The South Korean Ministry of Environment recently announced that it will improve the current dilemma faced by industries and specific industrial groups in the mandatory use of recycled plastics by amending the "Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling Resources."

Previously, the South Korean Ministry of Environment had required raw material producers who produce more than 10,000 tons of PET materials annually to compulsorily use 3% recycled content in their production processes. However, this drew criticism because final product manufacturers, such as PET bottle makers, were not required by regulations to take such actions. Therefore, this amendment to the regulation will shift the mandatory requirement from resin producers to plastic bottle manufacturers, stipulating that bottle producers, including those for bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages, with an annual PET usage of over 5,000 tons must compulsorily use recycled content, and the proportion will be increased from 3% two years ago to 10% (the report from Korea.net did not mention this 10%).

The press release from the Ministry of Environment stated, “The Ministry of Environment hopes to gradually increase the recycled content to 30% by 2030; and will expand the scope to include manufacturers producing at least 1,000 tons of PET annually.” Moreover, the Ministry of Environment will study how to incorporate recycled plastics into other products, such as furniture, automotive parts, and cosmetic containers.

The notification period for this regulatory change began on February 21 and lasts for 40 days. The Ministry of Environment will collect opinions from stakeholders, after which the government legislative body will review it, and it will need to be discussed and confirmed at a cabinet meeting of the South Korean government before it can be implemented this year.