SK Chemicals has set a target to achieve revenue of 2.8 trillion won, an operating profit of 320 billion won, and an operating profit margin of 11% by 2030. The company plans to secure growth drivers by elevating its core areas, including copolyester, functional materials, and LisaCycle, based on the technology accumulated over approximately 60 years.
According to SK Chemicals on the 13th, President An Jae-hyun of SK Chemicals held a CEO Investor Day on the 8th to unveil this strategy. An (President) stated, "Based on our technological capabilities and know-how built over a long period, we will provide total solutions that go beyond material supply, enabling the use of recycled materials and responding to regulatory procedures."
First, in the green materials sector, the company plans to enhance the competitiveness of its core product, copolyester, and expand its range of applications. Copolyester is a plastic material used in cosmetics and food containers as well as home appliances, known for its transparency, ease of processing, and excellent heat and chemical resistance. It currently accounts for more than half of the company's total revenue.
Through its Sustainable Plastic Solutions (SPS) strategy, the company aims to simultaneously meet high functionality, price competitiveness, and recyclability. It plans to develop new applications in medical fields and medical devices to broaden sales channels, and to reduce costs through raw material and content optimization to boost profitability.
Monomer (CHDM), a key raw material for copolyester, will be applied to high-function special uses to expand application sites and create new demand. In the functional materials sector, including polyester resins and adhesives where demand is growing rapidly, the company has decided to raise its profit contribution within the materials division to over 20%.
For LisaCycle materials, the company plans to secure cost competitiveness and lead with integrated solutions for recycling regulations, surpassing the break-even point on an operating profit basis in 2029 and achieving an operating profit of 20 billion won in 2030. SK Chemicals is producing polyester materials such as recycled PET through technology that depolymerizes waste plastic into raw materials, centered on the SK Santou plant, which is currently in commercial operation.
In particular, the company will establish a stable supply and demand foundation for waste plastic through "FIC," a joint venture established in Weinan City, China. FIC, scheduled to begin operations this year, is a facility that converts low-cost waste such as used quilts, cotton, and fine particles into raw materials. Through this, the company aims to reduce raw material prices by 20% compared to current levels by 2030.
The "RaaS" strategy will also lower customers' regulatory compliance costs. RaaS is a strategy that provides integrated services necessary for material utilization, including supplier verification related to recyclability, data management, and evidence and certification, going beyond simple material sales.
The company is also focusing on shareholder returns. It aims to achieve a total shareholder return rate of over 30% from this year through 2028. An (President) emphasized, "Rapidly changing markets and strengthened environmental regulations are challenges that all manufacturers must address," adding, "With solutions encompassing products, technology, and regulations, we will become the partner customers seek first and who is not easily replaced."
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