On May 26, JMC carried out an environmental cleanup around the Hoeya River in Onyang-eup, Ulsan. As part of the “1 River 1 Cleaner” initiative, four employees voluntarily participated in the activity and collected 60 kg of household waste and debris left along the riverbank, contributing to the improvement of the local environment. This meaningful effort reflected JMC’s commitment to taking the lead in environmental protection as a responsible member of the local community. JMC plans to continue participating in similar cleanup activities to help build a cleaner and more sustainable local environment.

JMC has been awarded the EcoVadis Silver Medal for its corporate sustainability performance, upgrading from its previous Bronze status. This places JMC in the top 15% of more than 150,000 companies assessed globally.

The improved rating reflects JMC’s progress in areas such as environmental impact, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. It recognizes ongoing efforts to embed sustainability throughout the business, from the production of the world’s highest quality saccharin to the development of advanced materials, including graphene products and ionomers for battery and charge-separation applications.

“Sustainability is not just a requirement—it is a responsibility,” said Wonsik Jung, CEO of JMC. “This recognition confirms the strength of our systems and our commitment to continuous improvement as we grow into new technologies and global markets.”

EcoVadis is one of the world’s most trusted sustainability ratings providers, used by many multinational companies to evaluate suppliers and partners. The Silver Medal reflects both strong policies and tangible, ongoing action.

JMC remains committed to raising the bar further as it expands into next-generation materials and strengthens its role as a responsible leader in the global chemical industry.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reaffirmed the safety of saccharin and its sodium, potassium, and calcium salts (collectively known as saccharins, E 954), which are widely used as low-calorie sweeteners in the food industry.

As part of an EU-wide initiative to re-evaluate food additives approved before 2009, EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF Panel) conducted a comprehensive assessment based on updated scientific data and protocols. This included recent studies and stakeholder submissions covering saccharin use from 1994 to early 2024.

A key outcome of the assessment is the conclusion that the R&F process for manufacturing saccharin is the only process that does not raise a concern with regards to impurities or genotoxicity. The assessment also confirmed a revision of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for saccharin to 9 mg per kg of body weight, significantly higher than the previous limits set in 1995. This change reflects modern scientific consensus that earlier concerns about bladder tumors in rats are not relevant to humans. All population groups in the EU are estimated to have saccharin intakes well below the new ADI, indicating no safety concerns.

The panel also recommended updates to EU specifications, such as:
– Standardizing saccharin production to the Remsen-Fahlberg process,
– Updating chemical identifiers (CAS numbers),
– Improving purity standards for calcium saccharin,
– Tightening limits for contaminants like lead and arsenic.

Although minor uncertainties remain—such as the need for more long-term human studies on glucose regulation and weight gain—these do not affect the overall conclusion: saccharins remain safe for use in food.

Full article: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/9044

Plain language summary: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.p221101

From Tuesday, October 8th to Thursday, October 10th, 2024, the world’s largest international pharmaceutical exhibition, CPHI (Convention on Pharmaceutical Ingredients & Intermediates), was held at Fiera Milan in Milan, Italy.

JMC and KISCO jointly participated in this year’s CPHI exhibition. This year, over 2,400 pharmaceutical and biotech companies from 166 countries participated. Despite the rainy weather, the exhibition saw an unprecedented high participation rate. JMC’s booth featured a large screen with our own video highlightng our key message:  “World’s highest Saccharin”. Graphics in the booth spelled out “saccharin” in multiple languages to attract global visitors’ attention. Saccharin samples were placed at the info desk, allowing new and potential customers to directly see the product, enhancing their understanding of JMC’s offerings. To further engage visitors, JMC gave away amenity sets including hanbok-shaped soaps and toothpaste/toothbrushes containing saccharin produced by JMC, a gesture that was well-received, much like the previous year.

