- Accelerating Depolymerization Technology Commercialization
through Comprehensive Recycling Solution Center Integrated with
Existing Production Infrastructure
- Validating Waste Resource Material Conversion and Building
Complete Resource Circulation System with Various
Industries
SEOUL,
South Korea, Feb. 18,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SK chemicals, the first company
in the world to successfully mass-produce chemically recycled
materials, has embarked on establishing a comprehensive plastic
recycling solution center in Korea. This center will encompass the
production of circular recyclable raw materials, demonstration
research, and material production.
The company announced on February
18 (KST) that it will establish a Recycle Innovation Center
(RIC) at its Ulsan plant where eco-friendly chemical materials are
produced. The company will invest in new pilot facilities for the
chemical decomposition of waste plastics to produce recycled BHET
(r-BHET), linking them with existing commercial copolyester
production facilities.
This marks SK chemicals' first depolymerization technology-based
recycling center in Korea.
The newly constructed depolymerization pilot facility will
produce recyclable plastic raw materials (r-BHET) from waste
plastics. This facility will validate commercialization technology
for various types of low-quality waste plastics that were
previously difficult to recycle using conventional methods,
expanding beyond typical transparent bottles to include fibers,
films, and automotive parts. In particular, the recycling of
textiles is known to be highly challenging field due to the diverse
forms and types of materials mixed in a single garment. This
includes not only polyester yarn but also other fibers such as
cotton, as well as various accessories like buttons.
The depolymerization pilot facility is scheduled to begin
operations in 2026 with an annual production capacity of 50 tons.
BHET(r-BHET), an intermediate raw material for polyester-based
materials such as PET and copolyester, is integral to SK chemicals'
chemical recycling technology.
With the construction of the RIC, SK chemicals will establish an
integrated research and production system at its Ulsan plant,
covering everything from circular recycled raw materials (r-BHET)
to circular recycled materials. All processes from depolymerization
to demonstration research, polymerization, and mass production will
be organically integrated at one location. This is supported by a
polymerization pilot that produces a circular recycled PET and a
commercial production facility capable of mass-producing circular
recycled copolyester.
SK chemicals explained, "Since different industries such as
automotive, electronics, and fashion have varying types of waste
plastics and require different plastic qualities and properties, it
is crucial to have the technology and capability to quickly
validate and commercialize depolymerization and material production
processes tailored to each industry. With the establishment of the
RIC, we will be able to provide faster and more flexible solutions
to the complex challenges demanded by various industries based on
our foundational technology."
Completion of RIC is expected to accelerate implementation of SK
chemicals' Closed Loop solution.
Closed Loop refers to a complete circulation system where waste
plastics previously destined for landfills or incineration are
subjected to collection, crushing, cleaning, depolymerization, and
polymerization to be reproduced in a form identical to
petroleum-based plastics, which are then used to manufacture
products such as electronics and beverage containers.
While recycled plastics from collected waste PET bottles are
primarily repurposed into fibers for initial recycling, most fiber
products currently end up being incinerated or landfilled after
use.
Depolymerization-based circular recycled materials are
recognized as a technology capable of achieving a complete
circulation structure. Depolymerization-based technology breaks
down waste plastics at the molecular level to achieve properties
and quality identical to petroleum-based materials. This enables
water bottles to be recycled back into water bottles and waste
electronic plastics back into electronic products.
By leveraging RIC, SK chemicals strengthens its cooperation with
the beverage, cosmetics, electronics, and automotive sectors to
secure waste plastic resource circulation infrastructure and stable
waste resource supply chains. The company is strategically
developing industry-optimized depolymerization technology and
expertise to establish a foundation for large-scale production
facilities.
Ahn Jae-hyun, CEO of SK
chemicals, stated, "Establishing an integrated research and
production system from recycled raw materials to recycled plastics
will be a crucial turning point in accelerating innovation in the
plastic ecosystem's circular recycling. Through close cooperation
with companies in food and beverage, automotive, electronics, and
fashion sectors, we will develop comprehensive resource circulation
systems for each industry."
SK chemicals has a strong track record of innovation in
recycling: It was the first globally to commercialize circular
recycled copolyester using chemically recycled raw materials
(2021); the first in Korea to supply circular recycled PET (2022);
and has established a solid production base for recycled waste
plastic business by acquiring a stake in the Chinese company Shuye
Environmental Technology and establishing SK chemicals Shantou.
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