Nongshim to Reduce 10 Tons of Plastic Film Annually by Simplifying Packaging

A set of four Saengsaeng Udon products wrapped with bands instead of vinyl repackaging. (Photo by Nongshim)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Nongshim is changing the packaging method for ramen plastic wrap to reduce the amount of packaging used.

Nongshim announced on the 21st that starting at the end of this month, the packaging for the 4-pack Saengsaeng Udon product will be changed to a band wrap method. Nongshim expects to reduce the annual use of plastic film by about 10 tons through simplified packaging.

Nongshim printed essential information such as the product name and barcode on the band and considered consumer convenience by inserting perforation lines to make it easy to separate each piece. Nongshim plans to identify issues occurring during logistics and distribution processes and stabilize production facilities to apply this method to other products in the future.

Meanwhile, Nongshim has previously reduced plastic usage by more than 2,000 tons annually through activities such as optimizing packaging specifications and removing unnecessary trays. Recently, Nongshim changed the container material of Big Bowl Noodles from PSP to paper and switched the Saengsaeng Udon container color from black to white to improve recyclability.

Nongshim is also actively engaged in plastic recycling. The company provides Baeksansu PET bottles collected internally free of charge to recycling businesses and strives to increase recycling rates by applying films made from recycled PET to actual products. Notably, Nongshim was the first in the food industry to use recycled PET film for the lid material of the Squid Jjambbong Big Bowl since May and plans to apply it to new product packaging launching in the second half of this year.

A Nongshim official said, “Eco-friendly management is no longer a choice but a necessity. We will fulfill our social responsibility and become a company that coexists with the environment.”