Collecting Ice Packs and Umbrella Fabric for Upcycling Materials... Seoul 50 Plus Foundation's Resource Circulation Campaign

Campaign to Improve Resource Circulation Awareness with Citizens and the 50+ Generation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul 50 Plus Foundation announced on the 3rd that it will conduct a resource circulation campaign to collect and reuse ice packs and umbrella fabric discarded in daily life. The campaign is jointly promoted by the Seoul 50 Plus Western, Central, Southern, and Northern Campuses, as well as the Seoul City Downtown, Gangseo, Seodaemun, Seocho, and Seongbuk 50 Plus Centers, and will run until the end of November.

This campaign is organized to separate and recycle ice packs, whose usage has surged due to the increase in delivery volumes caused by COVID-19, and used umbrella fabric. The Seoul 50 Plus resource circulation campaign is a non-face-to-face activity that individuals can participate in, and ice packs and umbrella fabric discarded at home can be deposited in 50 Plus collection boxes located within the community.

The collection boxes are installed on the first floors of the Seoul 50 Plus campuses and centers in nine districts of Seoul (Eunpyeong-gu Western Campus, Mapo-gu Central Campus, Dobong-gu Northern Campus, Guro-gu Southern Campus, Jongno-gu Downtown 50 Plus Center, Seodaemun 50 Plus Center, Seocho 50 Plus Center, Gangseo 50 Plus Center, Seongbuk 50 Plus Center, etc.).

Ice packs and umbrella fabric, when discarded after use, become major causes of environmental pollution, but by establishing a community-centered resource circulation system, their usage cycles can be extended. Collected ice packs will be cleaned and disinfected through self-support jobs linked with the Korea Environment Corporation and local districts, then delivered to traditional market merchants or online fresh food distributors for reuse. This resource circulation activity will drive the revitalization of local self-support jobs and small business activities.

Shin Chan-ho, Head of Management Planning at the Seoul 50 Plus Foundation, said, “This campaign was prepared to raise awareness among the 50+ generation and citizens about the sharply increased disposable products due to COVID-19 and to help the virtuous cycle of resources easily discarded in daily life.” He added, “We hope that with the active participation of the 50+ generation and citizens, awareness of resource circulation will spread and serve as an opportunity to create a new resource circulation system.”