SK Chemical Exhibits 'World's First Commercialized' Chemical Recycling Material at Germany K2022

EcoPel, a High-Performance Elastic Material Targeting the Automotive Market, Unveiled for the First Time

Booth perspective and product display of SK Chemicals prepared for Germany K2022. Photo by SK Chemicals

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] SK Chemicals is leading the Global Eco Transition by showcasing a wide range of eco-friendly plastic materials at the world's largest plastics and rubber trade fair.

SK Chemicals announced on the 18th that it will participate in 'K2022,' a plastics and rubber industry exhibition held in D?sseldorf, Germany, from the 19th to the 26th. 'K2022' is the world's largest plastics and rubber industry trade fair held every three years. This exhibition will address key industry issues such as the circular economy, digitalization, and climate protection.

SK Chemicals has prepared an exhibition space where visitors can experience the 'plastic circular economy' along with 'green materials' that respond to these trends. The booth design emphasizes sustainability and the circular economy of the chemical business by creating the exhibition space with materials made from chemically recycled copolyester under the theme of eco-friendliness.

In particular, SK Chemicals will focus on exhibiting green materials such as recycled plastics and bio-based plastics, which have been developed intensively to meet the needs of the eco-friendly market. Additionally, the high-performance elastic material ECOPEL, targeting the electric/electronics, automotive, and film/fiber markets, will be introduced for the first time.

SK Chemicals will showcase the 'Sustainable Packaging Solution (SPS)' lineup, consisting of 'Ecotria CR-Series (chemical recycling)' using chemically recycled raw materials, 'Ecotria R-Series (physical recycling)' using recycled PET raw materials (PCR), and 'Claro,' which can be recycled into PET after consumer use. Since introducing 'Ecotria R,' which applies physical recycling technology, at 'K2019' three years ago, the company has expanded its chemical recycling portfolio through technological development and the world's first commercialization. Along with SPS, 'ECOZEN Pro,' a material that improves impact resistance and dishwasher durability, will be exhibited; it can be used for sports bottles, blenders, and airtight containers.

Products including the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) 'SKYPET CR' material applied to the Jeju Samdasoo water bottle 'RE:Born,' which uses chemical recycling technology, as well as fibers and films, will be displayed. With regulations tightening in the EU, the US, and other regions mandating over 30% recycled plastic use by 2030, the company expects high interest in food containers, labels, and industrial long fiber sectors.

Bio spandex clothing made with Ecotrion. Photo by Hyosung TNC

As a bio-based plastic material, SK Chemicals will exhibit ECOTRION, a bio polyol made from 100% plant-based raw materials. Alongside this, the company will unveil ECOPLAN, a highly flexible biodegradable material developed using ECOTRION, and ECOPEL, a thermoplastic elastomer.

ECOTRION is a new material that replaces conventional petroleum-based polyols with bio-based substances and is used as a key raw material in synthetic leather, apparel, coatings and adhesives, and bio spandex. ECOPLAN, a highly flexible biodegradable material suitable for film packaging applications such as volume-based waste bags, shopping bags, and zipper bags, offers superior flexibility and processability compared to existing PLA and PLA/PBAT materials, with higher bio-content and transparency. ECOPEL, a bio-based thermoplastic elastomer, matches the mechanical properties of conventional petrochemical materials while increasing bio-content up to 64%, making it a sustainable solution for the elastomer market.

In Europe, which is recently introducing mandatory recycled plastic use, a new plastic tax of 0.8 euros per kilogram of discarded plastic is under consideration. The US is also progressing with legislation on recycled plastics. According to a Wood Mackenzie report published last year, the global PET market size is about 90 million tons annually, with recycled PET accounting for approximately 11%, or 9.7 million tons, mostly mechanical recycling (MR-PET). The chemical recycling PET (CR-PET) market is just beginning.

Kim Hyun-seok, Head of the GC Business Division at SK Chemicals, said, “The global chemical industry is transforming into a competition of eco-friendly and recycling technologies based on the paradigm of sustainability and the circular economy. We plan to actively introduce SK Chemicals’ green material portfolio and eco-friendly technologies, which provide solutions to global warming by reducing greenhouse gases, to the global market.”

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