February 18, 2025 – SK Chemicals, a global leader in chemical recycling, announced today the official commencement of construction for a comprehensive plastic recycling solution center at its Ulsan plant in South Korea – the Recycle Innovation Center (RIC). This center will integrate the production of recyclable raw materials, pilot research, and material manufacturing, aiming to expedite the commercialization of depolymerization technology.
SK Chemicals is investing in the establishment of a pilot facility for the chemical decomposition of waste plastics, with a focus on producing recycled BHET (r-BHET), which will be seamlessly integrated with its existing commercial copolyester production facilities. This marks the establishment of South Korea’s first recycling center based on depolymerization technology by SK Chemicals, paving new avenues for the resourceful utilization of waste plastics.
The depolymerization pilot facility is anticipated to commence operations in 2026, with an annual capacity of 50 tons. Notably, BHET (r-BHET), a crucial intermediate raw material for polyester materials such as PET and copolyesters, plays a pivotal role in SK Chemicals’ chemical recycling technology. Through this facility, SK Chemicals will validate and commercialize recycling technologies for various low-quality waste plastics, including fibers, films, and automotive components, with a particular emphasis on textile recycling – a field deemed highly challenging due to the complexity of material blends.
With the establishment of RIC, SK Chemicals will construct an integrated R&D and production system at the Ulsan plant, encompassing recyclable raw materials (r-BHET) to recyclable materials. This system will encompass all processes from depolymerization, pilot research, polymerization, to mass production, achieving organic integration and efficient utilization of resources. Furthermore, it will include a polymerization pilot for producing recycled PET and a commercial production facility capable of mass-producing recycled copolyesters, further enhancing SK Chemicals’ competitiveness in the recycling sector.
According to industry insights from AsiaMB, SK Chemicals noted that the diverse types of waste plastics across different industries, coupled with varying requirements for plastic quality and performance, necessitate swift validation and commercialization of depolymerization and material production processes tailored to each industry. The establishment of RIC will provide SK Chemicals with more rapid and flexible solutions to meet the individualized needs of various sectors.
The completion of RIC is expected to significantly accelerate the implementation of SK Chemicals’ closed-loop solution. In this closed-loop system, waste plastics will be collected, shredded, washed, depolymerized, and polymerized to再现 the same form as petroleum-based plastics, which can then be used to manufacture electronic products, beverage containers, and other items, realizing the circular utilization of resources.
SK Chemicals’ CEO, Ahn Jae-hyun, emphasized that the establishment of an integrated R&D and production system will be a critical turning point in accelerating innovation in the circular recycling of the plastic ecosystem. The company aims to collaborate closely with the food and beverage, automotive, electronics, and fashion industries to jointly develop comprehensive resource recycling systems tailored to each industry, driving the sustained development of the plastic recycling sector.
Prior to this, SK Chemicals has accumulated extensive innovative experience in the recycling field. In 2021, the company became the world’s first to commercially produce recycled copolyesters using chemical recycling raw materials. In 2022, it became the first in South Korea to supply recycled PET and further solidified its position in the waste plastic recycling business by acquiring Guangdong Shuye Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. and establishing SK Chemicals Shantou Company.