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Busan Metropolitan City to Host “Post-Plastic Policy Forum”… Full-scale Efforts to Discover Plastic-Free Technologies and Policies

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will host the “Post-Plastic Policy Discovery” Forum on August 28 at 3:00 p.m. during the 2025 International Environment & Energy Industry Exhibition.

This forum, under the theme of “Plastic-Free,” will bring together experts from academia, industry, and research institutes to present and discuss ▲the current status and future of eco-friendly (bio) plastics ▲plastic treatment technologies ▲and case studies of resource recovery process development. It is organized to explore Busan-style plastic-free technology development and policy directions.

Dr. Seo Jin-young of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology will present the need to develop core technologies and support companies in transitioning to eco-friendly practices in order to achieve self-sufficiency in bio-based raw materials and secure price competitiveness.

Kim Jeong-su, Head of the Korea Institute of Materials Science, will emphasize the importance of producing recycled carbon through waste tire recycling and building a circular utilization system.

Rha Ho-won, Director of the Korea Institute of Energy Research, will present the gasification of waste plastics, synthesis gas purification technology, and the commercialization potential based on collaboration between local governments and businesses.

Lee Jun-hyung, CEO of Dakyeong Industry, will introduce cases of high-purity recycling of household waste plastics and the development of fiber products.

In the following panel discussion, experts from Pusan National University, Pukyong National University, Busan Environmental Corporation, and LD Carbon Co., Ltd. will discuss institutional and policy directions for waste plastics.

Meanwhile, through this forum, the city aims to spread momentum for the creation of a “Plastic-Free Cooperation Complex” and raise public interest in talent development policies such as the designation of specialized graduate schools at local universities.

As the global transition to a circular economy accelerates, the government plans to establish a “Plastic-Free Implementation Plan (Roadmap)” within this year, which will strengthen regulations on production and usage, and expand research on alternative materials, biodegradable plastics, and microplastic reduction.

In particular, the Ministry of Environment is promoting the establishment of five resource circulation clusters, including the “Plastic-Free” cluster, and supporting the operation of specialized graduate schools. This aligns with Busan’s preparation of a “Plastic-Free Cooperation Complex (Cluster)” and the pursuit of specialized graduate school designation at local universities, and is expected to generate practical synergy in nurturing local businesses and talent.

Lee Byeong-seok, Director General of Water and Environment Policy at the city, stated, “Through the hosting of the Busan Post-Plastic Policy Forum, we hope to provide a platform where industry, academia, and research institutions can jointly discover Busan’s plastic-free technologies and policies, and we ask for the active interest and participation of Busan citizens.”