Yeongdeungpo-gu Unveils PET Bottle Recycled Clothing 'Love Seoul' at The Hyundai Seoul

Supplying raw materials from collected PET bottles to the fiber yarn production brand 'Pleatsmama'... Three 'Love Seoul' edition products including leggings and pleats bags available at The Hyundai Seoul

Leggings from the Pleats Mama 'Love Seoul' edition made with 'Regen Seoul' yarn by Seoul City and Hyosung TNC

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) announced that clothing products made from waste PET bottles separated and collected by residents will be sold at the “The Hyundai Seoul” department store in Yeouido.

On January 28, the district signed a business agreement with Seoul City, Hyosung TNC, and two other autonomous districts to expand high-quality recycling of transparent PET bottles.

According to this agreement, waste PET bottles collected and sorted by the autonomous districts were used by Hyosung TNC to produce recycled polyester fiber yarn called “Regen Seoul.”

The produced yarn was supplied to the clothing brand “Pleats Mama,” where it was reborn as clothing and bags.

Pleats Mama labeled these products as the “Love Seoul” edition and has been selling them at The Hyundai Seoul stores since the 10th.

The transparent waste PET bottles have been transformed into three types of products, including leggings and pleats bags, showcasing a “complete transformation” to visitors of The Hyundai Seoul.

This achievement owes much to the transparent waste PET bottle separation system that the district began implementing in earnest in December last year in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Seoul City. Before this system was mandated, it was difficult to sort recyclable waste PET bottles, limiting the high value-added recycling of PET bottles. As a result, recycling companies had to import raw materials from overseas.

Even before the agreement, the district had established a model case nationwide by conducting a “Transparent PET Bottle?Volume-based Waste Bag Exchange Program” every Thursday.

Additionally, the district supported and installed PET bottle-exclusive collection bins in all 193 apartment complexes (100%) in the area, and by securing recyclable waste PET bottles at the district’s sorting center, it achieved these results within about a month after the agreement.

In cooperation with Seoul City, the district plans to mandate the transparent waste PET bottle separation system for single-family houses and commercial areas starting December 25 this year.

Furthermore, continuous consultations are underway with Seoul City, Hyosung TNC, and other stakeholders to improve the existing sorting system and facilities and to expand separate collection publicity for better conditions.

This launch of the “Love Seoul” edition is evaluated as a cornerstone for establishing a “local resource circulation and circular economy” system, where waste generated in the local community is consumed again within the community, going beyond simple waste resource recycling.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “The rebirth of discarded waste PET bottles into clothing products was possible thanks to the interest and participation of the city and residents in recycling separation,” and added, “We ask for more interest and participation from residents in resource recycling projects to pass on a clean environment to future generations.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.