HomeIndustry InsightsSouth Korea Proposes Raising Mandatory Recycled PET Content to 15% from 2027

South Korea Proposes Raising Mandatory Recycled PET Content to 15% from 2027

2026-09-11

South Korea is proposing to increase the mandatory use of recycled plastic materials in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles from 10% in 2026 to 15% from 2027, as part of its efforts to expand the use of recycled materials and support a circular economy.

On September 7, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced a preliminary notice on amendments to the regulation governing mandatory recycled plastic material use. The proposal specifically sets the recycled material requirement for PET bottles at 15% from 2027 onward, compared with the current 10% requirement for 2026. The public consultation period is scheduled to run until September 30.

The requirement applies to businesses that use at least 5,000 tonnes of PET bottles annually to manufacture drinking water or non-alcoholic beverage products. Under the current system, the mandatory recycled material usage rate is calculated based on the amount of domestically sourced recycled material used relative to the annual domestic shipment volume of the relevant products.

Implications for the PET Bottle Industry

The proposed increase would raise the recycled content requirement by five percentage points, potentially increasing demand for recycled PET materials among affected beverage and drinking-water producers.

At the same time, the policy may place greater emphasis on the availability, quality and traceability of recycled PET suitable for food-contact applications. South Korea has also proposed related amendments concerning PET bottle design and recyclability, including measures intended to prevent materials that are difficult to separate from PET bottles from interfering with recycling processes and the quality of recycled materials.

For virgin PET producers, the development highlights a changing demand structure in the Korean market. While recycled PET is expected to play a larger role in bottle production, virgin PET remains an important component of PET packaging supply chains, particularly where recycled material availability, quality requirements or application specifications need to be considered.

A Gradual Shift Toward Higher Recycled Content

South Korea's proposed 15% requirement follows the introduction of a 10% mandatory recycled material usage rate for covered PET bottles in 2026. The proposed adjustment therefore represents a gradual increase rather than an immediate transition to substantially higher recycled content.

For PET producers, recyclers and beverage packaging companies, the development may increase attention to recycled PET sourcing, material quality and supply planning as the Korean market moves toward higher recycled content requirements.

The proposal remains subject to the administrative consultation process, and the final implementation details may be subject to change.