During the three days of the exhibition, many existing and new customers visited the booth. JMC expressed gratitude for their trust in the quality and stable supply of its saccharin, and reaffirmed its commitment to being a “long-term and stable business partner,” emphasizing its stance on sustainable management even in the face of a challenging business environment. Over the course of the three days, JMC held meetings with a total of 87 companies, successfully concluding the exhibition.

On April 17th, JMC participated in the “Spring Environmental Cleanup Activity” held in Onsan-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan.

On this day, approximately 150 employees from 21 companies within the Onsan National Industrial Complex participated in activities to cleanup the local environment. The cleanup activity, focused mainly on the roadside areas within the industrial complex, collected approximately 3 tons of various types of waste, including household garbage and illegal advertisements. This activity made significant progress in environmental preservation through community engagement, contributing to the goal of a clean Onsan-eup.

JMC is committed to actively participating in such activities in the future, continuing efforts towards environmental conservation and community engagement for a sustainable future.

This week marked another significant contribution by JMC to environmental conservation through our ongoing participation in the One Company One River Saving Movement. Demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and community engagement, JMC staff members volunteered for this activity. In total, 50 employees from seven companies, volunteered, embodying a collaborative spirit towards environmental stewardship.

The focus of this initiative was the river adjacent to our Ulsan plant, a vital waterway that has been the subject of increasing environmental concern. Our dedicated team, along with other corporate volunteers, worked tirelessly to remove trash and debris from the river. Their efforts were not only a testament to their dedication but also to the collective power of community involvement in environmental preservation.

By the end of the year, the group had successfully collected almost 2 tonnes of trash, a significant achievement that highlights the impact of collective action in tackling environmental issues. This initiative is part of JMC’s broader commitment to improving the quality of our local environment. We believe that as a responsible corporate citizen, it is our duty to contribute to the well-being of the communities we operate in.

JMC’s involvement in the One Company One River Saving Movement is just one of the many ways we are actively working towards a more sustainable future. We are proud of our team’s enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference, and we remain dedicated to continuing our efforts in environmental conservation and community engagement.

On December 15, 2023, JMC held a retirement ceremony to honor employees who had dedicated many years to the company’s growth. This year, a total of six employees retired, with an average tenure of 34 years.

In recognition of their lifelong contributions to JMC, CEO Jung Won-sik expressed gratitude by awarding commemorative plaques and solid gold medals to the retirees. Following the conclusion of the event, CEO Jung Won-sik joined the retirees for a commemorative photo, offering words of encouragement for their retirement.

JMC is committed to sustainability in all we do. This video highlights the systems and processes we have in place to protect our products, people, customers and our environment.

JMC wishes to address the announcement by the WHO IARC to classify aspartame as a “possible carcinogen”.

As a manufacturer of saccharin, a widely used artificial sweetener, JMC supports our partners who provide artificially sweetened food, drink, medicines, and oral care products. These products are a way for consumers to minimise sugar consumption.

As a chemical company, JMC supports the evidence-based assessment of the safety of all products. We note that the studies cited by the IARC apply only to aspartame. Saccharin is one of the most widely studied chemicals in history and has been safely used for over 140 years. Saccharin has been certified as safe for human consumption by the WHO, the US FDA and many other food safety regulators. As the producer of the world’s highest quality saccharin, we are confident that products made using materials from JMC are safe.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions about this notice.

Download our full statement.

JMC recently contributed to the annual cleanup of the Dongcheon river in Onyang-eup, Ulsan. This project is part of the “1 River 1 Cleaner” Campaign. JMC has been an important partner in the preservation and activation of the ecosystem of the Ulsan region’s rivers for more than 10 years. Staff from JMC have been carrying out voluntary environmental cleanup activities, collecting about 2,000 kg of waste last year alone.

As part of our normal operations, JMC uses sustainable processes that do not harm the environment and strictly monitors and controls the disposal of all waste in compliance with government regulations. JMC will continue to fulfill its social responsibility and practice sustainable management.