Aromatica Reveals Results of Soil Restoration Project in Collaboration with InvaLab
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From Invasive Species Removal to Seed Ball Sowing… Establishing a Foundation for Tracking Ecological Change
Aromatica, an aromatherapy-based scalp and skincare brand, announced on the 5th the results of its “Soil Restoration Project,” jointly carried out with ecological restoration solution startup InvaLab.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in March this year and selected agricultural slope boundaries in Gamul-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, as the restoration site. The project focused on on-site activities and ecological analysis centered on removing the invasive vine Humulus japonicus and restoring native plant species.
From April to November, a total of five on-site programs were conducted, with 107 employees and consumers participating. Intensive removal efforts were carried out in alignment with the plant’s growth cycle—from spring, when new shoots emerge, through the growing season, to autumn just before seed dispersal. Through regular removal activities, a noticeable decline in the density and coverage of Humulus japonicus was confirmed.
Aromatica Ecological Restoration Project
In November, native-species seed balls were sown on areas where the invasive vine Humulus japonicus had been removed, establishing a foundation for ecological recovery based on analyses of nearby native plant communities. The seed balls—made with seeds of native species such as Lespedeza bicolor, Lespedeza cuneata, Glycine soja, and Aster pilosus—were enhanced with biochar (a carbon-based soil amendment produced by pyrolyzing biomass under high-temperature, low-oxygen conditions). The addition of biochar improved germination conditions and increased carbon retention in the soil. By sowing seed balls, native vegetation was encouraged to rapidly occupy spaces previously dominated by invasive species. Rather than stopping at removal alone, the project pursued simultaneous restoration of native species, thereby creating conditions that allow the soil to recover on its own.
Another significant achievement was the establishment of baseline ecological data over the course of one year, including soil organic matter, moisture content, microbial activity, vegetation vigor indices (NDVI), and ground cover. Overall, early signs indicating the site’s recovery potential were observed, underscoring the need for long-term ecological monitoring and zone-specific adaptive management.
The first-year outcomes of this joint project are meaningful in that they go beyond a record of one-off volunteer activities, providing companies with a systematic basis to examine early vegetation changes and the long-term potential for soil recovery in addressing biodiversity challenges. In addition, research is currently underway to develop products that repurpose the collected Humulus japonicus biomass as a new resource.
Shin Wonhyeop, CEO of InvaLab, stated, “The baseline ecological data obtained through this survey go beyond simple status measurements and serve as a crucial foundation for predicting recovery pathways for the site. Together with Aromatica, we plan to establish a long-term ecological monitoring system to precisely track changes in local ecosystems and further advance biodiversity-based ESG initiatives in a more scientific manner.”
Kim Young-gyun, CEO of Aromatica, commented, “All of Aromatica’s products originate from plants. Since healthy plants require healthy soil, our interest in soil is closely aligned with our core business. This soil restoration project represents the first step in putting these considerations into practice in the field. The baseline data established through the first year of activities will serve as a reference point guiding the direction of Aromatica’s future ESG initiatives.”
