Philip Morris Joins 'GoGo Challenge' to Practice Plastic-Free Initiative

Baek Young-jae, CEO of Korea Philip Morris (center in the photo), is taking a commemorative photo with employees to celebrate participating in the GoGo Challenge.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] Korea Philip Morris announced on the 23rd that it will participate in the 'Go Go Challenge' campaign, a movement to reduce plastic in daily life.

The Go Go Challenge is an environmental protection campaign in daily life aimed at reducing the use of disposable products and plastics, initiated by the Ministry of Environment since January. It is conducted in a relay format through social networking services (SNS), where participants pledge to stop one action and start one action, then nominate the next participant. Korea Philip Morris took over the Go Go Challenge from the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM).

Baek Young-jae, CEO of Korea Philip Morris, pledged to practice plastic reduction in daily life with the message "Reduce plastic water bottles Go! Use reusable containers Go!" The company explained, "CEO Baek Young-jae personally practices plastic reduction by using reusable containers, tumblers, and eco-bags instead of disposable plastic containers," adding, "At the company level, we are currently implementing eco-friendly campaigns including plastic reduction across the entire organization."

At the headquarters office located in Yeouido, Seoul, all plastic water bottles have been eliminated, and eco-friendly cups made from coffee cherry skins were distributed to all employees. Through this, the use of more than 80,000 plastic water bottles annually at the headquarters has been reduced. The Korea Philip Morris Yangsan plant in Gyeongnam has already eliminated plastic water bottles in workspaces and cafeterias, and plans to eliminate plastic water bottles in sales offices nationwide as well.

Meanwhile, the Korea Philip Morris Yangsan plant, which aims to be an eco-friendly factory, has been conducting the 'Green Tiger Campaign' since 2020. Various efforts are being made, from eco-friendly activities by employees in daily life to technical investments, to efficiently use all energy and water consumed at the factory. Employees make it a habit to use stairs instead of elevators, achieve zero food waste, and save water at washbasins.

In June last year, a recycled water supply device installed on the cooling tower reduced water consumption by about 8,000 tons annually, and earlier at the end of 2019, water-saving devices were installed on all faucets in the factory, saving 1,755 tons of water annually. So far, nearly 10,000 tons of water, equivalent to four Olympic-sized swimming pools, have been saved. The plant aims to obtain the first AWS (Alliance for Water Stewardship) certification in Korea by October.

CEO Baek Young-jae emphasized, "Philip Morris International and Korea Philip Morris are striving to minimize the environmental impact of tobacco products as well as reduce any negative social impacts," adding, "We will develop better alternative products than conventional cigarettes and help all adult smokers who want to continue smoking switch to science-based alternatives."