Meet at Seoul City's Eco-Friendly Store 'Zero Market' Mart

Bamboo Toothbrushes, Coconut Cleaning Brushes, etc.
Packaging Phase-Out with Detergent Refills
Available at Homeplus, NC Department Store, etc.
Collection of Cables and More as 'Resource Circulation Hub'

The Seoul Zero Market located in Homeplus Hapjeong branch

Toothbrushes made from bamboo, cleaning brushes made from coconut, and solid toothpaste that foams when chewed. These are products sold at the eco-friendly store ‘Zero Market’ created by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Located in a corner of the Homeplus Hapjeong branch, Zero Market features a ‘refill station’ where customers can purchase liquid detergents such as dish soap and laundry detergent in desired amounts. In addition, eco-friendly products are displayed, including soaps that replace shampoo, conditioner, and body wash; cotton pouches that can be labeled with barcode stickers instead of vinyl; natural towels made from hemp; reusable cotton pads; and straws made from bamboo and stainless steel. Eco-friendly pet products such as dog waste bags made from corn starch and washable pet pads are also sold. A Zero Market employee working at the Hapjeong branch said, "Recently, more customers have been coming to Zero Market after learning about it, and bamboo toothbrushes, natural scrubbers, and rubber gloves are selling well."

Zero Market is an eco-friendly store established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in collaboration with large retailers to promote the ‘Zero Waste’ culture aimed at reducing waste output. The store encourages the use of reusable containers instead of disposable plastic or packaging and sells eco-friendly products. At the Homeplus World Cup branch, a service is provided to collect and recycle plastic shopping bags, and at the NC Department Store Gangseo branch, events are held to use reusable containers instead of disposable ones. Zero Market also serves as a ‘resource circulation hub.’ It collects items such as earphones, charging cables, paper bags, and glass containers for recycling.

Interior view of the Zero Market store located in Homeplus World Cup branch

Zero Market operates as a shop-in-shop within large supermarkets, SSMs, and department stores. The Seoul Metropolitan Government established pilot stores in collaboration with large retailers to address the low accessibility and lack of infrastructure despite the growing number of citizens pursuing zero waste consumption. Currently, there are seven Zero Market locations in operation: Homeplus World Cup, Hapjeong, Sindorim, and Namhyeon branches, as well as NC Department Store Gangseo, Songpa, and Singuro branches. Additionally, stores will open this month at GS The Fresh Godeok Gracium, Myeongil, and Sanggye branches. The Seoul Metropolitan Government funds the initiative and receives space from large retailers, while zero waste specialized companies such as Yeonggram, Eojjeodaeco, and Songpoearth operate the stores. The goal is to review operational performance and the potential for business expansion to enable private sector permanent operation in the future.

Yoo Yeonsik, Head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Climate and Environment Headquarters, said, "We will continue to make greater efforts to spread the zero waste culture so that good consumption habits without packaging become a daily routine."