플라스틱 재생원료의 사용 확대를 위한 재질별 국내 수요 및 공급 여건 분석

Global plastic production has increased from approximately 100 million tons in 1989 to 400 million tons in 2022, driven by the material’s versatility. Consequently, efforts to manage plastic waste and promote the use of recycled materials are growing worldwide. In line with this trend, Korea is revising its subordinate legislation under the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources to mandate that, starting in 2026, final producers manufacturing over 5,000 tons of beverage PET bottles annually must use at least 10% recycled content. This study aims to assess the current supply and demand of recycled plastic materials in Korea in preparation for the expansion of mandatory items and recycling rates. The analysis focuses on EPR-designated items with an existing recycling infrastructure and examines material-specific data by identifying the composition ratio of each item. Four primary indicators were analyzed: treatment capacity, production capacity, actual usage volume of recycled materials, and pyrolysis oil output. The findings reveal several key insights: (1) Recycling capacity is largely concentrated on packaging materials, underscoring the need to expand infrastructure for other product types; (2) The usage rate of recycled content relative to shipment/import volume is relatively high for PE (29.4%) and PP (31.6%), but notably low for PET (0.3%) and PS (3.9%), primarily due to durability constraints and regulatory limitations; (3) Naphtha production from pyrolysis oil is projected to reach approximately 35.7 kt by 2026, indicating the need for additional processing capacity; (4) While PE and PP exhibit a relatively balanced supply–demand structure, PS and PVC require further strategies to address imbalances.