Ministry of Environment, Suwon City, and Industry Join Hands in Business Agreement
‘Reusable Transport Packaging’ Pilot Applied in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government, local governments, and private companies are collaborating to conduct a pilot project that uses reusable packaging materials instead of single-use delivery cardboard boxes for shipping.
On the 17th, the Ministry of Environment signed a "Business Agreement for the Pilot Application of Reusable Transport Packaging Materials" at Suwon City Hall with Suwon City, Lotte Mart, NS Home Shopping, Oasis, Ongdago, and others to reduce single-use delivery packaging materials.
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae, Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young, Lotte Mart Digital Headquarters Director Jeong Jae-woo, NS Home Shopping CEO Jo Hang-mok, Oasis Vice President Ahn Jun-hyung, and Ongdago CEO Yoon Hyung-seok.
The agreement was established to reduce single-use delivery boxes and build a packaging reuse system by applying reusable transport packaging materials that can be used multiple times to delivery services.
The reusable transport packaging materials will be applied starting mid-month in the Gwonseon-gu area of Suwon City, including Suwon I-Park City.
When ordering online products from participating companies such as Lotte Mart in the pilot application area, items will be delivered in reusable packaging materials, which will then be collected, cleaned, and reused.
The participating companies expect that using reusable transport packaging materials will reduce approximately 132,860 single-use delivery boxes and 66 tons of waste annually.
The Ministry of Environment plans to evaluate the improvements and outcomes of this pilot application and analyze the feasibility of on-site application to consider gradually expanding the project areas.
Minister Cho Myung-rae emphasized, "It is time to ultimately shift to a structure that uses reusable packaging materials to reduce delivery boxes that are used once and discarded."
He added, "This agreement marks the first step toward transitioning to a resource-circulating society, and we hope this will lead to the widespread adoption of reusable logistics systems across the industry."
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