South Korean environmental ministry signed MOU with industrial players to establish certification system for use of recycled raw materials

On July 19, 2024, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of South Korea executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with industrial players in the home appliance sector with the aim of standardizing the certification of recycled plastic materials used in electric and electronic products and establishing management systems for such materials. The signers to the MOU include home appliances manufactures (LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics), home appliance recycler (CNTech Korea), and E-Circulation Governance (a mutual aid association for recycling electric and electronic products). Under this MOU, home appliance manufacturers will expand the use of recycled raw materials and recyclers will strengthen quality control of recycled raw materials. Meanwhile, MOE will develop laws and systems to certify the use of recycled raw materials while operating a consultative body together with stakeholders. The Korea Environment Corporation (KECO) will develop a standard management procedure for managing recycled materials to verify the actual use of recycled materials by manufacturers. The E-Circulation Governance will standardize a methodology for certifying the use of recycled materials that is appropriate as international standards and establish an integrated management system in which administrative procedures, including the submission of certification materials by manufacturers are performed online by April 2025.