- Supply of about 300 eco-friendly recycled banners
- Operation of integrated booth for Green Reusable multi-use container returns and waste separation collection
Wecycle Co., Ltd.'s eco-friendly brand ‘i’m eco’ participated in the multi-genre music festival ‘RAPBEAT 2024’ held at Songdo Dalbit Festival Park in Incheon, reducing carbon emissions through the use of recycled banners and reusable containers, and showcasing an eco-friendly concert culture, the company announced on the 16th.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, RAPBEAT is the largest multi-genre music festival in Korea that brings together various genres and generations. At this festival, which attracted about 100,000 participants, i’m eco carried out various activities including ▲ supplying and installing recycled banners made from recycled fabrics ▲ providing green reusable tableware at food and beverage (F&B) vendors within the venue and managing waste disposal ▲ operating an eco-friendly water bar, contributing to an environmentally friendly RAPBEAT 2024.
i’m eco supplied and installed approximately 300 recycled banners, including large banners, made from eco-friendly recycled fabrics at the RAPBEAT festival. These recycled banners, made by collecting and recycling discarded colorless PET bottles, reduce energy consumption by 86% and carbon dioxide emissions by 76% compared to conventional PVC banners. To reduce waste caused by single-use banners, i’m eco collected about 300 recycled banners used at the festival and conducted a pilot project to recycle them into construction materials through secondary recycling, contributing as a partner for an eco-friendly festival.
i’m eco, sympathizing with the eco-friendly festival purpose of RAPBEAT 2024, also supported its self-developed and produced eco-friendly low-carbon ‘GREEN REUSABLE TABLEWARE’. i’m eco’s green reusable tableware is made not from conventional petroleum-based plastics but 100% from sugarcane, with a significantly increased use of recycled raw materials (r-PLA) up to 20%. It reduces carbon emissions by 65.9% compared to PP material tableware and is eco-friendly as it can be converted into renewable energy upon disposal. Additionally, as it is made from bio-absorbable materials, even if microplastics are generated during continuous washing and reuse, it is safe for the human body.
The collected reusable tableware undergoes a six-step hygiene management process including soaking pre-washing, ultrasonic cleaning, high-temperature and high-pressure washing, sterilization at temperatures above 90 degrees Celsius, followed by strict inspection through ATP contamination tests before being reused.
The eco-friendly brand i’m eco, together with waste management specialist ‘Envigreen’, provided not only reusable tableware supply but also integrated waste management services. By operating an integrated waste management booth that allows for the return of reusable tableware and waste separation, they contributed to preventing indiscriminate waste incineration and excessive carbon emissions, while reducing cleaning staff by about 20% and increasing the recovery rate of reusable tableware.
An i’m eco representative said, “Since RAPBEAT is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, it is especially meaningful to participate in RAPBEAT 2024 and present an eco-friendly festival,” adding, “We will strive to offer opportunities and special value to experience eco-friendly festivals not only at RAPBEAT, which has grown into the largest multi-genre music festival in Korea encompassing various genres and generations, but also at various other festival sites.”
Meanwhile, ‘i’m eco’ is Wecycle Co., Ltd.’s reusable tableware service brand. i’m eco has provided reusable tableware services at large-scale domestic festivals and local government events, including notable festivals such as Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, Wonderlust Festival, Joyol Park Festival, and Art Forest Festival.
Wecycle’s ‘GREEN REUSABLE TABLEWARE’ is a food container made from materials that are bio-absorbable even if microplastics are generated during repeated washing and reuse, making it safer for the human body compared to conventional PP material containers.
While conventional PLA material containers are low-carbon and eco-friendly, they lack heat resistance to withstand temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius, limiting their reuse. In contrast, Wecycle’s reusable tableware, with heat resistance enhanced up to 158 degrees Celsius, does not easily deform during hot water washing, making it more hygienic and suitable for multiple uses. It is also an eco-friendly product with carbon emissions approximately 65.9% lower than petroleum-based PP material reusable tableware.
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