SSG.com Introduces Recycled Materials in 'Sseuk Delivery' Packaging to Build a Circular Economy System

SSG.com is taking steps to establish a circular economy system by introducing packaging materials recycled from waste paper generated at Emart stores. Amid growing environmental awareness across all age groups following recent climate anomalies and the pandemic, the company plans to strengthen ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management by incorporating eco-friendly elements into its core service area, the last-mile delivery sector.

On the 22nd, SSG.com announced that it will introduce paper made from FSC-certified recycled raw materials for packaging its time-slot designated delivery service, 'Sseuk Delivery.' FSC is an international certification established by the Forest Stewardship Council to protect forest resources.

The new packaging materials are made from paper boxes discarded after use at Emart stores. Thirty percent of the pulp content is recycled raw material, with plans to continuously increase this proportion in the future. Great care was taken in development to ensure there is no difference in strength or safety compared to the existing paper bags that do not use recycled materials. The goal is to build a 'circular economy' system that utilizes waste inevitably generated during service operations as goods with new value.

The previously single-sized paper bags (with a total length of width, height, and depth of 116cm) have been divided into three sizes: large (116cm), medium (103cm), and small (93cm). This packaging tailored to the number and volume of ordered products aims to improve delivery efficiency and prevent excessive packaging.

The new packaging will first be applied at over 100 grocery logistics facilities nationwide called 'PP Centers.' It will be introduced sequentially starting from locations where the current paper bags are depleted. Since inventory levels vary, both existing and new packaging materials will be used concurrently for the time being. Introduction to the online automated logistics center ‘NE.O’ is also under consideration.

Yeom Seong-sik, SSG.com’s ESG manager, said, "This introduction is significant in that it establishes a circular economy foundation by collecting waste paper generated at offline stores and reusing it as packaging materials for online delivery." He added, "We will continue to devise ESG activities that customers and SSG.com can naturally relate to in all areas where they meet."