Dongwon F&B Applies More Than Three High-Utility Items Bundled
First Use of Sterile Pack Recycled Backboard Packaging Inside
CJ CheilJedang and Daesang Also Reduce Plastic and Boost Popular Products
'Practicality and Eco-friendliness'
These are the keywords that define this year's Lunar New Year gift sets in the food industry. Considering consumers' increased burden on holiday gifts due to high inflation, the trend is to bundle popular products to enhance cost-effectiveness (performance relative to price) and to use recycled materials for packaging while reducing volume.
Dongwon F&B's practical comprehensive gift set applying cardboard made by recycling sterilized packs to the inner box of the packaging [Photo by Dongwon F&B]
According to industry sources on the 17th, Dongwon F&B plans to expand its practical comprehensive gift sets by more than 30% compared to last year, targeting this year's Lunar New Year. These sets include three or more highly versatile products such as tuna sauce, healthy cooking oil, solid broth, sesame oil, canned tuna, and canned ham. A Dongwon F&B representative explained, "This composition considers consumers looking for cost-effective gift sets amid high inflation."
Starting this year, the gift sets will apply cardboard made from recycled aseptic packs inside the packaging box for the first time. Aseptic packs are highly durable and can store food at room temperature for extended periods, but because they are made of multiple composite materials such as paper and aluminum, their recycling rate has been low. Dongwon F&B will first introduce seven gift sets using recycled aseptic pack paper and gradually expand the product range applying this material.
Additionally, Dongwon F&B continues to operate 'all paper package' gift sets that reduce plastic usage by applying 'Cr-PP,' a recycled material extracted from waste plastic, and replacing plastic bases and non-woven fabric bags entirely with paper. Since 2020, Dongwon F&B has reduced volume and weight by rearranging the spacing of gift set components and introduced the industry's first eco-friendly gift sets made entirely of paper.
CJ CheilJedang lowered the prices of gift sets composed of popular products including 'Spam,' which sees high demand during holidays, by about 7% compared to last year's Chuseok. The 'CJ Bibigo Direct Fire & Lightly Roasted Seaweed,' sold at around 10,000 KRW, is also expected to receive a good response. Notable are health-conscious gift sets such as 'Spam Chicken Breast,' which has higher protein content and lower calories, and 'Plantable Canned Ham,' made from plant-based ingredients.
CJ CheilJedang also includes 40% recycled materials in the trays that secure the products to minimize plastic usage in holiday gift sets. They reduce plastic use by reusing leftover plastic pieces from production or removing the yellow plastic caps from Spam cans. They also operate eco-friendly gift sets composed entirely of paper trays and shopping bags.
In addition, Daesang Cheongjeongwon has released an 'all paper package' gift set that uses no plastic in its packaging. Through the industry's first adoption of 'pulp press' technology, the gift set features paper trays with excellent strength and durability, and non-woven fabric shopping bags have been completely replaced with paper shopping bags. The packaging uses paper and ink containing soybean oil. Considering cost-effectiveness, they also offer gift sets combining Cheongjeongwon's popular products such as canola oil, cooking oligosaccharides, braised pork, and boneless tuna.
An industry insider explained, "Gift sets with relatively less content but increased packaging volume face significant consumer resistance, so companies are avoiding such practices. Competitive advantage lies in offering well-composed sets with unnecessary elements reduced at reasonable prices."
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