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With climate change, the marine ecosystem is also in crisis. According to the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, it has been found that the ocean has absorbed about 30% of the carbon dioxide emitted by humanity since the Industrial Revolution. The temperature of seawater is rising, and acidification is progressing. Changes in the marine ecosystem can be fatal to the creatures living there. This is why certain species are on the brink of extinction, while others experience explosive population growth, leading to imbalance.

The seas of Korea are suffering from starfish. Once romanticized as the "stars of the sea," starfish are now identified as the main culprits of marine ecosystem devastation. Starfish indiscriminately consume marine life, causing significant damage to aquaculture farms and destroying coral reefs, known as the ocean's oxygen tanks. When coral reefs are destroyed, marine biodiversity collapses, ultimately destabilizing the entire ecosystem.

The government collects and disposes of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 tons of starfish annually. The problem is that the carbon emissions generated during the disposal process act as a new environmental pollutant. A different approach is needed to break this dilemma.

There is a company that has transformed waste into innovative resources in the face of environmental issues. Climate tech company Starstech (CEO Seungchan Yang) approached starfish as a core resource. By analyzing the chemical properties of starfish and utilizing them as advanced materials, the company currently produces eco-friendly de-icing agents, cosmetic ingredients, and liquid fertilizers, expanding its business areas.

Creating New Value from Starfish

Starstech is a climate tech company that creates eco-friendly products from starfish, the main culprit of marine ecosystem issues. Initially starting as a de-icing agent specialist, the company has expanded into cosmetics and fertilizers.

Starstech's competitiveness lies in its technology. It understands the chemical properties of starfish and extracts them in a form optimized for business. The eco-friendly de-icing agent utilizes the ossicles of starfish. These ossicles are porous structures made of calcium carbonate, which have the property of adsorbing chloride ions. Starstech applied this principle to develop a de-icing agent that improves the corrosion issues of existing products. Collagen extracted from starfish became a cosmetic ingredient, and even the by-products from the extraction process were commercialized as fertilizers, completing an upcycling system that utilizes 100% without waste.



The technology is proven by various certifications and patents. It has acquired multiple national certifications such as the Public Procurement Service's innovative product designation, excellent procurement product, NET (New Technology), and performance certification. ECO-ST2 is a de-icing agent certified as an innovative product by the Public Procurement Service and granted carbon credits. It has obtained product patents and certifications in overseas markets such as Canada, the United States, Japan, and Mongolia, achieving an annual export performance of over USD 1 million (approximately KRW 1.463 billion), proving its global competitiveness.

A notable achievement is the acquisition of carbon credits. In 2023, it was certified for 26,081 tCO2-eq (tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of greenhouse gas), and in 2024, for 30,087 tCO2-eq. Starstech holds over 56,000 tonnes of cumulative carbon credits, implementing a model that contributes to carbon reduction as products are used. By replacing the incineration of starfish, it reduces carbon emissions and minimizes environmental burdens during product use.



Starstech's business model starts with sourcing starfish through cooperation with the government and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives. From the government's perspective, it reduces incineration costs amounting to billions of KRW annually, while Starstech secures a stable raw material supply chain. The secured starfish are completely decomposed through an extraction process. The ossicles are used for de-icing agents, collagen adhered to the ossicles becomes a cosmetic ingredient, and the remaining waste liquid is utilized as fertilizer, creating a circular structure with no waste left.

Eco-friendly De-icing Agent Utilizing the Porous Structure of Starfish

The starting point and major revenue-generating business for Starstech is the eco-friendly de-icing agent sector. While de-icing agents sprayed for road safety in winter are effective in melting snow and ice, they come with severe side effects. Calcium chloride and sodium chloride-based de-icing agents rapidly corrode vehicle undercarriages and road facilities due to their high chloride ion concentration. Concrete damage shortens road lifespan and causes plant sulfurization and water pollution.

Eco-friendly de-icing agents developed to solve the concrete corrosion problem include corrosion inhibitors. However, nitrites and organic compounds mixed for corrosion prevention may negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. Their high cost also limits mass distribution.



Starstech's ECO-ST de-icing agent overcame these drawbacks with eco-friendly materials. Starstech focused on the porous calcium carbonate structure extracted from starfish ossicles. The porous structure, with its countless small holes, adsorbs chloride ions. By suppressing high-concentration chloride ion states, it reduces environmental damage. It further enhances corrosion prevention effects through interaction with corrosion inhibitors. According to Starstech's data, using only one-third of the corrosion inhibitor compared to existing eco-friendly de-icing agents achieves 29 times the corrosion prevention effect.

The Ministry of Environment's certification standard for de-icing agent corrosion rate is 30% or less. In contrast, ECO-ST has a de-icing agent corrosion rate of 0.8%, lower than water. Simultaneously, it developed and introduced the industry's first concrete reinforcement technology, reducing road surface damage rates by over 90% and minimizing soil pollution and crop damage by up to 70%. Biomass loss is also reduced by up to 70%, minimizing the impact on plant growth. Its ice removal (melting) performance is 166% higher than sodium chloride, allowing for de-icing with smaller quantities.

Starstech has established three de-icing agent product lines according to de-icing environments. ECO-ST1 is a corrosion prevention additive (ST Additive) that enhances de-icing efficiency using starfish porous structures. Adding about 2wt% (1g per 100g) of ST Additive to existing de-icing agents maintains melting performance while reducing the corrosion rate to 0.8%.

