SK Geocentric Introduces World's First 'Waste Plastic Recycling Cluster' in Germany

Participation in 'K 2022', the World's Largest Plastic Expo Held in Germany

A view of the SK Geocentric exhibition booth installed at 'K 2022,' the world's largest plastics exhibition. Photo by SK Geocentric

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] SK Geocentric participated in the global plastics exhibition held in Germany to introduce the world's first 'waste plastic recycling cluster' under construction, aiming for completion in 2025.

SK Geocentric announced on the 21st that it participated in 'K 2022,' the world's largest plastics and rubber industry exhibition held in D?sseldorf, Germany, from the 19th to the 26th of this month. The exhibition is held every three years in Germany and is considered one of the world's top three plastics exhibitions.

SK Geocentric introduced the recycling cluster being established in Ulsan to global clients and visitors through touchscreen content and other means. SK Geocentric is building a comprehensive complex where the three major plastic chemical recycling technologies can be utilized in one place for the first time in the world.

The technologies gathered in Ulsan include dissolving waste plastics in solvents to extract high-purity polypropylene (PP), depolymerization technology that breaks down polymerized polyester (PET) into raw materials, and pyrolysis technology that converts waste plastics into chemical fuels. Upon completion, the cluster will be able to process approximately 250,000 tons of waste plastics annually.

At the exhibition hall, recycled plastic materials applying technologies from PureCycle Technologies of the United States and Loop Industries of Canada, which have strategic partnerships with SK Geocentric for cluster construction, were displayed. Commercialized products made from recycled plastics, such as L'Occitane shampoo bottles and Evian water bottles, were also exhibited.

Through this exhibition, SK Geocentric also introduced its ESG brand and eco-friendly integrated product brand, 'CYCLUS,' for the first time. CYCLUS is derived from the Latin word meaning 'cycle' and incorporates the meanings of 'CYCLE + US (us) · Earth.'

The earth shape in the CYCLUS brand represents three categories: ▲Plastic recycled products (Recycle) ▲Biodegradable materials (Bio) ▲Functional materials (Technique). This exhibition was also organized around these three themes.

SK Geocentric eco-friendly integrated product brand 'CYCLUS' logo. It will be used for SK Geocentric's eco-friendly product line in the future. Photo by SK Geocentric

Especially in the functional materials exhibition space, SK Geocentric and 3 to 4 other global major chemical companies, which account for more than 80% of the global supply volume, focused on introducing the high value-added chemical material Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA), which has a high technological barrier.

The EAA-coated paper cup introduced by SK Geocentric this time uses about one-third the amount of plastic coating compared to conventional paper cups coated with low-density polyethylene (LDPE). This results in a reduction in plastic usage.

SK Geocentric also showcased functional eco-friendly materials such as ethylene acrylate-based copolymers (additives that minimize property degradation during plastic recycling), which are expected to see increased demand alongside the growth of the recycled plastics market.

To support the bid for the 2030 Busan Expo, SK Geocentric screened promotional videos on exhibition hall screens and distributed brochures. Given that visitors from around the world gather at the venue, it was seen as an opportunity to widely promote the Busan Expo.

Jang Nam-hoon, head of SK Geocentric's Packaging Division, said, "At K 2022, based on the meaning of the 'CYCLUS' brand, we aimed to showcase SK Geocentric's commitment to resource circulation and eco-friendly, high value-added products. We will continue to expand partnerships and influence in the global market based on our technological capabilities."

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