Dongwon F&B Reduces Annual Plastic Use by 1,200 Tons Through Lightweight PET Bottles for 'Dongwon Saemmul'

As part of ESG management, 'Dongwon Saemmul' reduces PET bottle and cap weight and shortens label length

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Dongwon F&B announced on the 25th that it has reduced approximately 1,200 tons of plastic annually through the lightweighting of PET bottles for ‘Dongwon Saemmul’.

Through over two years of research and development, Dongwon F&B reduced the weight of the PET bottles for Dongwon Saemmul 500mL and 2L products by 15.7% and 8.4%, respectively, decreasing plastic usage. In particular, the weight of the Dongwon Saemmul 500mL PET bottle is 11.8g, which is among the lightest in the industry. Additionally, they introduced an ‘Eco Cap’ with a lower height to make it lighter, and shortened the label length by more than 20% to enhance environmental protection effects.

Dongwon F&B has led sustainable management through various ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) activities in the bottled water industry. In 2013, it signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment to lightweight PET bottles, reducing the weight of the Dongwon Saemmul 500mL PET bottle from 19g to 14g. In 2020, it introduced ‘Dongwon Saemmul Fresh,’ the first frozen bottled water cooler in Korea that can be used instead of ice packs. Last year, it also launched the eco-friendly label-free bottled water ‘Dongwon Saemmul Labelfree.’

Last month, Dongwon F&B launched ‘Mullo,’ a challenge application for public health and a sustainable society, the first of its kind in the bottled water industry, actively communicating with the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z). Mullo is a participatory app that allows users to accumulate donations for environmental and social contributions such as forest creation projects and support for children in need through daily practices like drinking 2L of water and running.

Moreover, eco-friendly uniforms made from recycled PET bottles were distributed to Dongwon Saemmul dealerships nationwide, creating an opportunity to practice ESG management together with on-site employees. The eco-friendly uniforms are upcycled clothing made by recycling discarded PET bottles, with 14 pieces of 500mL PET bottles used per uniform. Dongwon F&B also carried out various ESG activities, including promotions with Kia’s electric vehicle ‘EV6’ to raise awareness about the value of recycling.

A Dongwon F&B official stated, “This eco-friendly project for Dongwon Saemmul is part of an ESG campaign to fulfill the company’s environmental responsibilities throughout the entire process from product development to production, distribution, and sales.” He added, “We will continue to pay close attention to the environment and strive to introduce eco-friendly elements into more diverse products.”