KOMSCO and Cosel to Commercialize Upcycled Goods Made from ID Product Waste

The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO) is moving forward with the commercialization of upcycled goods made from waste generated during the production of key ID products such as passports, resident registration cards, and alien registration cards.

On June 10, KOMSCO announced that it had signed a business agreement at its Daejeon headquarters with Cosel, a small and medium-sized enterprise, to begin developing upcycled goods utilizing discarded ID products.

Hanbin Lee, Vice President and Chief Planning Officer of the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (right), is taking a commemorative photo with Hyeryun Jang, CEO of Cosel (left), after signing the 'ID Product Waste Recycling Goods Commercialization Agreement' at the Daejeon headquarters on the 10th. Photo by Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation

During the manufacturing process of major ID products, approximately 27 tons of polycarbonate (PC) plastic waste is generated annually. This waste, which had previously been incinerated, has been provided to specialized recycling companies for use as industrial materials since last year, marking a shift in disposal methods.

The agreement signed on this day is significant as it marks the starting point for transitioning from simply recycling ID product waste into industrial materials to upcycling it into high-value-added goods.

KOMSCO and Cosel plan to jointly develop and sell upcycled goods within the year. In particular, both parties have agreed to donate a portion of the profits from the goods business to support ESG initiatives.

Previously, KOMSCO created a resource circulation model through currency goods projects such as the "Don Ball Pen," which is made from recycled currency by-products. The upcycling of ID product waste is a continuation of these currency goods projects and signifies KOMSCO's step-by-step expansion of the resource circulation economy.

Cosel, established in 1993, is a visual design company that enhances the value of resources by upcycling leather scraps and surplus fabrics discarded during the production process. The company also operates the upcycling brand "Hiand."

Changhoon Sung, President of KOMSCO, stated, "This agreement is a case of sustainable, mutually beneficial growth by turning waste generated during the production of passports and resident registration cards into resources, contributing to the circular economy and cooperating with small and medium-sized enterprises. Starting with currency and ID product by-products, KOMSCO will continue to implement ESG practices aimed at achieving zero waste."

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