ST Additive is a concrete reinforcement additive that enhances the durability of concrete roads. Adding about 0.3wt% to existing de-icing agents reduces concrete freeze-thaw resistance to less than 10% compared to salt, while increasing compressive strength by up to 288%. It is a finished product containing both ST additive and SL Additive.



Starstech's eco-friendly de-icing agents lead to economic effects. First, road maintenance cost reduction. According to Statistics Korea, the total road maintenance cost executed in 2024 amounts to KRW 4.5614 trillion. If this budget is reduced, the remaining budget can be used for other projects. Considering the reduction in vehicle corrosion damage caused by calcium chloride and sodium chloride in winter, the social value is about KRW 100,000 per 25kg bag, according to Starstech.

ECO-ST·SL de-icing agents are exported to overseas markets such as Canada, the United States, Mongolia, and Japan, achieving results. Major customers include Canadian road/building management companies and Ulaanbaatar City Hall. The North American region has a high demand for high-performance eco-friendly de-icing agents due to harsh winter climates and strict environmental regulations. Starstech plans to expand its market presence by establishing local distribution partnerships in Canada and obtaining certifications from overseas organizations like Clear Roads.

Utilizing Nutrients in Starfish Waste Liquid for Liquid Fertilizer

Starstech did not overlook the waste liquid generated during the starfish extraction process. This waste liquid contains rich marine-derived saponins and amino acids from starfish. Starstech refined and processed the starfish waste liquid to develop the liquid fertilizer Bulseuki.

Bulseuki contains marine peptides and amino acids. It also includes marine saponins, which help improve plant immunity and suppress pathogens. Based on various nutrients, it promotes crop growth and enhances resistance to pests and diseases. Starstech expects Bulseuki to be a solution that reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers and supports eco-friendly agriculture.

The product line is segmented according to crop cultivation environments. Bulseuki provides an optimal blend ratio for fruit and vegetable crops, while Bulseuki Amino enhances amino acid content to support the early stages of crop growth. Bulseuki Root is specialized in root development with a high-concentration phosphate blend to aid early root establishment. All are available in liquid form that dissolves well in water for root application (a method of supplying nutrients to the roots) and foliar application (a method of supplying nutrients through the leaves).

Bulseuki targets the domestic B2G (business-to-government) and B2B (business-to-business) markets. Additionally, it is reportedly favored by individual farms practicing eco-friendly agriculture, according to Starstech.

Targeting the Beauty Market with Starfish Collagen

While the de-icing agent and fertilizer businesses have established a stable revenue base, Starstech's future growth engine is the beauty market. It differentiated itself with Penellagen, a raw material combining collagen extracted from starfish and transdermal delivery technology (TDS, Transdermal Drug System). Penellagen is a next-generation raw material that overcomes the limitations of collagen ingredients. It delivers starfish-extracted collagen deep into the skin within elastic capsules.



Collagen is a major component of the skin's dermis, responsible for elasticity and moisture. As one ages, collagen synthesis decreases, leading to wrinkles and reduced elasticity. For this reason, the cosmetics market has long developed anti-aging products using collagen. However, collagen, regardless of molecular size, is difficult to reach the dermis when applied to the skin surface due to its structural characteristics. Most remain on the epidermis and are washed away. Existing collagen is mainly extracted from pigs or cows, which poses religious restrictions in the Halal market.

Starstech solved these issues with two innovations. The first is starfish. Marine-derived collagen extracted from starfish can be used as an alternative for consumers who cannot use cosmetics containing pig or cow-derived collagen due to religious issues. The second is the elastic ethosome-based transdermal delivery technology (TDS). Elastic ethosome is an evolved form of liposome, a nano-particle carrier that improves membrane flexibility and stability. When collagen peptides are encapsulated in this carrier, they can pass through the stratum corneum and reach the dermis. While the skin permeability of general porcine collagen is close to 0, and general collagen has limited permeability even when combined with TDS, Penellagen has over 523 times higher skin permeability than other collagen TDS raw materials.



Starstech confirmed Penellagen's performance through skin clinical trials at the OTAC Skin Clinical Trial Center and KC Skin Clinical Trial Center. The results demonstrated skin improvement effects, including a 17.6% increase in skin moisture, a 5.4% increase in skin elasticity, a 7.25% reduction in eye wrinkles, and an 8.9% increase in skin density.

Meanwhile, the cosmetic brand Labofe, made with starfish collagen raw material Penellagen, is currently undergoing rebranding. In the first half of 2026, it plans to further strengthen product power and customer marketing, continuously introducing products and solidifying Labofe's position in the global market.

Starstech's challenge does not stop. It plans to accelerate growth by expanding the overseas market for eco-friendly de-icing agents, rebranding Labofe, and increasing Penellagen supply. This is part of the journey to develop into a global climate tech company using starfish as a raw material.

To achieve its goals, Starstech is participating in the Seoul Business Agency (SBA)'s super-gap open innovation promotion support program. This program is a support project to enhance the external promotion and marketing capabilities of companies selected for super-gap through effective promotional support. Starstech received support for research and development, export channel connections, and promotion through SBA. It plans to promote the potential of starfish in domestic and international markets through the SBA super-gap open innovation promotion support program.

As climate change and environmental crises intensify, the role of climate tech companies like Starstech will become increasingly important. Innovation that turns problems into opportunities, wisdom that makes the economy and environment a symbiotic relationship rather than a confrontational one, and a management philosophy that simultaneously pursues technological prowess and social value. The capabilities demonstrated by Starstech are expected to serve as a guide to a sustainable future.

IT Donga Reporter Hyungseok Kang (redbk@itdonga.com)

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