Request a Demo
In late September 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Environment (MOE) announced amendments to the Enforcement Rules and Enforcement Decree of Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources. The amendments took effect on September 26, 2025.
These revisions specify detailed implementation and operational requirements for enhanced recycled material usage, which align with the amended Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources released in March and effective on September 26, 2025.
Recommended reading
Key Amendments to the Enforcement Rules
Under Article 33-2 of the Act, manufacturers and related entities intending to label their products or containers as using recycled materials at or above the prescribed rate must apply to the MOE for verification of the recycled material usage ratio.
Type of recycled material | Applicable products | Usage ratio |
|---|---|---|
Recycled materials processed or manufactured from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET), waste foamed synthetic resin, or synthetic resin products/packaging materials | Food-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles | 10% |
Electrical and electronic products under the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles | 20% | |
Other products or containers | 10% | |
Other recycled materials | Products or containers designated by the MOE | 10% or more, as determined by the MOE |
The Enforcement Rules outline detailed procedures for verification and labeling of recycled material usage ratios. Applicants must submit the following to the Korea Environment Corporation:
Application form
Data supporting calculation of the recycled material usage ratio
Documents verifying recycled material transactions and usage
Recycled material management ledger
Certificates or supporting documents related to recycled material use (if certified by recognized domestic or international certification bodies)
Upon verification, entities may indicate on the product or packaging:
A mark indicating the use of recycled materials
The type of recycled material used
The recycled material usage ratio
Key Amendments to Enforcement Decree
Article 33-3 of the Act requires certain manufacturers of products or containers (including brand owners who commission production under their own brand) to use recycled plastic materials in their products or containers to promote circular resource use.
Under the revised Enforcement Decree, entities subject to this obligation are defined as manufacturers of bottled water or non-alcoholic beverages who use more than 5,000 tons of PET bottles annually as packaging materials for their products. Manufacturers of synthetic resins and other plastic materials have been excluded from the category of designated recycling business operators.
According to an MOE press release, the mandatory recycled material usage rate for 2026 will be set at 10%. In line with global sustainability trends, the MOE plans to gradually expand the scope of obligated entities to include companies that use 1,000 tons or more of PET bottles annually and raise the mandatory usage rate to 30% by 2030.
Moreover, to ensure product safety and prevent contamination by non-intentionally added substances, the MOE will certify the recycling process, including collection, sorting, and recycling, while the MFDS will certify the safety of recycled materials used in food-contact applications. Only certified recycled materials will be allowed for use in manufacturing PET bottles.
We provide full-scale global food market entry services (including product registration, ingredient review, regulatory consultation, customized training, market research, branding strategy). Please contact us to discuss how we can help you by 
