Samyang Corporation, a chemical and food affiliate of the Samyang Group, announces that it has developed Korea's first eco-friendly PC containing more than 90% of post-consumer recycled polycarbonate (PCR PC).

PCR PC is made through a compounding process in which a certain ratio of recycled PC is mixed with new PC raw material, requiring high level of technology and expertise.

When manufacturing PC, flame retardants, reinforcing agents and dyes are added to enhance the performance of the polymer and improve their aesthetic effects. However, such additives cause deformation during the melting process at a high temperature, weakening the physical properties of PC.

For this reason, PCR PC developed by other domestic companies contain maximum of 85% of recycled PC material, and most PCR PCs sold on the market contain 30 to 50% of recycled PC material.

Samyang Corporation develops Korea's first eco-friendly polycarbonate with 90% recycled plastic content.

Within two years, Samyang Corporation has succeeded in developing a PCR PC that contains more than 90% of recycled PC material while retaining the inherent physical properties of PC, such as heat resistance, transparency, and impact resistance.

According to the company, this is the result of years of efforts and expertise in redesigning and optimizing the ratio of recycled material and additives during the compounding process. Securing suppliers of quality recycled PC material that closely monitor the degree of contamination and foreign substances was also effective.

PCR PC is considered environmentally friendly as it reduces plastic waste. It also has an effect of reducing carbon emissions from lowered energy consumption. Samyang Corporation explained that the newly developed PCR PC has the effect of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 6,200 tons based on production of 1,000 tons compared to general PC. This is an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted by 3,200 cars per year.

Samyang Corporation acquired the ECV certification (Environmental Claims Validations) from UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a United States safety standard development and certification science establishment. ECV is an environmental mark given by measuring the degree of eco-friendliness of a product, such as the ratio of reused and recycled materials.

In addition, it met the V-0 standard, the highest grade in the UL 94 vertical combustion evaluation. UL 94 is a measure of flame resistance of a polymer developed by UL, and the V-0 rating is only given to those that self-extinguish within 10 seconds when lit vertically.

The company plans to first apply PCR PC to small electrical home appliances such as laptops, then expand its application extensively in various areas in the future, namely electronics and decorative gadgets. Meanwhile, the company plans to continue expanding the scope of application by applying PCR PC to various plastic resins such as ABS and PBT.

"There are only a few places in the world that produce PCR PC products that contain more than 90% of recycled plastic materials while retaining the physical properties of conventional PC. We will continue to expand our high-quality, eco-friendly product portfolio to meet global market’s demand and contribute towards the group’s ESG competitiveness," said Hosung Kang, CEO of Samyang Corporation.