SK chemicals Launches Regional Circular Economy for Waste Banners

The newly established Waste Banner Resource Circulation Consortium includes MOA, Daehan Media, Upcloth, and Seogwipo City. This partnership creates a closed-loop system where banners collected in Gyeongsang, Honam, and Jeju are processed and returned to the market as new, chemically recycled fabric. Unlike mechanical recycling, which often degrades material quality, SK chemicals’ depolymerization breaks plastics down to the molecular level, allowing for repeated use without loss of integrity.

MOA and Daehan Media will manage collection and production in the Gyeongsang region, while Upcloth oversees efforts in the Honam area, prioritizing local job creation for individuals with disabilities. Seogwipo City serves as the municipal anchor, working to codify the institutional framework required to sustain the cycle at a local level. By targeting the 1,000 tons of waste banners generated annually across these specific regions, the initiative aims to prove that sustainable resource recovery can function effectively within provincial borders. This project follows a series of regional memorandums signed by SK chemicals since 2024, signaling a broader strategy to move away from one-time upcycling toward a permanent, scalable industrial model for textile waste.