Korea-based SK chemicals has announced plans to build a new recycling centre at its Ulsan plant. The project marks the establishment of the company’s first depolymerisation technology-based recycling centre in the country.
Using sophisticated chemical decomposition technology, the new Recycling Innovation Center (RIC) will produce recyclable plastic raw materials (r-BHET) from waste plastics. Set to open in 2026, the pilot facility will produce 50 tons of r-BHET each year from various types of low-quality waste plastics such as fibres, films, and automotive parts that were previously difficult to recycle using conventional methods. Textiles are known to be especially challenging due to the mix of materials commonly encountered in clothing - from polyester yarn to other fibres such as cotton, and various accessories like buttons.
At the Ulsan plant, SK chemicals’ RIC will integrate research and production, covering everything from circular recycled raw materials (r-BHET) to circular recycled materials, supported by a polymerisation pilot that produces a circular recycled PET and a commercial production facility capable of mass-producing circular recycled copolyester.
In creating the RIC, SK chemicals aims to provide flexible solutions to meet the diverse recycling requirements of such sectors as the automotive, electronics, and fashion industry. The goal is to accelerate the implementation of a Closed Loop system, keeping plastics in circulation in the production cycle.This pioneering effort is set to redefine the future of resource circulation for plastic materials.
As Ahn Jae-hyun, CEO of SK chemicals, explained: "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: In 2021, it was the first globally to commercialise circular recycled copolyester using chemically recycled raw materials and the first in Korea to supply circular recycled PET (2022). The company has also 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.