Top 10 Companies in the South Korea Plastic Recycling Market (2026): Market Leaders Powering Global Circular Economy

MARKET INSIGHTS

South Korea Plastic Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The South Korea Plastic Recycling market size was valued at USD 1.48 billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 1.57 billion in 2025 to USD 2.43 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period.

Plastic recycling involves the reprocessing of plastic waste into new products, reducing the consumption of raw materials and energy usage. This process encompasses various plastic types, including Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and Polyurethane (PUR), which are sorted, cleaned, and transformed into recycled plastic resin. This material is increasingly utilized across key sectors such as packaging, automotive, and construction because of its environmental benefits and growing regulatory support. However, market growth is driven by strong government initiatives, such as the Resource Circulation Act, and increasing corporate sustainability commitments, because South Korea aims to increase its plastic recycling rate to 70% by 2030. The market is further propelled by technological advancements in sorting and processing, alongside significant investments in recycling infrastructure from leading domestic companies.

🔟 10. Kolon Industries Inc.

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: High‑quality recycled PET, PP, and PE resins for packaging and automotive components

Kolon Industries leverages its extensive industrial infrastructure to operate state‑of‑the‑art mechanical and chemical recycling facilities. The company’s integrated supply chain ensures a consistent supply of post‑consumer PET and PE, which is then transformed into virgin‑grade recycled resins used by major packaging and automotive manufacturers.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Commitment to 70% recycling rate by 2030, investment in AI‑driven sorting, and long‑term offtake agreements with leading CPG brands.

• Advanced optical sorting for PET and PP
• Collaboration with Samsung Electronics for recycled electronics packaging
• Targeted expansion of chemical recycling units for mixed plastics

🔨 9. Hanwha Chemical Corporation

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: Recycled PP and PET resins for construction and automotive applications

Hanwha Chemical’s vertically integrated operations allow it to capture post‑industrial waste streams and convert them into high‑purity recycled polymers. The company focuses on supplying recycled content to the construction sector, aligning with national green‑building initiatives.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: ESG‑aligned supply chain, partnership with Hyundai for recycled automotive parts, and R&D in chemical recycling.

• Recycled PP for automotive interior panels
• Recycled PET for construction insulation panels
• Investment in hydrogen‑powered recycling facilities

⚙️ 8. LG Chem Ltd.

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: Recycled PET, PP, and PE for electronics and packaging

LG Chem’s recycling arm supplies high‑grade recycled resins to LG’s electronics division, supporting its circular product strategy. The company’s focus on quality certification ensures compliance with stringent food‑contact and medical‑grade standards.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Integration of recycled content in all LG consumer electronics, investment in AI‑powered MRFs, and partnership with global brands for offtake agreements.

• Recycled PET for smartphone housings
• Recycled PP for LED lighting fixtures
• Collaboration with Amazon for recycled packaging

🛠️ 7. Dong Bang Recycle Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Busan, South Korea
Key Offering: Specialized recycling of hard‑to‑recycle multilayer plastics and composite packaging

Dong Bang Recycle has developed proprietary separation technologies that enable recovery of high‑purity PET from multilayer packaging, a segment traditionally considered non‑recyclable.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Focus on reducing landfill waste, partnership with local municipalities, and development of chemical recycling pilots.

• Multilayer PET recovery for food packaging
• Partnership with local waste agencies for collection
• Pilot chemical recycling facility in Ulsan

🏗️ 6. Woojin Eco Holdings Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Incheon, South Korea
Key Offering: Recycled PVC and PE for construction materials

Woojin Eco focuses on supplying recycled plastic to the construction sector, producing pipes, flooring, and insulation panels that meet green‑building standards.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Commitment to zero‑waste operations, collaboration with construction OEMs, and R&D in bio‑based polymers.

• Recycled PVC for drainage systems
• Recycled PE for flooring tiles
• Partnership with Daewoo Construction for sustainable building projects

🌱 5. Hyosung Corporation

Headquarters: Suwon, South Korea
Key Offering: Recycled PET and PP for textile fibers and industrial packaging

Hyosung’s recycling division supplies recycled polymers to its textile and packaging subsidiaries, enhancing circularity across its value chain.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Integration of recycled content in all textile products, partnership with global fashion brands, and investment in renewable energy for recycling plants.

• Recycled PET fibers for apparel
• Recycled PP for packaging films
• Collaboration with Zara for sustainable packaging

🔧 4. Sam‑A C&I Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Daejeon, South Korea
Key Offering: Industrial packaging recycling and specialty resins for electronics

Sam‑A C&I specializes in recycling industrial packaging and producing high‑purity resins used in electronic components and medical devices.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Focus on high‑value applications, partnership with Samsung and LG, and development of bio‑based recycled polymers.

• Recycled PP for electronic housings
• Recycled PET for medical device packaging
• Collaboration with Intel for recycled circuit board materials

🧪 3. Cheil Industries Inc.

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: Chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste into virgin‑grade resins

Cheil Industries operates advanced chemical recycling plants that convert contaminated and mixed plastics into high‑quality feedstock suitable for food‑grade and medical applications.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Expansion of chemical recycling capacity, partnership with the Ministry of Environment, and focus on circular economy certification.

• Chemical recycling of mixed PET and PP
• Partnership with EU brands for recycled packaging
• Investment in CO₂‑neutral recycling processes

🔬 2. ECO Plastic Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Gwangju, South Korea
Key Offering: Recycled PET and PP for agricultural and packaging applications

ECO Plastic focuses on recycling agricultural film and packaging waste, providing high‑purity resins for food‑grade containers and packaging solutions.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Collaboration with local farmers, development of biodegradable recycled polymers, and participation in regional sustainability programs.

• Recycled PET for food packaging
• Recycled PP for agricultural film
• Partnership with CJ CheilJedang for sustainable food packaging

💼 1. Dae Kyung Chemical Corporation

Headquarters: Ulsan, South Korea
Key Offering: Recycled PP and PE for automotive and industrial applications

Dae Kyung Chemical operates large‑scale recycling facilities that process post‑industrial plastic scrap from the petrochemical and automotive sectors, delivering high‑quality recycled resins.

Sustainability & Growth Initiatives: Integration of recycled content in all automotive parts, partnership with Hyundai Motor, and investment in energy‑efficient recycling processes.

• Recycled PP for automotive interior panels
• Recycled PE for industrial piping
• Collaboration with Kia for recycled component supply

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South Korea Plastic Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report

📈 Outlook

Base year 2025: USD 1.57 billion
Estimated 2026: USD 1.65 billion
Forecast 2034: USD 2.43 billion (CAGR 6.4%)

The market is expected to maintain steady growth driven by regulatory mandates, corporate sustainability targets, and continuous technological innovation in sorting and chemical recycling.

🔮 Future Trends

• Expansion of chemical recycling to recover high‑value polymers from mixed streams
• Increased export of premium recycled materials to Europe and North America
• Adoption of blockchain for traceability of recycled content in supply chains
• Growth of circular economy partnerships between recyclers and OEMs across automotive, electronics, and construction sectors
• Rising consumer demand for certified recycled packaging solutions