[Report] "Even with 600,000 Confirmed Cases Era" Disposable Cup Ban Gains Consensus... Limitations Remain

Disposable Item Regulations Restart from April 1... 'Deposit System' Implemented in June
High Consensus Among Self-Employed and Citizens as Policy Has Been Tried Since 2018
"Policy Implementation Ultimately Depends on Stores... Detailed Explanation Needed for New Policy," Critics Say
Disposable Item Preference Increases Due to COVID-19 Spread... Over 620,000 New Cases as of Midnight on the 17th
Environmental Groups: "Focus Is on 'Reducing Plastic Use'... Government, Consumers, and Companies Must All Make Efforts"

Disposable cups, including plastic cups, are discarded at a cafe in Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] There are conflicting views regarding the single-use product regulation policy set to be implemented starting next month. While most agree with the policy's intent, stores that directly face customer complaints sometimes find themselves in difficult situations. Some customers also express concerns about the spread of COVID-19. However, environmental groups emphasize that such regulations are essential, especially now when plastic use has increased due to COVID-19.

The government's single-use product regulation policy will gradually expand the regulated items and industries. First, from the 1st of next month, the use of single-use items such as plastic cups inside food service establishments will be banned, and from June, a deposit system for disposable cups will be implemented. Additionally, from November 24th, paper cups, plastic straws and stirrers, and disposable umbrellas will be added to the list of regulated single-use items. Currently, plastic bags are banned in large stores and supermarkets, and from that date, they will also be prohibited in convenience stores and bakeries.

About two weeks before the single-use product regulation takes effect, on the 17th, several cafes in the Jung-gu area of Seoul were visited. This area is densely packed with commercial and office facilities, so many restaurants and cafes targeting office workers are concentrated here.

Most citizens agreed with the policy's intent. Since the policy has been in effect since 2018, there is already an understanding of it among the public. A man in his 30s, Kim, whom we met in front of a cafe during lunchtime, said, "The policy has been in place for quite some time. At first, I found it inconvenient, but now it feels almost natural."

However, he mentioned that it is inconvenient when he has to stay briefly at a cafe and then return directly to work. Kim explained, "Lunch breaks last about an hour to an hour and a half, so I stay at the cafe for about 20 to 30 minutes. Then I have to carry the remaining drink with me, and since the drink is transferred from a reusable cup to a disposable cup, it’s a bit cumbersome."

In such cases, conflicts between store staff and customers often arise. Park, a university student with cafe part-time experience, said, "Many customers get drinks in disposable cups saying 'I'll leave right away' or 'I'll leave in 10 minutes,' but then stay for one or two hours. Ultimately, the store has to bear the fine, so it’s difficult," adding, "Sometimes customers insist on getting disposable cups or even shout when told it’s not allowed."

An announcement from Jung-gu Office regarding the reduction of disposable product use is posted at a cafe in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

There were also cases where the store staff lacked understanding of the policy. This is because the previously implemented policies have faced several postponements, and the single-use product regulations are diverse.

A cafe employee, Mr. A, pointed out that there is insufficient promotion of the new system. He said, "(Single-use product regulations) have been in place before, and the headquarters or district office also provides policy guidance," adding, "But the deposit system is not well known, and it seems important how well stores comply with the policy. At the very least, each cafe should receive a clear explanation."

However, concerns about infection control have also been raised amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. With daily new cases surging to the 600,000 range (as of midnight that day), more consumers prefer using disposable containers due to fears of virus transmission. The temporary allowance of single-use product use in 2020 was also due to the spread of COVID-19.

Nevertheless, as environmental concerns grow more serious, regulating single-use products is unavoidable. According to the Ministry of Environment, the use of disposable cups increased about sixfold over 11 years, from 420 million in 2007 to 2.5 billion in 2018.

Environmental groups emphasize that the policy's focus is on "curbing plastic use." Shin Woo-yong, Secretary General of the Seoul Environmental Movement Federation, said, "While collection and recycling are important, the primary focus should be on reducing the total amount of plastic used. Collection and recycling come afterward," adding, "During the policy introduction process, many companies request support due to issues like handling leftover stock and logo printing on cups. I am concerned that there will be many trial-and-error cases in the early stages of policy implementation."

He also pointed out that it is time for the government, civil society, and companies to work together for plastic reduction. Secretary General Shin said, "First, companies need to participate much more actively and invest in establishing a culture of using reusable containers. The government should provide policy support and infrastructure," adding, "This is not an easy issue unless the government, companies, and consumers all make extraordinary efforts."