In line with the growing global trend toward transitioning to a circular economy — including reducing plastic use and achieving carbon neutrality — Ulsan City in Korea is set to establish plastic circular economy demonstration facilities.

Ulsan announced that it will implement the "Ulsan-type Plastic Circular Economy Industry Infrastructure(Platform) Development Project" by 2028, aimed at developing high-value chemical materials and advancing the eco-friendly recycling industry. Recently, major local companies have been expanding investments in high-value chemical recycling businesses, including the construction of large-scale plastic recycling plants. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face challenges in advancing and activating recycling due to the high costs of establishing their own facilities and the lack of public infrastructure. As a result, there is an urgent need for support in this area.

To address this, Ulsan will build facilities where recycled materials can be tested and verified. These facilities will play a public role in ensuring a stable supply of recycled plastic materials, securing the reliability of materials and products, and supporting SMEs.

The “Plastic Recycling and Upcycling (Re-Upcycling) Demonstration Support Center,” a key project under the “Circular Economy Industry Infrastructure(Platform) Development Project,” will focus not only on recycling discarded plastics but also on establishing a support system for upcycling(repurposing) plastic into new products.

The demonstration support center will provide space for companies involved in plastic recycling and offer access to testing equipment. It will also assist in the commercialization process, including prototype production and harmful substance certification.

Ulsan aims to establish a comprehensive (one-stop) support system covering everything from the use of recycled raw materials to the production of high-value materials and products, as well as technical verification. The city’s efforts to build this circular economy system were recognized as an exemplary case in the national evaluation conducted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Meanwhile, Ulsan, with its strong infrastructure in chemical industry raw materials, processing, and product manufacturing, is well-positioned in terms of accessibility, demand, connectivity, and scalability for the circular economy. The chemical recycling market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 17% over the next decade.

· Source: Gyeonggi-do Province, Gyeonggi Transport Corporation