Recycling plastic to upcycle for the community

Post-pandemic, Busan Port Authority, responsible for the operation and management of Busan Port, determined the need for an earnest establishment of a recycling system for the port’s plastic waste, including discarded PET bottles.

“We’re not just creating social value by solving the problem of waste plastic, but also strengthening our ESG management via cooperation from throughout the plastic recycling industry’s value chain,” said a BPA representative.

“We will continue to help reduce marine debris in the port area via this model of cooperation for the recycling of discarded PET bottles.”

Circular economy

The first task for the port authority was to identify actionable insights concerning waste management at Busan Port and then establish a resource recycling network together with stakeholders.

Busan Port’s resource recycling network addresses the problem of plastic waste through the installation of eight innovative devices at the port which automatically sort and clean PET plastics.

Collaborating institutions include: Inobus Development, which is responsible for the installation and regional dissemination of IoT waste sorting equipment. Usisan meanwhile, is responsible for manufacturing and sales of upcycled goods.

The plastics are transferred by the partner organisations to be decompressed, before being manufactured into recycled and upcycled goods such as duvets and eco-bags.

These goods are then donated to the elderly and underprivileged, or sold and the profits donated to social welfare charities. The network sees collaboration with companies from throughout the recycling value chain.

In total, 14,000 bottles have been recycled so far via these devices at Busan Port facilities, creating enough recycled material for 10,000 eco-bags. A total of 220kg of plastic has been collected and recycled, resulting in an estimated 526kg reduction in greenhouse gasses.

Over US$8,400 (10 million KRW) in social welfare support has been generated as a result of the upcycling program. In addition, collaboration with local government is seeing the creation of 80 jobs for local, elderly citizens within the upcycling programme.

A maritime debris collection effort has also been held by the BPA as part of the initiative which saw 137 people from the port and surrounding areas take part and together clean up the waterfront zones.

Implementation of plastic recycling campaign Awareness of the BPA’s improved network model for resource recycling has spread with the help of local, public institutions and governments, port operators and shipping companies in the Busan area, via the ‘Resource Recycling Challenge’ and the Busan Port Festival.

Future plans for the programme include the expansion of the resource recycling system throughout the port, an increase in generation of green jobs and the establishment of regular, maritime debris collection efforts.

How it works

Step 1 – PET bottles collected and discharged via the installation in April 2021 of 8 PET IoT collection devices that can both collect and clean bottles on-site, throughout the BPA facilities – a first in Busan

Step 2 – After PET bottles collected through IoT devices are transferred in person to upcycling organisations, recycled products (duvets, eco-bags, etc) are produced 14,000 500ml PET bottles equals 1000 eco bags

Step 3 – Goods are donated via an upcycling donation initiative, creating an ecofriendly recycling system which benefits 50 foster families through Save the Children in Busan by providing them with upcycled bedding