South Korea reports ongoing violations of PVC packaging ban 
On October 7, 2025, the National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee of South Korea announced that many companies in South Korea continue to violate the ban on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging materials, despite the regulation having been in force for several years. According to the Committee’s announcement, a total of 155 companies received official orders to improve their packaging between 2022 and June 2025 under the Packaging Materials Composition and Structure Evaluation System, which took effect in December 2019. Of these, approximately 90% (138 companies) were reported to have used PVC packaging materials, which are prohibited due to their environmental and health risks.
What is PVC?
PVC is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an organization under the World Health Organization (WHO), as a Group 1 substance confirmed to be carcinogenic to humans. PVC packaging materials are not only difficult to recycle but also hinder the recycling of other plastics. Accordingly, in South Korea, PVC packaging materials are required to be disposed of as general waste.
Background and Regulatory Framework of the PVC Packaging Ban
Since December 2019, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) has prohibited the use of PVC packaging materials under the Packaging Materials Composition and Structure Evaluation System. The system is outlined as follows.
(1) Target businesses
The regulation applies to producers subject to recycling obligations under Article 16(1) of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources (EPR entities). It covers companies with annual sales of 10 billion KRW (approx. USD 6.95 million) or more, or annual imports of 3 billion KRW (approx. USD 2.09 million) or more.
(2) Regulated packaging materials
Subject materials include EPR-designated recyclable packaging specified in Article 18 (1) through (3) of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources: paper cartons, metal cans, glass bottles, and synthetic resin packaging.
(3) Prohibited and exempt packaging
Under this system, all packaging materials containing PVC or PVDC are prohibited, including laminated, shrink-wrapped, and coated packaging made with PVC.
However, certain types of packaging materials containing PVC or PVDC are exempted from the prohibition, as listed below.
Packaging Materials Exempted from the Prohibition
- Packaging with a coating applied to a detachable cap
- Shrink-wrap packaging for pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, and health functional foods
- Heat-sealed packaging for pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, health functional foods, and edible oils
- Ham and sausage products that require high-temperature sterilization and can be distributed or sold at room temperature
- Food wrap films used for the packaging of livestock and marine products
- Other products specifically approved as exceptions by the Minister of Environment
Effective date: December 25, 2019
Improvement orders:
Producers subject to recycling obligations that manufacture or import prohibited packaging materials, or sell products using such materials, may receive an improvement order. If compliance within one year is not feasible, an extension of up to two years may be granted upon request.
Suspension orders:
If the required improvement is not completed within one year, the MOE may issue a business suspension order or impose administrative fines.
The Committee pointed out that even though more than five years have passed since the system was implemented, many companies still fail to comply with the regulation. Among those that received improvement orders, many have not completed the required improvements to their packaging materials within the prescribed period: about one-third (43 companies) have applied for extensions to the compliance period. Moreover, of the 47 companies that received improvement orders for PVC packaging violations since 2024, 27 have not yet completed corrective actions.
The Committee urged the government to present clearer criteria and a concrete roadmap.
The original media article on this matter can be accessed at:
https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20251002146000530
