Austrian automotive supplier Durmont GmbH has entered into a strategic partnership with Korean company SK chemicals to introduce CR PET for use in automotive carpets and mats. This partnership aims to deliver certified, circular material solutions to leading European OEMs. The partnership agreement was signed on June 23rd at the SK ECOLAB headquarters located in Seoul, South Korea.
Durmont produces carpet roll goods for approximately 7 million vehicles per year and ranks among the largest suppliers in Europe. Since the acquisition by the Dutch Tier-1 supplier Visscher-Caravelle Group (VC) in 2023, which holds over 40% market share in Europe — and the strategic realignment, Durmont is strengthening its focus on innovative, sustainable solutions for the automotive interior sector.
Durmont and SK chemicals have already co-developed and tested yarns and final products made of CR PET. The material is ISCC PLUS certified, consists of 100% chemical recycled PET, and meets strict automotive standards in terms of performance and quality.
This strategic agreement enables the establishment of a closed-loop recycling within the automotive industry. By using SK chemicals’ advanced depolymerization technology, CR PET can be broken down into its monomer structure and reused – retaining virgin-like quality even after multiple recycling cycles.
The application of CR PET in vehicle carpets and mats supports compliance with EU regulations on sustainability and circular economy, such as the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) directive.
“This partnership agreement marks a significant step toward true circularity in the European automotive industry,” the Durmont management stated. “Together with SK chemicals and the VC Group, we are delivering scalable, certified recycling solutions that generate tangible value for OEMs.”
Durmont / VC Group plans to further strengthen its cooperation with SK chemicals to expand the application of sustainable material solutions across additional automotive components. Durmont is pleased to confirm that the SK CR PET material is already in mass production and sufficient capacity for automotive supply has been committed through this strategic alliance.
About Durmont and Visscher-Caravelle Group
Durmont has been producing carpets in Hartberg since 1972 and has specialized in automotive interior carpet solutions since 2010. With an annual production capacity of 16 million square meters, Durmont is one of the largest European manufacturers in its field.
Visscher-Caravelle Group (VC) is a leading TIER1 automotive supplier with a focus on car interior textile solutions. VC is the global leader in floor mats for cars and supplying currently for approximately 12 million cars annually.
About SK chemicals:
SK Chemicals is a South-Korean based, global leading company providing eco-friendly materials. As part of SK Group, one of Korea’s largest conglomerates, SK chemicals combines cutting-edge R&D with a commitment to a greener future. SK chemicals has a longstanding history in polyester materials, since its founding in 1969, currently being a global leader in that business.
In 2023, SK chemicals made an investment of approximately USD 94 million, securing the world’s first commercialized chemical recycling production facilities for raw materials and products. SK chemicals is also expanding its research infrastructure by establishing a Recycling Innovation Center.
Please direct any queries to: Josef Zettl, GM, josef.zettl@durmont.at
