• Application of “chemical recycling” technology, in which raw materials are obtained through decomposition of plastic waste
• Business blueprint presented for “Sustainable Packaging Solution,” will expand to account for 50% of sales by 2025

Domestic chemical companies are attracting industry attention after the “Sustainable Packaging Solution” (hereafter SPS) was presented in response to the rapidly increasing market demand for eco-friendly packaging in accordance with worldwide national policies to reduce disposable products (“Less Plastic”).

On the 16th, SK chemicals (CEO: Jeon Kwang-hyun) announced plans to expand the “Sustainable Packaging Solution” lineup with the launch of “ECOTRIA CR” within this year, which applies chemical recycling technology, and expand the sales quantity to 50% of copolyester sales by 2025.

To this end, SK chemicals intends to quickly finish preparing for the commercialization of the chemical recycling product “ECOTRIA CR,” including facility reinforcements, and release the commercialized version on the market within the third quarter of this year.

Unlike “physical recycling,” which uses Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials by grinding the collected PET bottles and other materials into little pieces, “chemical recycling” technology breaks down and returns plastic to its pure, raw material form, allowing for the production of plastics that are high polymer. Recycling can be repeated without having to compromise the quality of the plastic products.

When using “physical recycling” technology, the color and turbidity of the original materials cannot be maintained due to processes such as collecting and cleaning, and the unique physical properties cannot be maintained since the plastic must be melted before being made into a product again. Thus, “physical recycling” has been limited only to certain fields such as textiles.

SK chemicals’ “ECOTRIA CR” materializes the functional characteristics unique to copolyesters, such as transparency, appearance, and chemical resistance, while using just 50% of the raw materials broken down through chemical recycling technology. SK chemicals explained that the material can be used for a significantly wider range of applications, including cosmetic containers, blister packaging, and decorative sheets, all of which require high functionality and transparency.

The release of “ECOTRIA CR” will secure a diverse lineup of the industry’s highest-level eco-friendly packaging materials, including ▲ “ECOTRIA CR,” which uses raw materials made from chemical recycling, ▲ “ECOTRIA R,” which uses raw materials made from recycled PETs (PCR), and ▲ “ECOZEN Claro,” which uses biomass materials.

“ECOTRIA R” contains 30% recycled PET (PCR) and has obtained Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification. “ECOTRIA R” and “ECOZEN Claro” are excellent in chemical resistance and high transparency, even when thick containers are made. The material is also classified as PET, the first code in international plastic resin identification, and can be recycled again as PET after use, which led to attracting much attention from overseas markets.

SK chemicals plans to expand the sales ratio of SPS materials to 50% of the sales volume of copolyester by 2025, through a diverse product lineup. SK chemicals Kim Eung-su, Head of Copolyester Business, said that “With the increasing social interest in discarded plastics, the eco-friendliness of packaging materials is regarded as an important factor in consumers' purchasing decisions,” and added, “SK chemicals is planning to actively target the container market such as cosmetics through a differentiated lineup that realizes eco-friendliness and functionality at the same time.”

Despite the shrinking economy due to COVID-19, sales of SK chemicals copolyesters increased by 24% in 2020 compared to the previous year. In preparation for the expansion of the eco-friendly plastics market, the company plans to complete the expansion of its copolyester production facilities by the end of June and further strengthen the ESG management system by product manufacturing through the “Recycle Solution” for chemicals.


# Photo description: Cosmetic container made with SK chemicals' Sustainable Packaging Solution (SPS)