Lotte Homeshopping Completes 72nd 'Small Library' in Gumi... Utilizing Upcycling

Opening of Small Library No. 72 (Haepyeong Nuri Small Library) in Haepyeong-myeon, Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk on the 19th
Upcycling of Used Clothing Started by MZ Generation Employees' Ideas... Creating an Eco-Friendly Learning Space

Lotte Homeshopping completed its 72nd eco-friendly learning space "Small Library" using upcycled fiber panels in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, on the 19th, and held an opening ceremony. (From left) Shin Seong-bin, Head of Marketing Division at Lotte Homeshopping; Lee Seon-im, Director of Gumi City Central Library; Jo Jin-ho, Regional Commander of the Salvation Army Gyeongbuk.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Lotte Homeshopping announced on the 20th that it completed the 72nd eco-friendly learning space "Small Library" (Haepyeong Nuri Small Library) using upcycled fiber panels in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, on the 19th, and held an opening ceremony.

The event took place at the "Haepyeong Nuri Small Library" in Haepyeong-myeon, Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk, with attendees including Shin Sung-bin, Head of Marketing at Lotte Homeshopping, Jang Se-yong, Mayor of Gumi, Kim Young-sik, Member of the National Assembly, and Jo Jin-ho, Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army in Gyeongbuk. After the plaque unveiling ceremony, participants toured the interior facilities and shared opinions on library operation plans amid COVID-19.

The 72nd "Small Library" is significant as Lotte Homeshopping incorporated ideas from MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) employees and is the company's first case of utilizing upcycling in social contribution activities, the company explained. This project commercialized the "Eco-friendly Upcycling" plan that won an internal idea contest for MZ generation employees in July last year. It is also part of Lotte Homeshopping's strengthened ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management.

One ton of fiber panels, reprocessed from discarded clothing waste through upcycling, was used to manufacture furniture such as bookshelves and desks. The fiber panels have superior durability compared to conventional processed wood and can be used for building interior materials, exterior materials, and built-in furniture.

Going forward, Lotte Homeshopping plans to expand ESG management by applying upcycling not only to "Small Libraries" but also to existing social contribution activities such as the urban forest creation project "Sum;Pyeonhan Forest" to reduce carbon emissions.

Since 2013, Lotte Homeshopping has been operating eco-friendly learning spaces called "Small Libraries" for children in culturally underserved areas in collaboration with the Salvation Army Charity Pot. They plan to establish 100 Small Libraries by 2025.

Shin Sung-bin, Head of Marketing at Lotte Homeshopping, said, "We have produced and supported eco-friendly furniture using upcycling for the establishment of Lotte Homeshopping's representative social contribution program, 'Small Library.' As the first case of applying upcycling to social contribution activities at Lotte Homeshopping, we will continue to strengthen ESG management by reflecting eco-friendly elements in ongoing social responsibility activities such as urban forest creation projects."