South Korea invests millions in smart recycling
South Korea commits millions to smart recycling technology, pledging EUR 42.8 million for a new research programme aimed at upgrading textile and tyre waste treatment.
AI‑driven sorting targets textile waste
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has launched a five‑year plan that runs to 2030. Almost EUR 15 million of the budget will fund textile‑focused projects.
Researchers plan to build an AI‑powered sorting system that can recognise fibre types with better than 95 % accuracy. The system should separate cotton, polyester and blends more reliably than current methods.
Beyond sorting, the initiative will explore ways to turn discarded clothing into raw material for new garments, automotive interiors and construction components. Today, much of the country’s used clothing is exported or down‑cycled into low‑value building products.
“This effort aims to turn two traditionally difficult waste streams into valuable secondary raw materials,” said Kim Goeung, director general of the ministry’s Resource Circulation Bureau. Goeung added that the funding should help domestic manufacturers meet the EU eco‑design regulation that will take effect in 2028.
The Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute will act as the technical partner, providing expertise in material science and process engineering.
The plan covers both sectors.
Tyre waste moves up the value chain
South Korea generates an estimated 24 million end‑of‑life tyres each year. Currently, more than 60 % of those tyres are recycled into fuel, a practice that recovers limited material value.
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Only a small fraction of carbon black recovered from tyres ends up in new products, with manufacturers typically using under 5 % recycled content in fresh tyres. The research effort will focus on improving pretreatment and pyrolysis methods to produce higher‑quality carbon black.
Long‑term goals include enabling tyre makers to incorporate more than 15 % recycled material into new products, a step up from the present low‑percentage use.
According to officials, the initiative will also back the commercialisation of technologies that generate higher‑value recycled outputs, potentially opening new market opportunities for local firms.
Both streams will benefit.
The initiative’s dual focus reflects a broader strategy to raise the economic return from waste streams that have historically been hard to valorise.
Looking ahead, the government hopes the investments will spur faster adoption of advanced recycling processes. If manufacturers can reliably source high‑quality recycled fibres and carbon black, they may reduce dependence on virgin inputs and improve compliance with upcoming regulations.
Implementation of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation began in 2024, but product‑specific rules for textiles and tyres are still under discussion, with full enforcement slated for 2028.
Officials expect the research to strengthen South Korea’s circular economy and create domestic alternatives to imported secondary raw materials.
