Kolon Group Volunteers to Make Nose Work Mats for Stray Dogs

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Kolon Group is engaging in everyday ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices that reduce carbon emissions and enhance the sustainability of nature.

Kolon announced that its employees created nose work mats using the company's surplus clothing, fabrics, and accessories. Nose work mats are play tools that help dogs find hidden treats through their sense of smell and relieve stress, making them very useful for stray dogs that lack play objects and toys.

This upcycling hands-on volunteer activity was conducted during Kolon employees' volunteer week, "Dream Partners Weeks," and was carried out through the FnC division's upcycling brand, RE;CODE.

Launched in 2012, RE;CODE is a pioneer in upcycling that first introduced sustainable fashion in Korea. It is expanding the scope of upcycling beyond surplus clothing scheduled for incineration to include industrial materials such as car seats and automobile airbags. Established as a leading upcycling brand in Korea, RE;CODE recently has been spreading the meaning of upcycling through collaborations with various brands.

This year, employees from nationwide business sites are participating, and from May 20 to June 4, the activities continue in a non-face-to-face manner under strict quarantine guidelines.

During the event period, a "Sseudam Running" event, where participants run or walk while picking up trash, was also held at business sites nationwide. Last year, it was conducted at the Magok and Gwacheon sites, and this year it has expanded to the Gumi and Gimcheon sites in Gyeongbuk Province, proceeding sequentially until June 3. Sseudam Running not only helps clean the environment but also benefits volunteers' health, as the motions of bending knees and waist to pick up trash and standing up are similar to squats or lunges, achieving a dual effect.