SKT Partners on 'Clean Udo Project'... Reducing 6.3 Million Disposable Cups Annually

Customers using reusable cups in 'Udo', Jeju. Photo by SK Telecom

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] A reusable cup circulation system to reduce disposable plastics will be introduced on Udo Island, Jeju.

SK Telecom announced on the 18th that it has signed a business agreement for the 'Clean Udo Project,' a resource circulation model in the tourism sector, together with Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeju Tourism Organization, Udo-myeon Residents' Autonomy Committee, and Happy Connect.

The signing ceremony was attended by Oh Young-hoon, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province; Ko Eun-sook, President of Jeju Tourism Organization; Ko Heung-beom, Chairman of Udo-myeon Residents' Autonomy Committee; Lee Junho, Vice President of SKT ESG Promotion; and Park Dae-ho, Executive Director of Happy Connect.

The 'Clean Udo Project' aims to reduce plastic waste generated in Udo, a pristine natural area, and to promote recycling.

SKT will introduce a reusable cup circulation system to create a clean Udo free of disposable plastics.

The reusable cup circulation system works by customers paying a deposit (1,000 KRW) for a reusable cup when drinking beverages such as coffee at cafes, and then returning the cup through an unmanned return machine to get their deposit refunded. Returned reusable cups are re-supplied to cafes after undergoing a seven-step safe cleaning process at a professional washing center.

Tourists can use reusable cups at nine cafes on Udo, with participating cafes expected to increase continuously. Additionally, a total of 11 unmanned return machines will be installed at cafes, restaurants, and the Udo port waiting room for returns and collection. Jeju Province plans to establish a washing center on Udo by 2023.

Udo receives about 1.5 million tourists annually. It is estimated that approximately 6.3 million disposable plastic cups are used by tourists at around 180 cafes and restaurants on Udo.

Furthermore, SKT and its business agreement partners will build a PET bottle resource circulation system on Udo and carry out various activities such as a digital pledge to protect marine ecosystems and preserve biodiversity to encourage tourists' participation, online and offline promotions and events, eco-friendly stay-type tourism programs, and surveys on waste generation in the tourism sector.

Lee Junho, head of SK Telecom's ESG Promotion, said, "As an AI service company, SKT aims to present effective results in reducing disposable plastics through the reusable cup circulation system," adding, "Based on this, we will strive to expand Udo's resource circulation model to other regions."