New Trends in Plastic Recycling in Asia: South Korea Mandates rPET Usage, Japan Implements Easy Recycling Certification

Global attention to the sustainability of plastics is driving the evolution of regulations in various countries. Recently, two major Asian economies, South Korea and Japan, have successively issued important regulatory updates regarding recycled plastics.

South Korea: Mandatory requirements to clarify rPET recycling targets and certification requirements.

On September 16, 2025, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea announced that it will amend the Enforcement Decree of the Resource Recycling Act to impose mandatory requirements on the recycled content in PET beverage bottles, which will be officially implemented at the beginning of 2026.

The bill sets clear phased targets for the use of recycled plastics.

Phase 1: Starting from January 1, 2026, producers of colorless PET bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages with an annual production or filling volume exceeding 5,000 tons must use at least 10% recycled PET (rPET). Phase 2: By 2030, the threshold will be lowered to producers with an annual production or filling volume exceeding 1,000 tons, and their rPET usage ratio must increase to 30%.

The regulations specifically focus on the risks of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), which is a core safety challenge for recycled plastics used in food contact applications. To address this, South Korea's new regulations have designed a "dual certification" system that includes both recycling processes and material certification. This ensures both the effective decontamination of the recycling process and a thorough assessment of the chemical safety of recycled materials through migration and other methods.

This model provides strong regulatory support for the safe application of rPET in food packaging, while also imposing higher demands on enterprises' supply chain management and quality control.

Japan: Incentive Certification Focused on Easily Recyclable Design

Unlike the mandatory regulations in South Korea, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released design certification standards based on the Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Law on July 24, 2025, adopting a primarily incentive-based voluntary certification system.

From January 24, 2026, colorless PET beverage bottles can apply for certification if they meet the following core requirements:

Recycled content: The rPET content must be at least 15%.

Recycling-friendly design: The bottle must be made entirely of PET, the cap and label must be free of PVC, and the label should be easy to peel off during the recycling process.

Products that are certified will be included in the priority procurement list under Japan's Green Purchasing Law, thereby gaining a competitive advantage in government procurement.

Japan's strategy fully embodies the advanced concept of "Design for Recycling." By addressing the source of product design, it maximizes the recycling value of materials, thereby effectively enhancing recycling efficiency and the purity of rPET.

Conclusion:

Increasing the use of recycled plastics in food packaging has become a mainstream policy direction worldwide. For companies related to food contact materials, REACH24H Consulting Group recommends: closely monitor global regulatory developments, especially the requirements of major export markets, and carry out supply chain assessments and technical preparations in advance.

At the same time, drawing on the concept of "design for recycling," we incorporate the recyclability of packaging into consideration during the product development stage to adapt to stricter future regulatory requirements.