The Solution to the Plastic Problem: Asking Future Generations SK chemicals Hosts College Student Recycling Story Challenge

- Joint exploration of solutions for plastic waste issues with tomorrow's leaders: the MZ generation

- Four teams selected through a competition are given tasks to develop stories for a circular plastic economy

Domestic chemical companies have turned to the generation that will lead the future for solutions to coexist with plastic and maintain a healthy global environment.

SK chemicals (CEO Ahn Jae-hyun) announced on the 10th that it has launched the College Student Recycling Story Challenge (hereinafter referred to as the Challenge).

The launch ceremony, held at Pangyo Eco Lab's G.rium Hall, where SK chemicals' headquarters and research institute are located, was attended by company members, including CEO Ahn Jae-hyun, and college students from four teams selected through the first round competition.

In March, SK chemicals held the first round competition, receiving slogans, storylines, and campaign proposals for the plastic recycling business. From the entries, four teams were selected to participate in the Challenge through an evaluation by internal members and experts.

At the launch ceremony, detailed explanations about the status and prospects of the plastic recycling business, SK chemicals' technical capabilities, and more were provided. Based on this, participating students will perform a second task to develop stories and campaigns for building a circular plastic economy, a solution proposed to solve the plastic problem.

CEO Ahn Jae-hyun of SK chemicals explained the purpose of the event by saying, "Building a circular plastic economy is not only the growth engine that will lead the future of SK chemicals, but is also a significant task for humanity to achieve a sustainable coexistence between plastics and the Earth," and added, "It requires everyone's attention and cooperation in all chains of the circular economy from collection, sorting, production, distribution, use, and recycling, as well as the development of circular recycling* technology for waste plastics, so we would like to hear the insights of tomorrow's leaders."

SK chemicals plans to carry out various campaigns to encourage voluntary participation and spread the importance of building a circular plastic economy by actively communicating with the general public, including the MZ generation, based on the fresh and original ideas obtained through this Challenge.

The final evaluation of SK chemicals' College Student Recycling Challenge will be conducted next month, with the winning team to receive 5 million won, second place 3 million won, and third and fourth place teams will each receive 1 million won in scholarships.

Meanwhile, SK chemicals, based on its self-developed depolymerization technology, is already supplying various recycled plastic products such as water bottles, toothbrushes, and textile fabrics by producing recycled PET and copolyester. To support this, the company has acquired China's depolymerization and recycled PET facilities and is stepping forward to build a plastic circular economy.

# Photo description : SK chemicals hosted the College Student Recycling Story Challenge launch ceremony at Pangyo Eco Lab G.rium Hall on the 9th. CEO Ahn Jae-hyun (front row, fifth from the left in the picture) and four Challenge participating teams are taking a commemorative photo after the certificate of appointment is given.

* Circular Recycle: Refers to "Chemical Recycle." SK chemicals is pioneering a sustainable "circular recycling" material market, considering the infinite recyclability of chemically recycled materials as a key future business.