South Korea to recruit businesses under regulatory sandbox scheme for plastic waste pyrolysis

On January 18, 2026, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) of South Korea launched a new call for applicants under a government-led regulatory exemption system, known as the “regulatory sandbox,” in the field of the circular economy, aimed at promoting pyrolysis recycling of waste plastics. The program is designed to temporarily relax certain regulatory requirements under specified conditions in areas where existing regulations hinder technological demonstration or commercialization, with the objective of informing future regulatory reforms based on the results of pilot projects.