SK chemicals, Durmont sign exclusive recycled PET partnership

(SK chemicals)

SK chemicals Co. has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Durmont Teppichbodenfabrik GmbH, an Austria-based manufacturer of automotive carpets, at its headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, the company said Wednesday.

Under the agreement, SK chemicals will supply Durmont with SKYPET CR, its circularly recycled polyethylene terephthalate (CR PET) product. The two companies plan to gradually replace conventional materials such as nylon, previously used in automotive floor mats, with SKYPET to improve the sustainability of vehicle components.

Durmont has the capacity to supply carpets for approximately 7 million vehicles per year. SKYPET CR is a recycled PET produced using SK chemicals’ chemical recycling technology, which depolymerizes waste plastic at the molecular level.

Automotive mats made with SKYPET CR can be reprocessed after use through the same depolymerization method, supporting the development of a fully circular system in the automotive components sector. The material is also expected to help meet recyclability regulations in markets such as the European Union.

SK chemicals aims to deepen its collaboration with Durmont while expanding partnerships with global automotive brands.

“We remain committed to automotive components and plan to deepen industry partnerships,” said SK chemicals CEO Ahn Jae-hyun.