South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute have launched a national research and development program to convert waste clothing and used tires into higher-quality recycled raw materials. The program will invest KRW73 billion from 2026 through 2030, including KRW25 billion for technologies addressing waste clothing and KRW48 billion for technologies focused on waste tires. For the tire recycling sector, the initiative will support pretreatment of waste tires before pyrolysis to recover higher-quality recycled carbon black and develop tire manufacturing technologies capable of using more than 15% recycled carbon black in new tires. The ministry said the program is intended to strengthen circular resource systems, support commercialization of recycled materials and help Korean manufacturers respond to overseas environmental regulations, including the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.

Program targets difficult-to-recycle waste streams

The ministry said waste clothing and used tires remain difficult to recycle into high-quality raw materials. Waste clothing often contains mixed fibers such as polyester and nylon, as well as zippers, buttons and other accessories. Most waste clothing collected through used clothing bins is currently exported overseas, while some is recycled into construction materials.

Waste tires also face limits in higher-value recycling. According to the ministry, more than 60% of waste tires in South Korea are recycled as thermal feedstock, including solid fuel products. Some waste tires are processed into recycled carbon black for use in new tires, but durability issues currently make it difficult to use more than 5% recycled material.

KRW48 billion allocated to waste tire technologies

The waste tire component of the program will receive KRW48 billion. The project will focus on technologies to secure high-quality raw materials from waste tires and commercialize products based on those materials.

Planned technology development includes pretreating waste tires through shredding and other processes before pyrolysis. The aim is to recover higher-quality recycled carbon black and support more demanding downstream uses, including tire production.

Target set for more than 15% recycled carbon black in tires

The ministry said the project will develop technologies that allow new tires to be produced with more than 15% recycled carbon black. Achieving this target would require improvements in rCB quality, compound formulation and manufacturing performance.

Recovered carbon black is a key material for tire-to-tire circularity because it can reduce dependence on virgin carbon black if it meets quality, durability and consistency requirements. The South Korean program therefore links tire recycling, pyrolysis pretreatment, recycled carbon black upgrading and new tire manufacturing.

AI sorting planned for waste clothing recycling

The KRW25 billion waste clothing project will support development of an AI-based automated sorting and screening system. The ministry said the target is an AI-based fiber material sorting and classification system with more than 95% accuracy.

The program will also support technologies that turn waste clothing and textile waste into recycled raw materials for clothing, automotive interior materials, construction materials and civil engineering applications.

EU ecodesign rules influence technology development

The ministry said current recycling conditions are insufficient to respond to the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. The regulation entered into force in July 2024, with subordinate legislation for clothing and tires scheduled for adoption in the first half of 2027 and implementation expected in the second half of 2028.

By developing higher-quality recycled raw materials for clothing and tires, South Korea aims to support domestic circular economy goals while preparing manufacturers for export market requirements related to recycled content, sustainability and product design.

Ministry expects contribution to climate goals

The ministry said the technology development program is expected to strengthen circular use of waste clothing and waste tire materials. It also expects the effort to contribute to South Korea’s Nationally Determined Contribution and support a proactive response to environmental regulations abroad.

Kim Goeung, Director General of the Resource Circulation Bureau at the ministry, said the R&D project will act as a catalyst for circular use by turning clothing and tires that were considered difficult to recycle into new products. He said the ministry will support the technology development process so that outcomes can be adopted in the field and spread across the recycling industry.

South Korea Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment.