Terracle, a chemical-recycling company specializing in waste plastics and led by CEO Kibaek Kwon, has received international recognition for technology that converts discarded marine waste back into chemical feedstocks comparable in quality to petrochemical products. By obtaining Ocean-Bound Plastic (OBP) certification under the international ISCC PLUS sustainability system, the company has secured a key qualification for entering the global sustainable-materials supply chain.
ISCC PLUS is an international sustainability standard used across the global chemical, textile, and packaging industries, particularly in the European Union. It is widely regarded as a key requirement for participating in global sustainable-material supply chains. Global brands frequently require the certification when sourcing recycled feedstocks because it enables traceability from the origin of raw materials through processing and final products. It also serves as reliable supporting evidence for corporate ESG management and sustainability reporting.
The certification specifically includes the designation OBP, or Ocean-Bound Plastic. OBP refers to discarded plastics generated within 50 kilometers of a coastline that are at high risk of entering the ocean. These materials are difficult to collect because of poor waste-management conditions in coastal areas and are often heavily contaminated with salt, sand, and other impurities. They are also commonly mixed in color and material composition, making mechanical recycling virtually impossible.
Terracle has now received official recognition for its ability to recycle even these marine-waste streams. The certificate states that Terracle can process mixed plastic waste classified as OBP and produce the chemical feedstocks terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG), with the entire process recognized under the Circular category. TPA and EG are base materials used in a wide range of everyday products, including apparel, beverage bottles, and electronic components.
Approximately eight million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. This waste threatens marine ecosystems and eventually breaks down into microplastics that move through the food chain and return to human diets. Conventional mechanical recycling, which typically grinds and remelts only clear PET bottles, cannot effectively process colored or composite materials. It also suffers from quality degradation after repeated recycling, eventually turning the material back into waste.
Terracle's depolymerization technology fundamentally overcomes these structural limitations. Polymerization combines multiple raw materials to create plastic, while depolymerization reverses that process and returns finished plastic to its original feedstock state. The process can be compared to turning bread back into flour and water. Because the material is chemically broken down at temperatures below 100°C, it is separated at the molecular level regardless of color or contamination, producing high-purity feedstocks with purity above 99%.
The resulting quality is comparable to newly produced petroleum-based feedstocks. Terracle became the first company in Korea to successfully produce high-purity recycled terephthalic acid at ton scale. A hydrolysis-based depolymerization plant with an annual capacity of 4,000 metric tons is scheduled to begin operation in the first half of the year, bringing the technology close to full commercial deployment.
Terracle's potential has also been recognized by the Korean government and on the global stage. In January 2024, the company participated in CES 2024 in Las Vegas and presented its technology in Samsung Electronics' Sustainability Zone. It was also selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' Super Gap Startup 1000+ Project and has received focused support. In the same year, the Minister of Environment visited Terracle's demonstration facility at the Green Venture Convergence Cluster and encouraged the company as a young enterprise expected to lead the future green industry. Terracle was later selected as a Preliminary Green Unicorn in 2026.
The technology is already operating in the field. In March 2024, Terracle signed a memorandum of understanding with the Busan branch of the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation and the Busan branch of the Korea Tugboat Industry Cooperative to promote the recycling of marine waste from Busan Port. Under the partnership, the two organizations collect floating marine waste from the port, and Terracle converts it into chemical feedstocks.
CEO Kibaek Kwon does not reject plastic itself. "I do not believe plastic is inherently bad. Modern civilization would be impossible without it. The problem is that it is not properly circulated," he said. "Simply insisting that all use be reduced is not realistic. If plastic can be reused indefinitely without environmental pollution, we can continue using it without destroying the planet. That is the real solution."
The next sector Terracle is focusing on is the fashion industry. Approximately 60% of clothing worldwide is made from polyester, which is a plastic-based fiber. According to a World Bank report, textile-related waste accounts for about 12% of global municipal solid waste, while the fashion industry contributes roughly 10% of global carbon emissions. Yet only about 1% of textile waste is recycled because varying colors and blends of cotton, nylon, and other fibers make conventional recycling difficult.
Terracle says its depolymerization technology can return these discarded garments to raw materials as well. Kwon said, "Depolymerization will continue to expand the range of recyclable materials to include polyester fibers, banners, and apparel. We plan to maintain and expand partnerships that support circular resource use in the fashion sector."
As global brands in Europe and North America accelerate the adoption of recycled feedstocks, demand is rising rapidly for high-purity recycled materials certified under ISCC PLUS. Feedstocks recovered from marine waste are especially valued not only for their environmental benefits but also for the strength of their sustainability story. With its ISCC PLUS OBP certification, Terracle has established a practical foundation for participating in the global sustainable-materials supply chain.
Plastic that was once at risk of entering the ocean can now be transformed into clean feedstocks and reborn as new products. Terracle has received formal international recognition that this complete circular system is technically achievable. The company's commitment to solving environmental problems through science and technology is now becoming a validated reality in the global market.
Online News Team
