrylic acid fumes look troubling if safety controls slip. South Korea has had its share of chemical accidents over the years. Better regulations and community outreach help, but change often moves slower than the demand for new products. LG Chem promoted new digital monitoring systems to reduce risks. Still, the chemical requires careful handling from factory to delivery truck to storage shelf.
Public pressure nudges big firms like LG Chem to improve. After years in manufacturing, I know transparency around chemical spills and emissions helps rebuild trust. Companies can’t just issue formal statements; local families want to know what’s coming off the smokestack right now. Third-party audits, open reporting, and real-time air quality dashboards could calm worries and prevent disasters.
Folks often ask what difference a single shopper can make. For a product buried deep in the supply chain, information matters. Brands using greener polymers or buying from verified sustainable sources encourage the giants to move faster on cleaner solutions. Governments play their part, but millions of consumer choices—and voices—push progress with each sale and each story reported.
