CU Produces Mini Bags and Tote Bags Using Discarded Banners

Proceeds to Support 'Dosisul Gakkuigi' Urban Forest Cultivation

CU Upcycling Tote Bag.
[Photo by BGF Retail]

On the 24th, CU announced that it will pilot an upcycling process that transforms event banners from Lunar New Year and Chuseok into merchandise.

CU, in collaboration with Qcleaf, is producing mini bags and tote bags from discarded banners and introducing new banners made from Regen fabric, a recycled fiber extracted from discarded PET bottles. Although Regen banners are about 10 times more expensive than regular banners, they recycle approximately 10 PET bottles per meter and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 354g.

This month, Qcleaf produced mini bags and tote bags featuring banner designs. These will be sold through home delivery and live commerce on the membership app PocketCU starting from the 27th, with the sales proceeds supporting the BGF Urban Forest Cultivation Campaign. CU expects this pilot introduction of Regen banners to recycle about 1,000 PET bottles and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35,400g.

A BGF Retail official stated, “While considering ways to repurpose easily discarded resources, we devised a resource circulation process where discarded banners are reborn as wood. Moving forward, we will continue to practice sustainable green management utilizing the nation’s largest network and strive to become an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) leading company that guides the industry.”