Placycle is a South Korean deep-tech startup founded in 2023 that specializes in chemical recycling of waste plastics, focusing primarily on polycarbonate (PC) through proprietary catalyst-based depolymerization technology.
The company develops processes that break down plastic waste under neutral conditions without strong alkalis, recovering high-purity recycled monomers such as bisphenol A (r-BPA) suitable for reuse in engineering plastics and other high-value applications. This approach surpasses mechanical recycling by removing impurities and enabling closed-loop material recovery for industries including automotive, electronics, and chemicals.
Headquartered in Incheon with a small team of approximately six employees, Placycle is led by co-CEOs Changbeom Cho and Hongje Jang, both holding PhDs in chemistry-related fields. It has secured seed funding from Bluepoint Partners and Gradient Ventures, and participates in South Korean government programs such as the Super Gap Startup Development Project.
In October 2026, Placycle was one of five ventures selected by LOTTE Chemical for the fifth cohort of its Project LOOP Social program, which supports commercialization of recycled-material products and expansion into circular economy business models. The company has demonstrated pilot-scale success, including a 100-liter depolymerization reaction producing high-quality r-BPA verified by major domestic producers.
Placycle positions itself as an emerging player advancing sustainable chemical recycling solutions to reduce plastic waste and promote resource circularity in South Korea.
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Five startups selected to convert recycled plastics and industrial by-products into market-ready products; support includes funding, mentoring, acceleration and sales-channel aid.
