ECO-HOPIA

What ECO-HOPIA does

ECO-HOPIA Co., Ltd. (에코호피아) is a Korean biotech company that specializes in organic waste resource recovery through proprietary microbial technology. Founded in 2020 (with initial patents filed from 2018) and headquartered in Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, the company became a subsidiary of agricultural corporation Tosun Co., Ltd. in 2021. It serves Korean municipalities operating 25 nationwide treatment facilities, agricultural producers, and international buyers in Vietnam and China, offering a non-incineration, non-gasification alternative to conventional organic waste disposal.

The company's core technology rests on a curated library of over 100 specialized microbial strains sourced from extreme environments — volcanoes, deep seas, and high-altitude regions — combined with a proprietary 30-ton treatment system. The system decomposes 95%+ of organic waste within 24 hours and achieves complete compost maturation in approximately 10 days at commercial scale, including under subzero conditions (-1.8°C), a performance benchmark validated by a 2025 SCI-indexed publication in the Journal of Environmental Management. Four strains are registered with NCBI and deposited at KRIBB. The technology is protected by multiple granted patents (Organic Waste Treatment Device, High-Speed Microbial Fermentation & Reduction System, Organic Waste Treatment System, Q-Mark certified Food Waste Processing Device) and a set of certifications including ISO 9001/14001/45001, Q-Mark, TS-Standard compost suitability, and China MoA compost approval. End products include TS-Standard composted organic fertilizer, the DeoJaram liquid microbial formulation, biogas for power generation, and bio-solid fuels.

ECO-HOPIA monetizes through five primary streams: long-term entrusted operations contracts with Korean municipalities for organic waste processing across 25 facilities (128,000+ tons/year installed capacity), domestic and international compost and fertilizer sales (including a 10,000 tons/month export contract with V-WS in Vietnam), technology licensing and transfer (e.g., the KOICA IBS Hai Phong project), OEM microbial supply (ATHOME home food waste processors), and solid biofuel supply for clean methanol production. The company has expanded internationally to Vietnam and China, securing regulatory approvals including compost suitability certification from China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Name

ECO-HOPIA

Legal name

주식회사 에코호피아 (ECO-HOPIA Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://ecohopia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ECO-HOPIA is a Korean biotech company that uses over 100 proprietary extremophile microbial strains to convert sewage sludge, food waste, and livestock manure into composted organic fertilizer, biogas, and bio-solid fuels, operating 25 municipal treatment facilities nationwide and exporting to Vietnam and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Waste Treatment Services

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Compost Manufacturing (325315), Biomass Electric Power Generation (221117), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) & Biogas/RNG Production (Organics Feedstocks) (BPALAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organics Collection & Processing (Composting/Anaerobic Digestion) (IMAIAFAF), Organics & Composting Programs (Food Waste, Green Waste) (BPABALAC), Organics-to-Energy & CHP from Biogas (On-site Power/Heat) (EUAIAEAG), Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Power (Agricultural & Industrial AD) (EUACAIAD), Organic & Bio-based Fertilizers (Manure/Compost/Biochar) (IMAEAEAF), Digestate & Compost Quality Testing/Certification (Lab, QA/QC) (BPALAEAK)

Keywords

• Organic waste recycling
• Microbial waste treatment
• Biogas production
• Organic fertilizer manufacturing
• Sewage sludge processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Organic Waste Processing Services (Municipal/Government Contracts): ECO-HOPIA operates 25 treatment facilities nationwide under entrusted operations contracts with municipalities and public institutions. Revenue is generated through long-term government contracts for sewage sludge, food waste, and livestock manure processing. The company handles the complete end-to-end processing operation, from waste intake to resource output.
2. Compost and Organic Fertilizer Sales: Sale of finished composted organic fertilizer products (TS-Standard, produced by Tosun) and microbial formulations (DeoJaram) to farmers, agricultural businesses, and international buyers. Includes recurring product revenue from both domestic Korean sales and export contracts.
3. International Compost Export Contracts: Regular export contracts for compost products to international markets including Vietnam (10,000 tons/month with V-WS, signed 2024), China (compost export contract and compost suitability approval from China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, signed 2023-2024), and solid biofuel supply agreements (e.g., Clean Methanol Pilot Project in Taebaek and Gunsan, 2024).
4. Technology Licensing and Transfer: Revenue from technology transfer agreements including the KOICA IBS project partnership in Hai Phong, Vietnam, where ECO-HOPIA transfers advanced Korean bioenergy technologies to enable large-scale organic waste processing and circular economy development.
5. Microbial Supply Agreements: Supply of proprietary microbial formulations to partner companies, such as the microbial supply agreement with ATHOME for home food waste processors (signed 2024).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ECO-HOPIA provides microbial-based organic waste resource recovery services and equipment. Its proprietary system uses 100+ specialized microbial strains to process sewage sludge, food waste, and livestock manure into biogas, bio-solid fuels, and composted organic fertilizer within 24 hours (decomposition) and ~10 days (maturation). The company sells finished products (Composted Organic Fertilizer TS-Standard and DeoJaram liquid microbial formulation) and operates municipal treatment facilities under long-term entrusted contracts.

