South Korea Revises the Packing Material Recyclability Rating Standards

On July 12, 2024, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) revised the Packing Material Recyclability Rating Standard1. Specifically, the standards for rating the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle’s recyclability are detailed in the new version. The modifications are specified as below: 

(1) Classification of PET bottles into Four Groups

The PET bottles are divided into four product groups based on the characteristics of the packaging materials: Normal Resistance Bottle, Heat Resistance Bottle, Pressure Resistance Bottle, and Aseptic Filling Bottle. 

Normal Resistance Bottle refers to the bottle that maintains internal pressure at atmospheric pressure (1 atmosphere) when filled with contents at room temperature (below 20°C). 

Heat Resistance Bottle is a bottle that allows the filling of contents at high temperatures (80-95°C) without deformation during the cooling process.

Pressure Resistance Bottle is the container with a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure when filled with contents. It does not deform during filling and distribution processes under high pressure.

Aseptic Filling Bottle is a bottle used for filling contents at room temperature and atmospheric pressure immediately after sterilization at a high temperature of 135°C followed by rapid cooling. The bottle is sealed from external air by vacuum equipment to ensure a germ-free environment. It is commonly used for beverages such as coffee, mixed drinks, and liquid tea. 

(2) Establishment of the requirements for the light-weighting index of PET bottles

The criteria for PET bottles for drinking water and beverages that have easy-to-recycle packaging materials and structures are revised as:

•  The body of the PET bottle must be made of a single material and colorless;
•  The light-weighting index must be 1 or less (Newly inserted).

The standard calculation formulas for the light-weighting index are set as follows:

Normal Resistance Bottle: L = 0.403 * W * (V/0.9)-0.375

Heat Resistance Bottle: L = 0.585 * W * (V/0.9)-0.481

Pressure Resistance Bottle: L = 0.306 * W * (V/0.9)-0.355

Aseptic Filling Bottle: L = 0.176 * W * (V/0.9)-0.267

*L: Light-weighting index，W: Weight of the empty container (g) (excluding label, cap, and accessories), V: Volume (ml)