Circular recycled PET (CR-PET) applied to Kook Soon Dang’s premium Makgeolli, Yetnal (Old Days) Makgeolli 古 | Image courtesy of SK Chemicals
SK Chemicals and Kook Soon Dang Brewery (CEO Sang-min Bae) have commercialized liquor containers made from circular recycled materials. SK Chemicals (CEO Jae-hyun Ahn) announced it applied circular recycled PET (CR-PET) to premium Makgeolli containers for Kook Soon Dang.
The two companies signed an MOU in July to replace petroleum-based PET used in Makgeolli containers with CR-PET. Together, they began co-developing containers with SK Chemicals’ SKYPET CR, a recycled plastic material.
They extensively tested injection molding, heat, and impact resistance to ensure the containers met manufacturing and distribution requirements. The result was a container that maintained its shape and preserved the taste and quality of Makgeolli, even during overseas shipping through equatorial regions.
Makgeolli, a traditional Korean liquor crafted using unique fermentation methods, requires rigorous taste, aroma, and color maintenance before reaching consumers. Thus, it was essential to achieve properties equivalent to those of petroleum-based PET.
SKYPET CR uses depolymerization, decomposing waste plastic into molecular raw materials for reuse. This technology allows plastic to be recycled repeatedly while maintaining the quality and properties of virgin PET. Many countries, including the EU, are gradually increasing their mandates for using recycled material, making such innovations essential for export.
The containers developed by SK Chemicals and Kook Soon Dang have been applied to Yetnal (Old Days) Makgeolli 古, a premium Makgeolli. Kook Soon Dang plans to expand the use of SKYPET CR containers to its export products, further aligning with global sustainability efforts.
A Kook Soon Dang representative stated, “Advanced nations like those in the EU are expanding the use of recycled plastics to address plastic waste. Developing recyclable containers and easy-to-separate labels is an environmental solution and a necessary step for global expansion.”
In 2022, SK Chemicals pioneered the commercial production of depolymerization-based circular recycling technology and implemented it across industries, including cosmetics, food, beverages, fashion, and automotive.
Hyun Suk Kim, Senior Managing Director at SK Chemicals, remarked, “Our collaboration with Kook Soon Dang allows us to broaden our portfolio in the food and beverage sector, from sauces and beverages to liquor containers. We will continue advancing our technology to meet industry needs and collaborate with manufacturers to expand the use of recycled materials across sectors.”
