The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that it will sign a business agreement on July 19 at the Lotte Hotel Seoul (located in Jung-gu, Seoul) for the establishment of a standardized certification and management system for the use of recycled plastic materials in electric and electronic products in collaboration with appliance manufacturers (LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics), recycling companies (CN Tech Korea), and the e-cycle governance initiative.

This agreement aims to standardize the certification methodology for the use of recycled materials by appliance manufacturers and to establish a computerized system for integrated management, thereby creating a foundation for the expansion of recycled material usage by appliance producers and implementing a circular economy in the appliance sector. 

First, appliance manufacturers will expand the use of recycled materials obtained from the recycling of waste electrical and electronic products, while recycling companies will strengthen the quality management of recycled materials.

The Ministry will revise laws and systems for the certification of recycled material usage and operate a stakeholder consultation body to identify areas for improvement. In addition, the Korea Environment Corporation, an agency under the Ministry of Environment, will develop standard forms for managing recycled materials and verify the usage records of recycled materials by manufacturers. 

The e-cycle governance initiative plans to standardize the certification methodology for the use of recycled materials in line with international standards such as the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directives. It also plans to establish an integrated management system that digitizes administrative procedures, including the submission of doc.umentation by manufacturers, by April of next year.

With the establishment of certification standards through this agreement, it is expected that the amount of recycled plastic materials recognized for use by appliance manufacturers will increase from the current 2,600 tons per year to 7,000 tons. Moreover, with the government’s institutional support and the industry’s efforts combined, it is anticipated that the usage could expand to a maximum of 80,000 tons, enough to produce approximately 3 million refrigerators (based on 26 kg per unit).

Yoo Seung-gwang, Director General of the Resources Circulation Bureau, stated, “We will do our utmost to ensure that the use of recycled materials in appliances is expanded through the operation of a system that is easily and conveniently accessible to the appliance and recycling industries.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com