Slovenian hemp product maker PharmaHemp and South Korea's producer of medical products T&L have joined forces to develop medical plasters with hemp extract. T&L is building a new plant in Maribor to manufacture the plasters.

PharmaHemp and T&L started working together in 2022 with the aim to develop advanced cosmetics and medical products. They have now signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in further development and production in Slovenia.

They are developing advanced hydrocolloid, plastisol and micro-carbon medical plasters with purified hemp extract, which will enable a broader spectrum of efficacy for a wide range of skin problems.

The initiative for cooperation came from T&L, PharmaHemp head of development Boštjan Jančar said as they signed memorandum on 30 August.

The South Korean company, which has 200 employees, produces medical plasters, dressings and similar products for skin treatment.

The use of hemp, CBD or any cannabinoid is banned in South Korea, which is why they needed a foreign partner and they have chosen PharmaHemp.

T&L is currently completing the first phase of a €4 million investment in a new factory in Maribor, which is expected to be launched in February or March next year. It will create 35 jobs, including skilled lab workers.

The facility is expected to roll out the first medical plasters with hemp extracts in September 2025.

In the second phase T&L is planning a €10 million investment to expand production.

T&L director Yoon-so Choi said they chose Slovenia because of its geostrategic location, developed infrastructure and innovative, skilled workforce. "We at T&L believe that through our cooperation with PharmaHemp with skin care products with CBD we can become leading in medical care with CBD," he said.

Economy Minister Matjaž Han sees the memorandum between the two companies as a milestone for economic ties between Slovenia and South Korea. The two countries share the values of hard work, innovation and the vision of the future, he said.

Founded in 2007, PharmaHemp produces ingredients and products from hemp. The Ljubljana-based company currently employs around 25 people. They import most hemp from Croatia as well as buy some in Slovenia.

Polymer technology company T&L was incorporated in 1998 and opened its European subsidiary T&L Europe in Ljubljana in 2023.