Distribution Industry's 'Eco-Friendly Campaign' Continues... "Responding to Environmental Red Alerts"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] Recently, consumer interest in brands with eco-friendly values has been increasing. Accordingly, various industries are introducing policies to protect the environment, with particularly active movements in the distribution sector, which accounts for a large proportion of waste due to packaging use. Various consumer goods brands, including food and beverages, are conducting eco-friendly campaigns to raise consumer awareness of environmental protection while also enhancing their brand image.

Coffee specialty store Tom N Toms announced on the 16th that the number of participants in its eco-friendly Green Campaign, launched in 2014 to reduce the use of plastic cups, has surpassed 2.4 million. The Green Campaign operates by providing the newly released seasonal ‘Revolution’ drinks in eco handle drinking cups instead of disposable cups. The drinking cups are given free of charge without the need for return. This helps save plastic cups even for takeout, and the provided eco handle drinking cups can be reused as multi-use containers later, achieving significant reduction in disposable product use.

Dongwon Industries has introduced eco-friendly ice packs made by freezing water in paper packs coated with biodegradable film, strengthening its 필(必)environment management. Existing ice packs are filled with plastic-based ice gel, making them non-recyclable and a major cause of environmental pollution when discarded in sinks or drains. Through this measure, Dongwon Industries expects to replace more than 150,000 existing cooling materials annually with eco-friendly ice packs, achieving environmental protection effects.

Hyundai Home Shopping is conducting an eco-friendly campaign to collect frying pans that cannot be used in ordinary households for recycling. By next month, Hyundai Home Shopping plans to collect up to 50,000 frying pans from a total of 10,000 customers and recycle them into new frying pans. The idea came from customer feedback that frying pans require handle separation when discarded and are difficult to separate for disposal except in large apartment complexes. This campaign is expected to significantly reduce waste output.

Global environmental company TerraCycle is conducting a ‘Plastic Cosmetics Container Collection Campaign’ again this year in collaboration with the UK natural cosmetics brand The Body Shop, following last year. Consumers who bring used plastic containers to The Body Shop stores will have them collected by TerraCycle for 100% recycling. This campaign runs nationwide for one year until April 27, 2021, at nine stores (Gangnam-daero, Myeongdong, Hyundai Mokdong, Gwanghwamun, Times Square, IFC Mall, Chungjang-ro, Lotte Mall Gimpo, Starfield Hanam). Consumers who bring containers receive points redeemable like cash at The Body Shop.

Lush Korea has changed all packaging materials used for refrigerated delivery to eco-friendly materials. The boxes are made from 100% recycled paper insulated boxes. By using recycled paper in the manufacturing process, waste generation is reduced. The boxes are coated internally with a water-repellent layer, and tests show they maintain coldness for 12 hours, enabling refrigerated delivery. Additionally, the ice packs that keep freshness for a long time are made by freezing 100% pure water without chemicals. Changing from vinyl ice packs to paper ice packs allows consumers to melt the ice and separate the paper for disposal. For refrigerated delivery only, the tape attached to the box surface has also been replaced with water-adhesive paper material.

Golf wear brand Master Bunny Edition is conducting the ‘Renew Campaign’ and, as part of the campaign, has released 14 models of ‘Renew T-shirts’ made from materials recycled from plastic waste. The Renew T-shirts use premium recycled fabric, offering excellent comfort, and feature deodorizing effects, antibacterial properties, and UV protection for comfortable wear.

An industry insider said, “The widespread recognition that discharged waste circulates in ways harmful to human health is increasing societal demands for eco-friendly management by companies. As a result, companies conducting eco-friendly marketing gain positive images, and it is expected that a virtuous cycle between companies and consumers to protect the environment will continue.”