SK Geocentric to Build 600 Billion KRW Plastic Recycling Plant in France

The Nation's First European Plastic Recycling Joint Factory
Saint-Avold, Northeastern France... Completion in 2027
Expected Annual Production of 70,000 Tons of Recycled Plastic

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] SK Geocentric is building the first plastic recycling joint factory in France, marking a first in Korea. The plan is to establish it as an advanced base for building a circular economy in the European region.

SK Geocentric announced on the 17th that it has completed the site selection for a plastic recycling joint factory in the Sainte-Marie-aux-Ch?nes area in northeastern France, together with French water and waste management company Suez and Canadian Loop Industries (hereinafter Loop), which possesses plastic recycling depolymerization technology. The factory establishment will proceed with the support of the French government, the Grand Est region, and Sainte-Marie-aux-Ch?nes.

The three companies, including SK Geocentric, will invest approximately 450 million euros (about 620 billion KRW) and start construction in early 2025. The factory is scheduled to be completed in 2027, with an annual supply capacity of about 70,000 tons of recycled plastic (PET).

This site selection concretizes the memorandum of understanding for establishing a plastic recycling joint venture announced jointly by the three companies in June last year. SK Geocentric’s petrochemical process operation experience, Suez’s waste resource management capabilities, and Loop’s plastic recycling technology will be utilized.

A bird's-eye view of the plastic recycling joint plant to be completed by 2027 in the Sainte-Baume area in northeastern France, a project by SK Geocentric in collaboration with French waste management company Suez and Canadian plastic recycling depolymerization technology company Loop.
[Photo by SK Geocentric]

Sainte-Marie-aux-Ch?nes is located in the densely populated center of northeastern Europe. Based on efficient industrial infrastructure such as roads and railways, it offers an optimal environment for establishing a recycling factory. Upon completion, the factory is expected to enhance regional sustainability and contribute to employment by creating new jobs.

Through this factory establishment, SK Geocentric will provide solutions to companies aiming to produce packaging and products using recycled plastics. It will also respond to the increasing demand for recycled plastic (PET) driven by European environmental regulations. By increasing the recycling rate of plastics that were previously landfilled or incinerated, it can contribute to solving the global plastic problem.

The factory’s recycling facilities will apply the depolymerization process developed by Loop, capable of processing a very wide range of plastic raw materials. Suez will supply waste plastic raw materials through its global partnerships.

Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, said, “We are pleased that SK Geocentric, Suez, and Loop have selected the Sainte-Marie-aux-Ch?nes area in France as the site for the plastic recycling factory,” adding, “This establishment will demonstrate that the French government’s climate and environmental goals can contribute to the restructuring of eco-friendly industries.”

Na Kyungsoo, President of SK Geocentric, said, “We are pleased to have achieved the meaningful milestone of selecting the site for the first plastic recycling factory in Europe,” and added, “SK Geocentric will share its extensive petrochemical process operation experience to lead the establishment of a sustainable circular economy in the European region.”

Daniel Solomita, CEO of Loop, said, “The site selection is an important step in commercializing Loop’s recycling technology globally,” and added, “We chose the Sainte-Marie-aux-Ch?nes area because it is close to sources of waste plastic raw materials and has extensive transportation infrastructure that allows easy supply of recycled products throughout Europe.”

Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Suez, said, “We are pleased to collaborate on this innovative project to address the increasing plastic recycling challenges in Europe and worldwide,” and added, “This collaboration will be a direct support method to achieve a circular economy through waste plastic recycling.”

Meanwhile, depolymerization refers to a technology that breaks down large molecular clusters of plastics (PET), such as colored PET bottles and polyester fabrics, into basic plastic raw materials.

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