SK Chemicals has announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art Recycle Innovation Center (RIC) at its Ulsan plant, marking a significant step in its global mission to revolutionise plastic recycling. The facility, set to begin operations in 2026, will focus on the development and mass production of circular recycled raw materials, such as r-BHET (recycled BHET), from waste plastics, utilising innovative depolymerisation technology.
As the first of its kind in South Korea, the RIC will play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges posed by plastic waste. Through depolymerisation, SK Chemicals aims to break down waste plastics at a molecular level to produce raw materials of equal quality to virgin plastics. This technology will open the door to recycling plastics that were previously considered non-recyclable, including textiles, automotive parts, and films. These materials will be reprocessed into products such as polyester and copolyester, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
The depolymerisation pilot facility will have an annual production capacity of 50 tonnes and is scheduled to be fully operational by 2026. It will focus on recycling various types of low-quality waste plastics that traditional recycling methods cannot process, particularly textiles, which contain a complex mix of materials such as polyester, cotton, and metal accessories. By overcoming these challenges, the centre will contribute to creating a circular economy, where plastics are continually recycled and reused.
In addition to the depolymerisation facility, the RIC will house research and development efforts, enabling SK Chemicals to refine and scale its recycling processes. The centre will also integrate polymerisation pilot units for the production of circular recycled PET and a commercial facility for mass-producing circular recycled copolyester, ensuring that all aspects of plastic recycling, from raw material production to final product, are seamlessly integrated.
SK Chemicals’ move to create a closed-loop recycling system aligns with its long-term vision of establishing a circular plastic economy. In a closed-loop system, waste plastics that would otherwise end up in landfills or incineration are collected, cleaned, and broken down into their molecular components. These materials are then recycled into new products identical to those made from petroleum-based plastics, such as beverage bottles and electronics, ensuring a continuous cycle of reuse.
The creation of the RIC will significantly enhance SK Chemicals’ ability to address the varying needs of industries such as automotive, electronics, fashion, and food and beverage, all of which rely on plastics with different properties. By developing industry-specific solutions for plastic waste, SK Chemicals aims to streamline the recycling process and strengthen global supply chains for recycled plastic resources.
Ahn Jae-hyun, CEO of SK Chemicals, highlighted the importance of the RIC in accelerating innovation within the plastic ecosystem. He stated, “By establishing an integrated research and production system, we will help drive the transition to a circular economy for plastics, working closely with partners across multiple industries to create sustainable resource circulation systems.”
This latest initiative follows SK Chemicals’ previous successes in pioneering circular recycled materials, including the world’s first commercialised circular recycled copolyester in 2021, and the launch of circular recycled PET in Korea in 2022. With the RIC, the company aims to further its role as a global leader in sustainable plastic recycling and contribute to the reduction of plastic waste worldwide.