LG Chem Chemical Recycling: Completing Closed-Loop Solution

The pursuit of a circular economy

Waste plastic is one of the most serious environmental problems in the world. In order to increase the low recycling rate of plastic waste, countries around the world are expanding regulations that mandate recycled content in plastics from packaging to automobiles, requiring a variety of recycled products from many different kinds of post-consumer plastic materials. 

To realize the circular economy, which has emerged as a solution to these environmental problems, LG Chem is overseeing the entire life cycle of plastics from production to recycling. We aim to provide differentiated value to customers by producing high-quality recycled plastics from various raw materials and recycling methods. 

For example, we produce post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials (ABS, PC/ABS, PO, PVC, PC) from mechanically recycled plastics. To recycle composite plastics that are difficult to recycle mechanically, we have invested in a supercritical pyrolysis process, a chemical recycling method with the highest yield in the industry. We expect to operate commercially soon with a capacity of 20,000 tons per year.

With this production facility as our basis, LG Chem, as a global leader in the petrochemical industry, plans to lead the global PCR market and build a circular economy for plastics by going beyond the limits of existing plastic recycling. 

Turning waste back into raw potential: Supercritical pyrolysis technology

Supercritical pyrolysis is a chemical recycling technology that breaks down mixed waste plastics with supercritical water vapor at a high temperature and pressure. Unlike other pyrolysis technologies that apply heat directly, it suppresses the production of carbon deposits (soot) during pyrolysis, enabling continuous operation without additional intervention. The productivity of this pyrolysis is also among the highest in the industry, with over 8 tons of pyrolysis oil being made from approximately 10 tons of plastic bags and plastic input. The remaining two tons of by-product gas are reused as energy to run the plant, including the production of supercritical water vapor. No waste plastic is discarded in this system. 
LG Chem has built a commercial pyrolysis plant in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea, using supercritical pyrolysis technology (Hydro-PRT) from Mura Technology in the UK. This allows for the production of 20,000 tons of pyrolysis oil per year. 

This supercritical pyrolysis technology can chemically break down waste plastics and transform them into basic raw materials, which can then be processed back into plastics. The process can be repeated indefinitely without compromising quality, accelerating innovation for sustainability. Moreover, since conventional mechanical recycling shreds the materials mechanically, it is impossible to recycle contaminated waste plastics. However, chemical recycling can overcome such limitations of mechanical recycling. 

Circular Balanced: LG Chem's chemically recycled plastic solution 

LG Chem's chemically recycled plastic product, Circular Balanced, is recycled plastic produced by recycling waste plastics using supercritical pyrolysis technology and directly injecting the resulting pyrolysis oil as a raw material into the petrochemical process.

Circular Balanced can be applied to manufacture any of LG Chem's plastic products since the plastic products are remade from the basic raw materials obtained through chemical recycling.

Strengths and Features of Circular Balanced:

▪ Waste reduction: reduce environmental pollution and significantly increases the recycling rate of waste by utilizing plastic waste that cannot be mechanically recycled 

▪ Equivalent performance: can perform at the same level as conventional petrochemical-based products that are already used by customers

▪ Ease of application: easily incorporated or added to an existing production system or process without causing any disruption 

▪ Customisation for customers: allows customization of eco-friendly material content through ISCC Plus certification

Circular Balanced is LG Chem's representative chemically recycled plastic product that reduces waste and has the same properties as conventional products. It is a drop-in solution that can be applied without changing process conditions. 

We have also adopted the mass-balance method and obtained the ISCC Plus certification, which established our credibility with a reputable organization and enabled us to customize the supply of recycled material content to our clients.

LG Chem is focusing on developing sustainable and eco-friendly technologies to respond to increasing environmental regulations globally. This plays an important role in increasing our competitiveness in global markets.

As such, LG Chem's plastic recycling business is taking an important step toward a sustainable future by simultaneously pursuing environmental protection and economic value.

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