Detergent Refill at Stores... Public-Private Agreement for Pilot Project on Bulk Sales

Ministry of Environment and Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute Sign Pilot Project Agreement on
'Safety and Environment Practical Value Consumption' with Emart and Sugar Bubble
From September 25 to September 24, 2021, Pilot Project Performance Evaluation and
Preparation of Compliance Measures and Regulation Revisions for Safety Standards of Household Chemical Products

Small portion refill dispenser. (Source: Ministry of Environment)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Environment and the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute announced on the 24th that they will sign a business agreement on the 25th with Sugar Bubble and Emart at Emart Seongsu Branch in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, for the 'Pilot Project for Safe and Environmentally Practical Value Consumption of Household Chemical Products.'

This pilot project was initiated as Emart and others proposed regulatory improvements and suggested the pilot project to promote 'bulk refill sales.'

The bulk refill sales business involves selling household chemical products such as laundry detergent in small quantities by refilling them.

The Ministry of Environment expects that once this project is established, a value consumption culture that considers both safety and the environment will spread.

This public-private agreement is the first pilot project of its kind in Korea. It will be implemented for one year from the 25th until September 24 of next year.

The core of the project is to implement a 'bulk refill sales machine' system for laundry detergent and fabric softener.

It will ensure compliance with current regulations on household chemical products subject to safety confirmation, including labeling requirements, container safety standards, and adherence to child-resistant packaging.

First, stickers that can be attached with labeling information and mandatory details (such as the refill date) that do not fade during container production will be provided.

Next, only containers confirmed to be appropriate will be used, and standards will be established to allow exclusion of substances requiring child-resistant packaging.

The agreement includes that during the pilot project period, the public and private sectors will work together to prepare measures to ensure compliance with safety standards (such as guidelines), verify product safety compliance, and promote the reuse of plastic containers.

During the pilot project, consumers can bring empty containers (or purchase empty dedicated containers) to the store and refill detergents at a 35-39% discount compared to the original price.

Based on 3 liters, laundry detergent will be reduced from 6,900 won to 4,500 won, and fabric softener from 5,900 won to 3,600 won.

Earlier in April, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Emart with 11,725 consumers, 86 out of 100 consumers who had purchased the product responded that they would use the 'bulk refill sales machine.'

Hamina, Director of Environmental Health Policy at the Ministry of Environment, said, "This pilot project will further strengthen the safety of household chemical products and contribute to reducing plastic containers. We hope that through the results of the pilot project, the target products will expand and the value consumption culture will spread."

During the pilot project period, Sugar Bubble will comply with regulations and conduct continuous quality inspections to ensure product safety, and Emart will actively promote the household chemical product safety management system and value consumption culture through resource saving.

The Ministry of Environment and the Technology Institute plan to check the project operation status at least once a month during the pilot project period and actively support policy and administrative measures for project operation support and system improvement.