South Korea mandates recycled plastic in beverage bottles from 2026

South Korea – The South Korean government has announced new requirements mandating beverage producers to integrate recycled plastic into their packaging from 2026, marking a major step toward a circular economy and reducing plastic waste.

Under the revised Enforcement Decree of the Resource Recycling Act, producers of bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages using more than 5,000 tons of PET bottles annually must ensure that at least 10% of the plastic content comes from recycled sources.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said in a statement that this move aligns with the country’s broader environmental roadmap.

“Through a public deliberation process, a national roadmap for a plastic-free circular economy will be established within this year. Circular resource use will be enhanced by introducing sustainable product design,” the ministry said.

South Korea plans to raise the recycled content target to 30% by 2030 and extend the obligation to producers handling more than 1,000 tons of PET annually.

The ministry also revised its “Recycling Guidelines for Designated Recycling Businesses,” increasing the target rate for raw material producers to use recycled materials from 3% to 10%.

To ensure quality and safety, only certified recycled materials will be allowed for use in colorless PET bottles, with strict oversight of collection, sorting, and recycling processes.

The government is also exploring the inclusion of more product categories, such as cosmetic containers, under the recycled content mandate.

Regional momentum and global parallels

South Korea’s initiative mirrors similar moves across Asia. In Japan, the government introduced a voluntary certification system for environmentally designed PET bottles under the Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Act.

Beginning in January 2026, manufacturers can apply for certification if their bottles contain at least 15% recycled or biomass plastic and feature fully recyclable, easily removable labels and caps free of PVC.

Elsewhere, Coca-Cola Japan launched 100% recycled PET bottles for its I LOHAS water brand, while PepsiCo India has committed to transitioning all its beverage bottles to 100% recycled PET by 2030.

In Europe, companies such as Danone and Nestlé Waters have already achieved full rPET use in select bottled water brands.

With these coordinated efforts, South Korea’s new regulation reinforces Asia’s growing leadership in sustainable packaging and the shift toward a low-plastic future.

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