Top 14 Recycling startups in South Korea
Feb 28, 2026
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24
1
Funding: $235M
Danggeun Market develops an online secondhand marketplace that connects buyers and sellers within a neighborhood.
Danggeun Market develops an online secondhand marketplace that connects buyers and sellers within a neighborhood.
2
Funding: ₩58.5B
LDCarbon Co. is a manufacture of green carbon black, pyrolysis oil, and waste tire powder.
LDCarbon Co. is a manufacture of green carbon black, pyrolysis oil, and waste tire powder.
3
Funding: ₩43B
SuperBin’s recycling solutions include a reverse vending machine called Nephron, a waste supermarket where people can purchase recycled products, and a logistics chain for recyclable items.
SuperBin’s recycling solutions include a reverse vending machine called Nephron, a waste supermarket where people can purchase recycled products, and a logistics chain for recyclable items.
4
Funding: $31M
Ecube Labs develops smart waste management solutions and remote monitoring tools. Its line of products include solar-powered waste compacting bins, ultrasonic fill-level sensors that can be fitted to any type of container, and a data and predictive analytic clean city platform.
Ecube Labs develops smart waste management solutions and remote monitoring tools. Its line of products include solar-powered waste compacting bins, ultrasonic fill-level sensors that can be fitted to any type of container, and a data and predictive analytic clean city platform.
5
Funding: ₩25.4B
Mycel Project develops and manufactures a wide range of mushroom-based biomaterials that can be used to substitute leather and flesh.
Mycel Project develops and manufactures a wide range of mushroom-based biomaterials that can be used to substitute leather and flesh.
6
Funding: ₩10.5B
Terracle is a company that manufactures raw materials from plastic trash and recycling.
Terracle is a company that manufactures raw materials from plastic trash and recycling.
7
Funding: $5.4M
World's first company to install and operate a direct battery recycling plant with an annual processing capacity of 20 tons that produces remanufactured cathode and anode materials.
World's first company to install and operate a direct battery recycling plant with an annual processing capacity of 20 tons that produces remanufactured cathode and anode materials.
8
Funding: ₩4B
Kinava developing organic waste into renewable energy based on our own advanced technology through many experiments and research.
Kinava developing organic waste into renewable energy based on our own advanced technology through many experiments and research.
9
Funding: ₩2.8B
Innerbottle provides an innovative containing solution ensuring zero waste and sustainable environment. Since a unified container with only plastic materials is collected and recycled through a dedicated system, plastic resources can be quickly and completely recycled 100%.
Innerbottle provides an innovative containing solution ensuring zero waste and sustainable environment. Since a unified container with only plastic materials is collected and recycled through a dedicated system, plastic resources can be quickly and completely recycled 100%.
10
Funding: ₩2.5B
Ugly Lab is a startup specializing in household waste recycling technologies, offering subscription services and waste collection consultations. It allows residents to avoid sorting their trash themselves and instead place everything in a single bag. Korean waste sorting regulations are very strict, with over 10 categories and sorting one package on your own can take an hour. After collection, waste goes through several stages: unpacking bags, sorting, separating contaminated and clean materials, and cleaning/washing recyclable items. Ugly Lab also offers this service for offices and buildings.
Ugly Lab is a startup specializing in household waste recycling technologies, offering subscription services and waste collection consultations. It allows residents to avoid sorting their trash themselves and instead place everything in a single bag. Korean waste sorting regulations are very strict, with over 10 categories and sorting one package on your own can take an hour. After collection, waste goes through several stages: unpacking bags, sorting, separating contaminated and clean materials, and cleaning/washing recyclable items. Ugly Lab also offers this service for offices and buildings.
11
Funding: ₩50M
Oysterable’s smart IoT recycling solutions involve smart waste collection and mobile applications for local governments and businesses. The smart waste collection solution allows people to participate in the recycling process and get numerous rewards through their smart IoT recycling bin.
Oysterable’s smart IoT recycling solutions involve smart waste collection and mobile applications for local governments and businesses. The smart waste collection solution allows people to participate in the recycling process and get numerous rewards through their smart IoT recycling bin.
12
ANPOLY manufactures biopolymers ― nanocellulose and nanochitin from pulp and crab shell ― and sells them to manufacturers of plastic goods.
14
AETECH is a company that develops waste sorting AI robots ‘Atron’ and ‘RMRF (Robot Material Recovery Facility)’ to realize a smart city where robots sort waste.
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