Resource virtuous cycle activities and ecosystem protection
Our approach
Plastic Recycling
LG Chem produces post consumer recycled plastics (PCR) that recycle waste plastics as raw materials to reduce the plastic waste that are buried and incinerated. We are also establishing a virtuous circulation of resources by reducing the use of existing fossil fuel-based raw materials. Plastic recycling is largely divided into mechanical recycling and chemical recycling
Mechanical recycling is a method of separating, sorting, and shredding plastic waste, then introducing it into existing processes to recreate plastic products. Currently , LG Chem produces PCR products with high waste plastic content in ABS and PC products, and has succeeded in improving quality by producing white plastic. In the future, LG Chem will further expand the PCR product range to include PO and PVC. For chemical recycling, the chemical conversion of waste plastics back to raw materials such as conventional naptha can achieve equal quality to conventional raw materials, although it requires high investment costs and high technical advancement.
LG Chem aims to establish chemical recycling as our mid- to long-term strategy, securing technology and promoting product commercialization through various partnerships.
Compostable Plastics
Plastic waste is a global challenge, especially if it ends up in the oceans and fragmented into microplastics and degrade over centuries. LG Chem takes plastic wastes seriously and seeks to protect the ecosystem and enhance environmental sustainability by developing compostable plastics.
Zero Waste to Landfill from Business Sites
LG Chem plans to send zero waste to landfills at our business sites to accomplish a circular economy of resources through production, consumption, and recycling. We are constantly reviewing and driving forward tasks such as generating less waste and converting existing waste treatment methods, such as landfilling and incineration, into recycling.
In 2022, three business sites in Iksan, Naju, and Quzhou in China (Huajin New Energy Materials, a joint venture between LG Chem and Huayu Cobalt), and in 2023, separator business sites in Gimcheon and Cheongju, as well as a business site in Guangzhou, China, received the Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) certification from UL Solutions, a global safety and environmental certification organization.
The Quzhou and Guangzhou sites received a Platinum rating for recycling 100% of their total waste, the Cheongju Separator Plant, the Gimcheon Plant, and the Iksan Plant earned a Gold rating for achieving 98%, 97%, and 96%, respectively, and the Naju Plant received a Silver rating for its 94% recycling rate. Zero Waste to Landfill certification evaluates a company's resource recycling efforts and grants Silver (90-94% recycling rate), Gold (95-99%), or Platinum (100%) ratings based on the percentage of waste generated by the business that is recycled instead of landfilled.
The Quzhou and Guangzhou sites received a Platinum rating for recycling 100% of their total waste, the Cheongju Separator Plant, the Gimcheon Plant, and the Iksan Plant earned a Gold rating for achieving 98%, 97%, and 96%, respectively, and the Naju Plant received a Silver rating for its 94% recycling rate. Zero Waste to Landfill certification evaluates a company's resource recycling efforts and grants Silver (90-94% recycling rate), Gold (95-99%), or Platinum (100%) ratings based on the percentage of waste generated by the business that is recycled instead of landfilled.
LG Chem introduced an integrated environmental safety management system at its major business sites. By systematizing the waste treatment process, we have strengthened the monitoring of the generation and disposal status, and we can transparently and accurately aggregate the performance data. As we advance, we will continue pursuing strategies to achieve zero waste to landfill at all our sites.
