June 27, 2025 – SK Chemicals Pioneers Circular Economy Breakthrough in Automotive Sector Through Strategic European Partnership
Seoul/Vienna – In a landmark move for sustainable automotive materials, South Korea’s SK Chemicals has formed an exclusive alliance with Austria’s leading automotive carpet manufacturer to commercialize chemically recycled PET in vehicle interiors. This collaboration marks the first large-scale application of advanced chemical depolymerization technology in automotive textiles.
The partnership will utilize SK Chemicals’ proprietary SkyPET CR, a revolutionary material produced through molecular-level recycling that achieves virgin-grade quality. “Our technology breaks the performance limitations of conventional mechanical recycling,” explained Dr. Hans Müller, SK Chemicals’ European Technical Director. “When applied to automotive carpets, it reduces carbon footprint by 62% compared to traditional petroleum-based PET.”
Key Innovation Highlights:
• Chemical recycling enables infinite reuse of PET without quality degradation
• Developed specialized color masterbatch formulations for consistent dyeing performance
• Meets stringent EU End-of-Life Vehicle Directive requirements
• Passed 700+ durability tests for automotive applications
The Austrian manufacturer, supplying carpets for approximately 7 million vehicles annually, has successfully completed pilot production of recycled PET yarns meeting all OEM specifications. Initial applications will focus on premium vehicle models before expanding to mass-market segments.
“This isn’t just about sustainability—it’s about creating higher-value applications for recycled materials,” said the Austrian company’s CTO during a joint press event. “Our tests show the recycled PET fibers actually outperform conventional materials in stain resistance and color retention.”
Market Implications:
- Creates new demand stream for post-consumer PET waste in automotive sector
- Establishes technical benchmark for circular economy in vehicle interiors
- Potential to expand to seat fabrics (trials underway) and interior trim by 2026
Industry analysts project the technology could capture 25% of Europe’s automotive textile market within three years, particularly as EU regulators prepare to mandate minimum recycled content in vehicles. SK Chemicals confirms plans to adapt the solution for Asian automakers in 2026.
AsiaMB Insight: This collaboration demonstrates how advanced recycling technologies are enabling color masterbatch systems to maintain performance in demanding automotive applications while meeting sustainability targets. The development is particularly significant for Asian chemical companies seeking to penetrate Europe’s circular economy initiatives.
Additional Technical Notes:
• Specialized compatibilizers ensure optimal polymer blending during recycling
• Custom UV stabilizers developed for automotive interior lightfastness requirements
• Achieved 98.7% purity in recycled monomers through proprietary filtration process