Korea Expressway Corporation-SK Inno, Join Forces to Establish Circular System for Plastic Waste at Nationwide Rest Areas

Road Corporation-SK Inno and Other Four-Party Council to Sign Business Agreement for Resource Circulation on the 24th

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Korea Expressway Corporation, the Korea Highway Rest Area Association, SK Innovation, and SK Global Chemical are establishing a circular system for plastic waste that covers everything from separate collection to upcycling of plastic waste generated at highway rest areas nationwide.

The four-party consultative body, including SK Innovation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to utilize approximately 40,000 tons of plastic waste generated daily at highway rest areas nationwide for resource circulation.

According to this MOU, the consultative body will cooperate in areas such as ▲plastic waste separate collection campaigns for resource circulation ▲plastic waste upcycling projects ▲activation of the social economy, including fostering eco-friendly social enterprises and social ventures.

The consultative body plans to launch the 'Hyu(休)-Cycle' campaign at over 200 highway rest areas nationwide starting early July, when summer vacations begin. 'Hyu(休)-Cycle' is an eco-friendly campaign aimed at creating a resource circulation system by upcycling plastic waste generated at highway rest areas nationwide into plastic products.

To this end, the consultative body will install dedicated collection bins for used PET bottles and proper separate collection method signboards at highway rest areas nationwide. The collected plastic waste will be used to produce upcycled products such as traffic safety supplies, umbrellas, and bags, which will be delivered to vulnerable groups.

In July, the consultative body plans to select five rest areas to introduce automatic separate collection machines that automatically remove labels and compress used PET bottles when deposited. This product will be supplied by Innoverse, an eco-friendly social venture nurtured by SK Innovation. Convenience stores within highway rest areas nationwide will set up dedicated sales corners for label-free beverages that are easy to recycle and encourage the use of paper bags instead of plastic bags.

Im Soo-gil, Head of the Value Creation Center, said, "Highway rest areas, which are used by many people, can become a model case for solving plastic problems," and added, "SK Innovation and SK Global Chemical will create a circular system so that plastic can become 'Plustic,' environmentally beneficial plastic."

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