[Prime Economy] Damaged forest resources from wildfires and pine wilt disease have been given new life.Sustainable LAB and the Korea Forest Promotion Institute have unveiled a carbon-storing tumbler called “RE:TREE.” ⓒ Sustainable LABOn the 5th, Sustainable LAB (CEO Sunmi Seo) announced that, in collaboration with the Korea Forest Promotion Institute, it has introduced RE:TREE, an eco-friendly tumbler made from damaged trees that were upcycled using BIO-CCUS (Bio Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) technology. Through this project, the team succeeded in turning domestic forestry by-products into carbon-storage materials for the first time in Korea, marking a milestone in giving everyday consumer goods tangible carbon-storage value. The applied BIO-CCUS technology converts trees damaged by wildfires and pine wilt disease into wood biochar through an environmentally friendly process. Each RE:TREE tumbler (based on 1 kg of material) was verified to store approximately 0.949 kg of carbon. Unlike conventional ESG products that focus mainly on upcycling or emotional storytelling, this project stands out for quantifying direct carbon-reduction impact, showcasing a distinct technological edge. Sustainable LAB also introduced a new concept called “Carbon Piece.” It reinterprets the tumbler not as a simple good, but as a participatory act of sharing stored carbon. As damaged forest resources are reborn as carbon-storage products, the simple act of using the product becomes a contribution to climate-crisis mitigation. From a design standpoint, RE:TREE tumblers feature 360-degree full-color custom printing, enhancing their versatility as ESG goods. The Korea Forest Promotion Institute applied a summer-forest landscape motif to its design, effectively communicating its environmental message. A representative of the Korea Forest Promotion Institute stated,“This collaboration is a model example of reviving discarded forest resources into sustainable materials. We will continue expanding cooperation with private companies to preserve forest ecosystems and respond to the climate crisis.”Sustainable LAB CEO Sunmi Seo commented,“This project offers a practical solution that achieves both carbon storage and biodiversity protection. Building on our Carbon Piece technology, we aim to lead the material transition of plastic consumer goods.” She added that the company intends to grow into a leading ESG-driven lifestyle enterprise.Meanwhile, Sustainable LAB operates Idden, an eco-lifestyle brand based on BIO-CCUS material technology. The company provides customized ESG goods and plastic-to-biomaterial transition solutions for public institutions, local governments, and private corporations. Additionally, Sustainable LAB was selected for the 2025 Youth Forest Startup Seed Support Program, organized by the Korea Forest Promotion Institute under the Korea Forest Service and operated by Tap & Angel Partners, proving both its technological strength and growth potential. “Sustainable LAB Launches ‘Carbon-Storing Goods’ Made from Damaged Forest Resources – Upcycling Trees Affected by Wildfires and Pine Wilt into BIO-CCUS-Based Tumbler ‘RE:TREE’,” Prime Economy, August 5, 2025. Available at: https://www.newsprime.co.kr/news/article/?no=699028 (newsprime.co.kr)
