South Korea turns food waste into aviation fuel
South Korea is exploring ways to turn food waste into aviation fuel, as the country faces new regulations requiring the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). From next year, aircraft flying from South Korea must use fuel with 1% SAF, rising to 3–5% by 2030 and 7–10% by 2035. This initiative addresses a growing challenge as governments worldwide introduce mandatory SAF blending requirements, aiming to reduce carbon emissions from air travel. South Korea’s culinary culture, with its abundance of fried chicken and Korean barbecue, generates significant fried-food scraps that could serve as a valuable carbon source for SAF production.
The country is inviting companies to test technologies that extract and refine oil from discarded fried-food scraps for SAF. Currently, South Korean regulations classify these scraps as food waste, meaning they cannot be used as raw materials for petrochemicals or petroleum substitutes. Selected companies will explore alternative recovery routes, potentially transforming a waste stream into a sustainable resource. This aligns with South Korea’s broader goal of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and promoting a circular economy.
From uniforms to insulation
South Korea is also addressing the issue of discarded police uniforms, with plans to recover and recycle the materials. Around 300 tonnes of worn-out police uniforms are incinerated annually, but a new scheme aims to extract recycled polyester or convert the garments into filler and insulation. Meanwhile, a uniform redesign affecting over 130,000 police stations is expected to generate substantial volumes of discarded clothing over the next two years, making this initiative particularly timely.
The Korean National Police Agency will collect various uniforms, jackets, and extreme-cold parkas nationwide. Pre-processing firms will remove components like zippers and buttons, disassembling the uniforms by material before supplying them to upcycling and recycling companies. This process not only reduces waste but also aligns with South Korea’s commitment to sustainability, potentially setting a precedent for handling military uniforms, especially in a nation with compulsory military service for its over 51 million citizens.
A hot solution for plastic waste
Researchers at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials have developed a hydrogen-powered plasma torch that can decompose mixed plastic waste in less than 0.01 seconds. Operating at temperatures between 1,000 and 2,000°C, the torch produces ethylene and benzene, essential building blocks for new plastics. This process offers a cleaner and more efficient alternative to traditional plastic recycling methods, addressing the global challenge of plastic waste.
This innovative process offers a more efficient and selective alternative to conventional pyrolysis, which typically heats crushed plastic to around 600°C. The plasma approach achieves 70–90% selectivity for ethylene and benzene, with outputs exceeding 99% purity. It can also process waxy residues that conventional methods struggle to handle. Unlike pyrolysis, which produces a complex mixture of over 100 compounds, the plasma torch simplifies the chemistry, reducing the need for additional processing or disposal.
Robots take on recycling
South Korea’s commitment to innovation extends beyond fuel and materials, with robots playing an increasingly prominent role in recycling and waste management. The smart sorting sector is currently worth €2.8 billion, with systems like ROBin capable of identifying 10 types of fractions and sorting 85 objects per minute with 99.4% accuracy. The food delivery robot market, another area of growth, topped €15 million last year and is projected to reach €67.8 million by 2030, reflecting the integration of robotics into daily life and industry.
The AI-powered robot ROBin was developed by ROBOne, a start-up acquired by Korea Zinc in 2023. Its precision and speed in sorting recyclables highlight South Korea’s leadership in combining artificial intelligence with sustainability. As South Korea continues to push the boundaries of technology and sustainability, its innovations in waste management, fuel production, and robotics are likely to inspire global efforts toward a more circular economy.
