Development of Mass Production Technology for Recycled Plastics... SK Chemical's 'Researcher of the Year'

Jeon Gwang-hyun, CEO of SK Chemicals (right), is presenting the SK Chemicals Researcher of the Year Award to researchers Lee Sang-yeol (second from left), Hwang Da-young (third from left), and Lee Seong-gi (fourth from left) on the 11th, and is taking a commemorative photo with Kim Han-seok, head of the Chemical Research Institute (left).

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] SK Chemicals announced on the 12th that it has selected the researchers who contributed to the world's first commercialization of chemically recycled copolyester 'Ecotria CR' last year as Researchers of the Year.

The main contributors are researchers Lee Sang-yeol, Lee Sung-gi, and Hwang Da-young, who developed mass production technology for chemically recycled copolyester with the same physical properties as products made from conventional petrochemical raw materials, using raw materials obtained by depolymerizing discarded PET.

They identified the characteristics of the raw material (r-BHET), established quality standards for the raw material, predicted process changes during polymerization, developed optimal process conditions and equipment suitable for copolyester production, and filed related patents.

Based on this, SK Chemicals mass-produces copolyester and supplies 'Ecotria CR' to the cosmetics container market. This year, they plan to produce more than 10,000 tons of 'Ecotria CR' and begin supplying it to major domestic and international cosmetics companies.

Through its financial story, SK Chemicals announced its goal to expand its recycling plastic business and become a global leader in chemical recycling by 2030. Along with expanding copolyester production capacity, the company plans to increase the sales ratio of recycled products to 50% by 2025 and 100% by 2030.

Kim Han-seok, head of SK Chemicals' Chemical Research Institute, stated, "Based on the developed technology, we plan to build a global chemical recycling infrastructure and expand the plastic resource circulation system worldwide."

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