South Korea launches Public Consultation on Plans to Increase the Mandatory Usage Rate of Recycled PET Bottles to 15% by 2027

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South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) launched a public consultation on September 7, 2026 on a proposed partial amendment (Notice No. 2026-835) to the Public Notice on the Mandatory Use of Recycled Plastic Materials. The draft proposes to increase the mandatory recycled-material content for PET bottles used for bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages from the current 10% to 15%, effective 1 January 2027.

By mandating a 15% recycled material usage rate for manufacturers of bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages that use 5,000 tons or more of PET bottles annually, the initiative aims to mainstream the use of recycled materials and achieve plastic reduction targets.

Who and what is affected?

Regulatory item	Applicable scope
Product	Bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages
Packaging	PET bottles
Annual PET bottle usage threshold	5,000 tonnes or more
Mandatory recycled-material content in 2026	10%
Proposed mandatory recycled-material content from 1 January 2027	15%

Applicable scope:

manufacturers of bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages that use at least 5,000 tonnes of PET bottles annually.

Background and Rationale

The proposed amendment reflects the growing international use of mandatory recycled-content requirements for plastic packaging. Under South Korea’s Comprehensive Plan for a Plastic-Free Society, announced in December 2025, the government intends to increase the mandatory recycled-material content for the relevant products to 30% by 2030.

The government also cites the need to reduce reliance on imported petroleum-based virgin plastics, particularly in light of supply-chain disruptions associated with the Middle East. Increasing the use of recycled plastics is intended to support a transition from a linear, petroleum-dependent economy towards a circular economy, while contributing to greenhouse gas emissions reduction and national plastic-reduction targets.

International Regulatory Context

MCEE’s analysis of the proposed amendment compares South Korea’s recycled-plastic usage targets with those of the EU and California, US. The comparison is presented as part of the rationale for increasing mandatory recycled-plastic use.

Recycling Targets of EU, South Korea and California, the United States of America (US)

Jurisdiction	Target product/material	2022	2025	2026	2027	2030
EU	PET bottles	-	25%	-	-	30%
California, US	PET bottles	15%	25%	-	-	>50%
South Korea	Recycle materials (PET bottles for bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages)	-	-	10%	15%*	30%*

*South Korea’s 15% target for 2027 is proposed under the draft amendment; the 30% target for 2030 reflects the government’s stated policy objective.

The EU established the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in November 2022, mandating the use of at least 30% recycled content in plastic packaging by January 2030. In line with the EU PPWR revision, Germany has also mandated that only plastic packaging containing a minimum of 25% recycled content (rising to 30% from January 2030) may be placed on the market starting in 2025.

The United Kingdom (UK) introduced the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) in 2022, imposing a tax of £210.82 per tonne on packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic content.

Source: MCEE analysis of the proposed amendment

Implications for South Korea’s Recycled-Plastics Industry

The proposed amendment could reshape demand in South Korea’s recycled PET (r-PET) market, particularly for material suitable for food-contact applications.

Demand in the general recycled polypropylene (r-PP) and recycled polyethylene (r-PE) markets remains strongly influenced by price competitiveness relative to virgin resins. By contrast, mandatory recycled-content requirements create a regulatory driver for demand in the r-PET market, where compliance, material quality and supply reliability become additional purchasing considerations.

If the proposed 15% requirement is adopted, beverage and bottled-water manufacturers may need to strengthen their procurement strategies and secure reliable supplies of compliant, food-contact-grade r-PET. This could increase the importance of long-term supply agreements, supplier diversification, traceability and quality-data management.

Enforcement and Penalties

However, the extent to which the mandate translates into additional r-PET demand will depend partly on the final enforcement framework. The draft, as described in the consultation materials, does not specify the applicable sanctions for non-compliance. The nature and severity of the final penalties could therefore influence manufacturers’ compliance decisions and the resulting market demand. The enforcement provisions should be reviewed once the amendment is finalised.

Final Takeaway

Overall, the proposed amendment signals a shift towards a more regulation-driven r-PET market in South Korea. Suppliers that can demonstrate consistent quality, verified recycled content, food-contact suitability and reliable supply may be better positioned to serve beverage manufacturers subject to the proposed requirement.