On the 21st, SK Chemicals announced that its plastic materials have secured recyclability certification from RecyClass, an EU recycling evaluation body. This recognition applies to their copolyester EcoTria Claro and the SKYPET product line, affirming their compatibility with European recycling processes.

The RecyClass framework, established to foster a circular economy for plastics in Europe, provides guidelines for assessing the recyclability of materials. For SK Chemicals, their achievement of Technology Approval (TA) indicates that their materials can be used as recycled feedstock without disrupting existing recycling processes. This validation is crucial for businesses aiming to ensure that their materials do not degrade quality or disrupt operations in recycling facilities.

This outcome enhances SK Chemicals' credibility, confirming their diverse polyester materials—from copolyesters to general-purpose plastics—are viable for recycling. The industry often emphasizes the recycled content percentage, but the ability to process discarded plastics effectively remains a critical factor in assessing recyclability, which SK Chemicals has successfully demonstrated.

Moreover, despite a material being 100% recycled PET, if it becomes unprocessable due to operational issues, then the goal of a continuous circular economy collapses. Industry experts underscore that a sustainable recycling ecosystem must combine both recycled content and recyclability to achieve its objectives.

CEO Ahn Jae-hyun noted the significance of this certification as a testament to the company's role in creating a complete recycling cycle and its commitment to aligning with sustainable practices. He emphasized a focus on enhancing technological development in recycling to maintain competitiveness throughout the end-to-end process, thus facilitating collaboration with stakeholders, particularly in Europe.

The certified product portfolio includes a total of seven entries, whereby five variants of EcoTria Claro—ranging from 100 to 300 grades—received full compatibility ratings for PET recycling. Conversely, two variants of SKYPET were marked as conditionally compatible, depending on specific processing conditions, which demonstrates a nuanced understanding of compatibility standards.

Earlier last year, SK Chemicals had already set a benchmark by obtaining a class A Letter of Compatibility for its SkyPet CR, made from recycled PET, verifying that the container's structure was aligned with existing recycling processes without issues. This reinforces their continuous commitment to sustainable innovation in materials and its application in products.