"MZ Generation Carrying Containers to Find Restaurants Saying 'Please Put Tteokbokki Here' [Heo Midam's Youth Report]"

Increase in Single-Use Products Due to COVID-19 Impact
Popularity of '#Yongginae Challenge' to Reduce Single-Use Items
Experts Say "Environmentally Conscious Youth Movement Will Continue"

Some Instagram users are participating in the '#Yongginae Challenge.' Photo by Instagram screen capture.

Editor's NoteHow is your youth remembered? From teenagers to college students and office workers, we deliver the joys and sorrows, worries and laughter unique to 'youth.'

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "#BeBrave_and_BringYourOwnContainer."

Recently, the '#Yongginae Challenge,' part of the zero waste movement (meaning minimizing waste output), has become popular among young people. This initiative started with the purpose of encouraging the use of reusable items to reduce disposable waste generated from delivery and packaging.

The challenge appears to reflect citizens' growing awareness of disposable products, which have increased due to the surge in online orders and food delivery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts define the '#Yongginae Challenge' as a form of 'meaning-out' consumption (Meaning-out: revealing one's beliefs and values) and predict that the movement of young people participating in environmental protection will continue.

Due to the spread of COVID-19, the demand for food delivery has increased. According to Statistics Korea, the transaction amount for food delivery orders rose from 9.7 trillion won in 2019 to 17.4 trillion won in 2020, an increase of 78.6% year-on-year.

The problem lies in the plastic waste generated by the increase in food delivery. According to the Ministry of Environment, the amount of plastic waste processed at public sorting facilities last year was 923 tons, up 18.9% from 776 tons the previous year.

This figure does not include plastic waste collected from private sources such as apartments or plastics sorted from general volume-based waste bags, so the actual amount of plastic waste generated is expected to be much higher.

As a result, the number of young people recognizing the seriousness of environmental pollution is increasing. A survey conducted last month by Incruit and Doit Survey targeting 5,155 adult men and women found that more than half of respondents (57.5%) felt serious about the recent surge in disposable waste problems. In particular, 79.6% of respondents said that 'strengthening national policies and individual efforts on waste issues is urgent.'

Actor Ryu Jun-yeol gained attention last year by participating in the '#Yongginae Challenge'. Photo by Ryu Jun-yeol Instagram

Given this situation, some young people are taking direct action to practice the zero waste movement. For example, replacing plastic straws with bamboo products and using tumblers instead of disposable cups.

Especially, some of them participate in the '#Yongginae Challenge,' where they bring their own containers to restaurants to reduce household waste. This challenge became popular last year when actor Ryu Jun-yeol posted a photo of himself putting fish in a container instead of a plastic bag at a supermarket. Currently, it is easy to find participants of this challenge on social networking services (SNS) such as YouTube and Instagram.

A netizen who joined the '#Yongginae Challenge' said on Instagram, "There was so much plastic from delivery food that I felt sorry for the Earth when ordering. So, even when dining out, I try to bring my own container whenever possible." They added, "I hope a better world will come through small daily practices. Let's be more 'brave' and bring our own 'containers' from now on."

Office worker Kim (27) also shared, "Since I started living alone as a college student, I often ordered delivery food. But recently, due to COVID-19 making dining out difficult, I have been ordering delivery food even more." He confessed, "Every time I order food, there are so many plastic items that sometimes I feel guilty."

He continued, "If the restaurant is nearby, I bring my own container and ask them to put the food in it. Although it is difficult to be brave at first, I feel proud after doing the 'Yongginae Challenge.' These small attempts add up to change the environment."

Experts predict that the trend of value-based consumption among environmentally conscious young people will continue. Professor Lee Eun-hee of Inha University's Department of Consumer Studies analyzed, "Young consumers do not have a large influence on society comparatively. However, by engaging in 'meaning-out consumption,' which openly displays desirable behavior, they realize that they can contribute something to society. Also, since others recognize their meaning-out consumption, they feel a sense of pride."

She added, "The younger generation actively practices environmentally conscious consumption and shares environmental protection know-how with others. This is part of 'concept consumption.' Especially in the internet era, such meaning-out consumption is happening more frequently. When they post their desirable behavior on SNS, it spreads faster."