"ESG Management, We Lead"…Business Community Joins 'Zero Waste Day' Campaign One After Another

Promotion of New Entrepreneurship Council Comprising 76 Companies in the Economic Sector
Participation from SK Group Including SK Hynix and Kolon, Hyosung Groups
Practices Such as Avoiding Food Waste and Using Reusable Cups Instead of Paper Cups

SK members participated in the 'Zero Waste Day' campaign at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 7th and posted verification photos on SNS. Photo by SK Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] The New Entrepreneurship Council, which comprises 76 companies in the economic sector, is seeing major corporate members consecutively joining the 'Zero Waste Day' campaign promoted as part of ESG management. This campaign is a movement to minimize waste in daily life by reducing packaging or using recyclable materials.

According to the industry on the 11th, SK Group practiced the 'Zero Waste Day' campaign company-wide on the 7th, coinciding with the United Nations (UN) designated 'International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies,' by implementing ▲not leaving food behind ▲using reusable cups ▲using recyclable and reusable products ▲practicing paperless activities. Employees at SK affiliates' offices nationwide, including SK Seorin Building in Jongno, Seoul, T Tower in Euljiro, and SK Hynix buildings in Icheon, Gyeonggi, and Cheongju, Chungbuk, participated.

SK Gas, a mid-tier holding company under SK Discovery of SK Group, also carried out various activities to reduce waste. In the in-house caf?, members purchased drinks using personal tumblers, and the company cafeteria practiced zero food waste. To minimize recyclable products and discarded paper, they limited printing through paperless activities and promoted the use of recyclable products. SK Gas also conducted an eco-friendly campaign during the vacation season in August, encouraging voluntary participation from members to practice new entrepreneurship.

SK Group plans to continue its own challenge campaign, 'Reduce Carbon, Recycle Resources,' until the end of the year. SK Hynix has installed and is operating unmanned transparent PET bottle collection machines at each office building. They encourage participation by crediting 50 won to members for each PET bottle collected.

SK Innovation has been conducting environmental volunteer activities through 'Sanhaejinmi Plogging,' with the slogan 'Truly Beautiful Mountains and Seas.' SKC launched the 'My Green Place' app, which scans barcodes on everyday plastic products to provide information on packaging materials and recycling methods. For products not registered in the app, consumers can directly report and participate in spreading a resource circulation culture.

Kolon Group is conducting a campaign to encourage employees to eliminate waste until the end of this month. This campaign was organized to analyze the results of Kolon's company-wide decision made in early May to stop using disposable paper cups for 100 days and to take more active steps toward eco-friendly practices. The photo shows the use of reusable mugs in the office pantry. Photo by Kolon Group

Kolon Group will also conduct a Zero Waste Day campaign throughout September, with employees participating. During the event period, employees who share examples of eco-friendly activities in daily life through SNS or other means will be entered into a draw to receive small prizes.

Kolon has also been running a 'Paper Cup Zero' campaign. Over the past 100 days, the use of disposable paper cups was reduced by using reusable containers within the company, cutting down the number of paper cups used by 52,620.

Major affiliates of Hyosung Group have been conducting the Zero Waste Day campaign since last month. Hyosung Advanced Materials and Hyosung Chemical held resource recycling events called 'Anabada' and selected meal menus that minimize leftover food, carrying out 'No Leftover Day' activities.

Additionally, employees were encouraged to participate in the New Entrepreneurship Council's joint challenge, 'Revive the Region, Protect the Environment,' which promotes environmental protection activities during vacations to local areas.

Meanwhile, the New Entrepreneurship Council is a body established by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in May to encourage companies to practice new entrepreneurship. Its five key action tasks include ▲creating jobs and enhancing economic value through innovation and growth ▲enhancing ethical values through trust and respect for external stakeholders ▲creating a corporate culture where organizational members feel rewarded and can develop ▲practicing eco-friendly management ▲growing together with local communities.

The New Entrepreneurship Corporate Declaration was signed by major economic organization leaders such as Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman of SK Group), and Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, as well as companies including Samsung Electronics, SK, Hyundai Motor, LG, Lotte, POSCO, and Hanwha.