SK Chemicals Partners with Durmont to Enhance Automotive Sustainability Through Recycled Materials
On June 23, 2025, SK Chemicals forged an exclusive partnership with Austrian automotive carpet manufacturer Durmont, situated at SK Chemicals' ECOLAB headquarters in South Korea. This collaboration revolves around the supply of sustainable recycled materials to revered global automotive brands, thereby advancing sustainability within the European automotive sector.
Durmont is notable for producing about 7 million automotive carpets annually. The company was acquired in 2023 by the Visscher-Caravelle Group, a Dutch Tier 1 supplier dominant in the European market, holding over 40% market share for car floor mats and other accessories. This new partnership sees SK Chemicals providing Durmont with SKYPET CR, a recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material certified by ISCC PLUS, indicating 100% recycled content and full recyclability.
Paarang, another collaborator in this venture, plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth communication and operational efficiency among the involved parties. Their expertise in logistics is expected to enhance the reliability of the transaction process. Together, the trio has successfully developed various products such as carpets and mats using SK Chemicals’ specialized CR PET material, which meets stringent automotive testing requirements and quality standards.
The significance of this partnership lies in its aim to promote the adoption of environmentally friendly materials in the automotive industry. Utilizing their advanced chemical recycling technology, SK Chemicals can convert waste plastics into high-quality recycled materials. Unlike conventional recycling processes that often compromise the quality, SKYPET CR maintains considerable integrity, closely resembling that of virgin petroleum-based products even after repeated recycling cycles.
The application of SKYPET CR in automotive carpets and mats will enable these products to be depolymerized and recycled after their life cycle ends, fostering a closed-loop system in the automotive sector. This accomplishment aligns with regulatory regulations for vehicle circularity, especially the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) directive, which encourages sustainable practices across the industry.
SK Chemicals plans to strengthen its collaboration with both Durmont and Visscher-Caravelle while also seeking partnerships with additional automotive giants for other products and applications. CEO Ahn Jae-hyun emphasized the growing interest in vehicle circularity and recycling in Europe, spurred by carbon neutrality regulations.
In 2023, SK Chemicals made a significant investment of approximately KRW 130 billion (around USD 94 million) to establish the world's first commercial chemical recycling production facilities for both raw materials and finished products. Furthermore, they are expanding their domestic recycling production and research infrastructure, exemplified by the establishment of the Recycling Innovation Center at their Ulsan plant site. This center features a pilot facility dedicated to chemically decomposing waste plastics, turning them into recycled raw materials (r-BHET).
In conclusion, this partnership between SK Chemicals and Durmont is a promising step towards more sustainable practices in the automotive industry. With the potential to leverage innovative recycling technologies and consolidate efforts towards a more sustainable future, both companies aspire to be at the forefront of this critical environmental movement.
Durmont is notable for producing about 7 million automotive carpets annually. The company was acquired in 2023 by the Visscher-Caravelle Group, a Dutch Tier 1 supplier dominant in the European market, holding over 40% market share for car floor mats and other accessories. This new partnership sees SK Chemicals providing Durmont with SKYPET CR, a recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material certified by ISCC PLUS, indicating 100% recycled content and full recyclability.
Paarang, another collaborator in this venture, plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth communication and operational efficiency among the involved parties. Their expertise in logistics is expected to enhance the reliability of the transaction process. Together, the trio has successfully developed various products such as carpets and mats using SK Chemicals’ specialized CR PET material, which meets stringent automotive testing requirements and quality standards.
The significance of this partnership lies in its aim to promote the adoption of environmentally friendly materials in the automotive industry. Utilizing their advanced chemical recycling technology, SK Chemicals can convert waste plastics into high-quality recycled materials. Unlike conventional recycling processes that often compromise the quality, SKYPET CR maintains considerable integrity, closely resembling that of virgin petroleum-based products even after repeated recycling cycles.
The application of SKYPET CR in automotive carpets and mats will enable these products to be depolymerized and recycled after their life cycle ends, fostering a closed-loop system in the automotive sector. This accomplishment aligns with regulatory regulations for vehicle circularity, especially the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) directive, which encourages sustainable practices across the industry.
SK Chemicals plans to strengthen its collaboration with both Durmont and Visscher-Caravelle while also seeking partnerships with additional automotive giants for other products and applications. CEO Ahn Jae-hyun emphasized the growing interest in vehicle circularity and recycling in Europe, spurred by carbon neutrality regulations.
In 2023, SK Chemicals made a significant investment of approximately KRW 130 billion (around USD 94 million) to establish the world's first commercial chemical recycling production facilities for both raw materials and finished products. Furthermore, they are expanding their domestic recycling production and research infrastructure, exemplified by the establishment of the Recycling Innovation Center at their Ulsan plant site. This center features a pilot facility dedicated to chemically decomposing waste plastics, turning them into recycled raw materials (r-BHET).
In conclusion, this partnership between SK Chemicals and Durmont is a promising step towards more sustainable practices in the automotive industry. With the potential to leverage innovative recycling technologies and consolidate efforts towards a more sustainable future, both companies aspire to be at the forefront of this critical environmental movement.
Topics Consumer Products & Retail）
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