• Ulsan Green Chemical Plant achieved a waste recycling rate of 94%… Received UL
• Zero waste by upgrading the waste management system… Aim for gold grade

SK chemicals will strengthen its ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) by realizing “Zero Waste” at its business sites.

SK chemicals (CEO Jeon Kwang-hyeon) announced on the 24th that the Ulsan Green Chemicals Plant received a silver grade of “ZWTL: Zero Waste To Landfill” from UL Solution, a global safety science leader. “Zero Waste To Landfill” is an index that evaluates a company’s recycling efforts and is verified by UL, a global certification company. Silver (90-94%), Gold (95-99%), and Platinum (100%) grades are given according to the ratio of industrial wastes to be used as resources rather than incinerated or landfilled.

Ulsan Green Chemical plant, which received a silver grade this time, is producing recycled plastics (including copolyester), bio-polyol, high-functional coatings, and adhesives, and 94% of its waste recycling rate was recognized.

SK chemicals has continued to minimize the landfill or incineration of waste generated in the green material production process and maximize the recycling rate. As part of this, the recycling rate of the entire plant was increased from 70% to 94% by promoting the recycling of sludge from wastewater treatment plants, incineration ash from waste wood boilers, and by-products generated from copolyester production. It was announced that this achievement had been awarded the ZWTL silver grade, this time through document review and on-site inspection by the verification agency over the past five months.

The recycling rate of the Ulsan Green Chemicals Plant, which obtained silver grade, is about 30% higher than in the rest of the industry, considering that the average industrial waste recycling rate of domestic chemicals and chemical manufacturing (excluding pharmaceuticals) is 61% (according to the Ministry of Environment).

SK chemicals measures the waste reduction performance by using “the amount of waste generated per unit compared to production” as an index to suppress the source of waste at the business site. In addition, to maximize the recycling rate, it plans to classify wastes that can be further recycled and find companies with relevant recycling technology to increase the recycling rate.

SK chemicals Ulsan Plant Kim Dong-yul, Head of the Management Support Department, said, “The achievement of ZWTL silver grade is the result of various efforts made by all members so that waste can be used again as a valuable resource.” He then added, “We will continue to strengthen our environmental management competitiveness and execution capabilities throughout our ESG management activities.”

Meanwhile, SK chemicals established an ESG committee within the board of directors last year and now has an environmental management organizational system centered on the board of directors. Through the rationalization of management in all sectors, including the production process, SK chemicals works to reduce energy, greenhouse gases, and water resources, and goes one step further to improve environmental performance.

# Photo description: SK chemicals’ “Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL)” Silver grade mark