Partnering with Austrian Automotive Mat Manufacturer
Supplying SK Chemicals' Recycled Material "SKYPET CR"
Responding to Eco-Friendly Regulations... Targeting "Closed-Loop" ESG
SK Chemicals has partnered with Austrian automotive mat manufacturer Durmont to supply recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) materials to global finished vehicle brands. The company aims to proactively respond to the European market's demands for "sustainability" and increasingly stringent environmental regulations for vehicles by leveraging materials produced with chemical recycling technology.
On June 25, SK Chemicals announced that it had recently signed an "Exclusive Partnership Agreement" with Durmont and chemical materials distributor Paarang at its Ecolab headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. This agreement marks SK Chemicals' first exclusive supply contract with a European automotive parts company with which it previously had no business relationship. The three companies will establish a supply system optimized for recycled materials used in automotive mats and will expand supply, focusing on the European automotive market. Through this agreement, SK Chemicals will supply its recycled PET material, "SKYPET CR," for use in automotive mats produced by Durmont.
JaeHyun Ahn, President of SK Chemicals (from left), Joseph Zettlemont, CEO of Dumont, and Dongseop Lee, CEO of Paarang, are taking a commemorative photo after signing the "Exclusive Partnership Agreement" at the SK Chemicals headquarters Ecolab in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 23rd. SK Chemicals
Durmont is an Austrian company that produces mats for approximately 7 million vehicles annually. In 2023, it was acquired by Visscher-Caravelle Group, a Tier 1 supplier with a 40% market share in the European automotive industry. Its main customers include global finished vehicle brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen. Paarang will be responsible for coordinating logistics and supply chains between SK Chemicals and Durmont and is expected to contribute to mass production, quality control, and the stability of global distribution.
SKYPET CR is an eco-friendly material developed by SK Chemicals using its depolymerization technology, which recycles waste plastics at the molecular level. Depolymerization refers to a chemical reaction that breaks down polymers back into monomers. Because the material can maintain quality close to that of virgin raw materials even after repeated recycling, it is considered suitable for establishing a "closed-loop recycling system." It also offers performance comparable to nylon, which is traditionally used in automotive mats, and can be depolymerized and recycled again after use.
In particular, as the European Union strengthens its "End of Life Vehicles (ELV)" regulations, SKYPET CR is attracting attention as a means for global finished vehicle manufacturers to respond to the circular economy. The ELV regulations are European environmental standards that require high recyclability and reduced hazardous substances even after vehicles reach the end of their lifespan. JaeHyun Ahn, President of SK Chemicals, stated, "By utilizing depolymerization technology, we will enhance the sustainability of automobiles while delivering the physical properties and performance required for automotive products, and we will continue to collaborate with industry partners."
Meanwhile, in 2023, SK Chemicals invested approximately KRW 130 billion to establish "SK Shantou," the world's first commercial facility for chemical recycling, in China. The company has also built a "Recycle Innovation Center," including a pilot facility in Ulsan, South Korea, accelerating the commercialization of world-class recycling technologies.
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