STAR’s Tech upcycles invasive starfish skeletons (an overlooked form of marine waste) into a first carbon-negative de-icer. Our patented process offers a sustainable alternative to conventional de-icing products like calcium chloride and road salt, which corrode infrastructure, contaminate water supplies, and harm soil and vegetation, costing billions annually in environmental and structural damage.
In addition to de-icers, we fully upcycle starfish into bioactive skincare ingredients and liquid fertilizer, creating new value chains across multiple industries from the same biomass.
Our technology not only reduces carbon emissions and improves infrastructure durability, but also helps restore marine ecosystems impacted by starfish overpopulation. By converting an environmental threat into a cost-effective alternative that protects infrastructure and climate-positive solution, STAR’s Tech advances circular economy goals and supports eco-conscious agriculture and public health.
The breakthrough began with an unlikely source—the porous microstructure of starfish bones. STAR’s Tech discovered that this natural product, when processed, could drastically improve the performance of corrosion inhibitors and reduce the chloride shock that destroys infrastructure. But first, they had to solve the problem of sourcing.
In conversations with local governments, the team learned that fishermen’s cooperatives were already collecting starfish, but cities were paying to incinerate them. STAR’s Tech pitched a win-win. They would take the starfish at no cost, removing the disposal burden while securing a free, sustainable raw material. The first agreement, with the city of Gunsan, proved the model and set the stage for scale.
From there, R&D pushed the limits of what a de-icer could do. “Starcrush Premium” emerged with 66% higher melting power than conventional salt, effective down to -25°F, and a near-zero corrosion rate. Then came a surprising lesson. When meeting with public works departments, STAR’s Tech learned that infrastructure preservation wasn’t a “bonus” feature; it was a top priority. That insight drove the creation of the SL Additive, a proprietary enhancement that seals micro-cracks in concrete as ice melts, preventing potholes and extending road life.
“Starcrush Premium with Concrete Protection” became the first de-icer to combine road safety, infrastructure preservation, and environmental protection in a single step. A zero-waste manufacturing process ensures every by-product is repurposed, and independent verification backs every performance claim. Strategic wins, including “Innovative Product” designation from the Korean Public Procurement Service, positioned the product for rapid adoption both domestically and abroad.
In just the past year, STAR’s Tech has transformed from an ambitious startup into Korea’s market leader for eco-friendly de-icers in public procurement. The “Innovative Product” designation awarded by both the Ministry of Environment and the Public Procurement Service in December 2024 made “ECO-ST2” (the Korean market name for “Starcrush Premium with Concrete Protection”) the first and only de-icer in the country to receive this status, paving the way for priority municipal adoption.
Multiple cities have already committed to using the product in the coming season. Starting this winter, the city of Sejong will conduct a long-term pilot test to validate real-world results—targeting up to 90% less concrete damage, a near-zero corrosion rate. Carbon-negative certification confirms 0.65 tCO₂ savings per ton, with the enhanced formulation expected to reach 1 tCO₂ per ton.
The company’s growth has matched its environmental progress. A Series C round in May 2024 brought in top-tier institutional investors, and an IPO is now in preparation. International validation programs are underway, with the North American market next in line.
What began as a response to a marine waste crisis is now a blueprint for climate-positive, infrastructure-protecting technology, proving that sustainability and performance can coexist without compromise.