Product overview

ECO-HOPIA operates as a technology platform company providing end-to-end organic waste resource recovery solutions. The core technology stack consists of three integrated components: (1) the Microbial Solutions platform leveraging 100+ specialized strains sourced from extreme environments, (2) the Organic Waste Treatment System utilizing a proprietary 30-ton processing unit, and (3) the Biogas system for high-temperature anaerobic digestion. These systems convert organic waste—including sewage sludge, food waste, and livestock manure—into finished products: Composted Organic Fertilizer (TS-Standard) and the consumer product DeoJaram (Liquid Soil Microbial Formulation). The platform is distinguished by its ability to process over 95% of organic waste within 24 hours and achieve complete maturation in 10 days even at subzero temperatures, as validated in SCI-indexed publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organic Waste Treatment System Proprietary microbial-based treatment system processing sewage sludge, food waste, and livestock manure. Decomposes 95%+ of organic waste within 24 hours using a 30-ton treatment unit and produces biogas, bio-solid fuels, and composted organic fertilizer. Sold and deployed to municipalities and international partners.
• Microbial Solutions A collection of 100+ specialized microbial strains sourced from extreme environments (volcanoes, deep seas, high-altitude regions), formulated into custom microbial solutions that fully decompose organic waste within 24 hours using the proprietary 30-ton system. Sold to OEMs and partners such as ATHOME for home food waste processors.
• Biogas (High-Temperature Dry Anaerobic Digestion System) High-temperature dry anaerobic digestion system that converts challenging organic waste streams (food waste, livestock manure, sewage sludge) into high-quality biogas for power production and solid biofuel for downstream uses such as methanol. Targets energy self-sufficiency and sustainable energy production.
• Composted Organic Fertilizer (TS-Standard) Composted organic fertilizer produced through the waste treatment process, containing over 30% organic matter. Uses European peat moss and promotes beneficial soil microorganisms while remediating heavy metals (Hg, Cd) and reducing BOD and COD levels. Packaged in 20kg bags with a 2-year shelf life. Sold to farmers, agricultural businesses, and international buyers.
• DeoJaram (Liquid Soil Microbial Formulation) Specialized liquid soil microbial formulation that stimulates crop growth, remediates heavy metals, lowers BOD/COD levels, secretes protease enzymes into the rhizosphere, suppresses pathogenic microorganisms, and enhances fruit weight, sugar content, and coloration. Available in 1L, 5L, and 20L containers with a 6-month shelf life. Sold to farmers, agricultural businesses, and households.
• Organic Waste Processing Services (Municipal Entrusted Operations) Long-term managed services for sewage sludge, food waste, and livestock manure processing under entrusted-operation contracts with Korean municipalities and public institutions. End-to-end waste processing operations, including intake, treatment, and resource output recovery.
• Technology Licensing and Transfer Technology licensing and transfer of ECO-HOPIA's microbial-based organic waste resource recovery technology to foreign governments, municipalities, and cooperatives (e.g., Hai Phong KOICA IBS project). Enables large-scale organic waste processing and circular economy development in overseas markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 128,000+ tons of organic waste processed annually across 25 facilities
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Song Gia Investment and Development CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Partnership between Eco Hopia Co., Ltd. (RoK) and the Song Gia Investment and Development Cooperative in Hai Phong, Vietnam, targeting the city's environmental challenges through advanced biotechnology solutions. The initiative addresses Hai Phong's daily generation of approximately 3,300 tonnes of waste (70–80% organic) and water hyacinth proliferation. Focus on technology transfer to enable large-scale organic waste processing and circular economy development, with potential for standardization and expansion across the city.
• Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural Products partnered in the Hai Phong KOICA IBS project, promoting circular agriculture and environmental treatment. KIST brings scientific research capabilities to validate and enhance ECO-HOPIA's bioenergy technologies for international deployment.
• Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026KOICA IBS project partnership in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The cooperation programme involves ECO-HOPIA, Song Gia Cooperative, and KIST to promote circular agriculture and environmental treatment. KOICA provides international development cooperation framework for deploying Korean bioenergy technologies.
• KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025ECO-HOPIA named a Family Company of KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural Products (November 2025). Collaboration aims to advance microbial-based process technologies using verifiable data and standardized performance indicators, converting research outcomes into commercially deployable technology packages. Key focus areas: anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting processes, process performance and stability improvement, quality and safety benchmarks.
• ATHOMEminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 October 2024Signed a microbial supply agreement with ATHOME in October 2024 for home food waste processors. ECO-HOPIA supplies its proprietary microbial formulations to ATHOME for integration into household food waste processing devices.
• V-WSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2024Signed an MOU with V-WS regarding compost exports to Vietnam (2024). V-WS serves as a distribution partner for ECO-HOPIA's compost products in the Vietnamese market under a regular export contract of 10,000 tons per month.
• Clean Methanol Pilot Project (Taebaek and Gunsan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2024Signed a solid biofuel supply agreement for the Clean Methanol Pilot Project in Taebaek and Gunsan (October 2024). ECO-HOPIA supplies solid biofuel produced from organic waste processing for methanol production.
• KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Signed an industry-academia research agreement with KIST in August 2024. The agreement supports joint research combining ECO-HOPIA's operational experience and field-level expertise with KIST's foundational and applied research capabilities for organic waste resource recovery technology advancement.
• China Compost Export PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2024Signed a compost export contract with China (July 2024) following an MOU in 2023. Compost suitability approval obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China. Export relationship for composted organic fertilizer products.
• Tosun Co., Ltd. (주식회사 토선)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ECO-HOPIA became a subsidiary of Tosun Co., Ltd., an agricultural corporation, in 2021. Tosun produces and sells TS-Standard composted organic fertilizer using ECO-HOPIA technology. Tosun was also chosen for Solar Power Installation Program (2024). Relationship is parent-subsidiary with shared agricultural focus.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• PlanET Biogas: PlanET designs and operates biogas plants from agricultural and organic waste, producing combined heat and power plus digestate — comparable in technology stack and feedstock mix to ECO-HOPIA.
• Hitachi Zosen Inova: HZI delivers large-scale anaerobic digestion and biogas-to-energy plants globally, mirroring ECO-HOPIA's thermophilic AD/biogas focus on municipal organic waste streams.
• Orgaworld: Orgaworld operates industrial-scale composting and anaerobic digestion of source-separated organic waste into compost and biogas in Europe — closely comparable to ECO-HOPIA's municipal AD and organic fertilizer output.
• BTS Bioenergy: BTS Bioenergy builds medium-scale anaerobic digestion plants from organic waste and livestock manure to generate biogas, closely aligned with ECO-HOPIA's livestock-manure and food-waste AD value proposition.
• Anaergia: Anaergia builds anaerobic digestion and resource recovery facilities for organic waste, producing biogas, fertilizer, and renewable energy — directly comparable to ECO-HOPIA's municipal AD and compost platform.

Broad incumbents

• Suez: Suez provides municipal and industrial organic waste treatment, anaerobic digestion, and compost/fertilizer outputs across Europe and Asia — a broad incumbent in ECO-HOPIA's core municipal waste-to-resource category.
• Waste Management Inc. WM is North America's largest waste services provider with growing organics/AD and renewable natural gas investments, representing a large incumbent expanding into ECO-HOPIA's organics-processing category.
• Veolia: Veolia operates large-scale municipal organic waste collection, AD, composting, and biogas-energy services globally, making it a broad incumbent competing for the same municipal contracts ECO-HOPIA targets.

Emerging players

• Brightmark Energy: Brightmark converts organic waste streams into renewable natural gas and renewable fertilizers via anaerobic digestion — a similar waste-to-multiple-output model, though operating primarily in North America.
• Cambrian Innovation: Cambrian uses biotech and microbial solutions to treat industrial wastewater and organic waste streams into clean water and biogas — comparable in applying biology-based processes to waste valorization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ECO-HOPIA