Amendment

South Korea: The use of recycled materials in clear PET bottles will be mandatory from 2026

2025-09-16 1:41 min Sustainability & Circular Economy, Asia Pacific

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment Sejong, South Korea

This is aimed at bottled water and beverage companies that use over 5,000 tonnes of clear PET bottles each year.
The amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Resource Recycling Act was approved at the Cabinet meeting on 16 September and is set to be implemented in 2026.

The Ministry of Environment announced that a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Resource Conservation and Recycling Promotion Act (hereafter 'the Resource Recycling Act'), designating entities that are required to use recycled plastic materials, was approved at the Cabinet meeting on 16 September. The amendment will take effect on 1 January 2026.

Following the amendment to the enforcement decree, the mandatory use of recycled plastic raw materials scheme established under the amended Resource Recycling Act (25 March 2025) will apply to manufacturers of bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages using 5,000 tonnes or more of PET bottles annually.

The Ministry of the Environment is working with relevant agencies and industry players to introduce a closed-loop recycling system for recycled raw materials, beginning with colourless PET bottles. In order to overcome plastic pollution, it is essential to implement a “closed-loop” recycling system in which recycled raw materials are reintroduced into the original product.

The mandatory use of a recycled plastic feedstock system involves the Ministry of Environment certifying the recycling process, including collection, sorting and recycling, while the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety certifies its suitability for use as a food container. Only certified recycled materials may be used to produce clear PET bottles. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment conducted a quality verification programme in collaboration with the industry for approximately one year (July 2024 to June 2025), to confirm that changes in the condition of the containers and their contents resulting from the use of recycled materials were not an issue.

Furthermore, an analysis of the demand for and supply of recycled materials resulting from their mandatory use by 2030 confirmed that there would be no significant difficulties in this regard.

Meanwhile, the mandatory usage rate for recycled materials is set to reach 10% in 2026, as stipulated in the 'Notice on the Mandatory Use of Recycled Plastic Materials', due to be finalised this month (September).

In line with international trends, the Ministry of Environment plans to gradually increase the recycling rate of PET bottles by expanding the scope of mandatory recycled material usage to companies using over 1,000 tonnes of PET bottles per year by 2030, and by raising the mandatory usage rate from 10% to 30%.

Kim Go-eung, Director-General of the Resource Circulation Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, stated: “The mandatory use of recycled materials is one of the most crucial systems for transitioning to a circular economy society. Starting with clear PET bottles, we will expand this to encompass more materials and product categories in the future.”

mcee.go.kr

PETnology's Resource Guide

comPETence center

The comPETence center provides your organisation with a dynamic, cost effective way to promote your products and services.

Find out more

South Korea: The use of recycled materials in clear PET bottles will be mandatory from 2026

Newsletter Sign up