Up until a few years ago, it was mostly plastic food containers that were used to store food in the refrigerator at home. Plastic food containers are cheap and light, but hygienic issues and endocrine-disrupting chemicals used to make the plastic goods raised concerns among consumers.

Replacing their plastic containers without much controversy, people began to use glass containers. Glass is free from the endocrine-disrupting chemicals, is see-through so it's easy to check the food inside, and can be used as tableware straight from the fridge, ideal for cuisines that have many side dishes.

For these reasons and more, glass leftover containers have been winning attention from consumers worldwide, and Samkwang Glass has been riding this shift in consumer sentiment. With their in-house developed tempered glass, made of silica, soda ash, limestone and other natural components, these Korean glass containers can be used in microwaves, ovens and freezers, as well as in the dishwasher. Soon, Samkwang moved beyond domestic shores and captured consumer attention worldwide.


Samkwang Glass is one of the most successful brands of household products. Since launching its glass storage container, Glasslock, in 2005, Samkwang has become the top refrigerator container brand in Korea, with nearly 70 percent of the market. It exports to 84 countries around the world, and recorded overseas sales of KRW 52.5 billion in 2013 alone, accounting for nearly 60 percent of its total sales. Its exports just to the Chinese market have shown year-on-year increases, hitting some KRW 10 billion every year.

The Glasslock range covers a diverse line of storage containers, including the basic, pure, block canister, smart, plus, mixing bowl and shaker lines. Among them, the smart, block canister and shaker lines are particularly popular among North American, European and Chinese customers.



Glasslock Smart containers, currently being exported to North America and Europe, have rounded edges on all four sides and feature transparent caps. They can be used in ovens. They come in square, rectangular and circular shapes, and range in size from 150 to 1,780 milliliters.

Glasslock Block canisters are cylindrical, to fit in the fridge door. They come in different sizes, ranging from 250 to 1,300 milliliters. They can be used to contain food in the fridge, or to store snacks, cereals, pasta or nuts.

Glasslock’s airtight beverage shakers, another popular item, come in two types: there's a shaker with a domed cap and one with a flat cap. Both are easy to clean and have measured gradations along the side.

The Glasslock Pure and general lines come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from 150 to 2,000 milliliters. Glasslock general products have white lids, while the Pure line has transparent caps, which helps to check the food inside.


At this year’s Ambiente, a consumer goods trade fair that took place in Frankfurt this February, buyers from 55 countries took a close look at Samkwang's range of food storage containers, its Glasslock line of products and other cookware products. Glasslock received orders estimated at USD 120 million at the expo.

Finally, the Glasslock brand also received the “Going Green” environmentally friendly certification for the fourth consecutive time at this year’s International Housewares Show 2014, held in Chicago this March.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr