Sangui and LGU+ Join Hands for Waste Battery Collection Project: "Protecting the Environment and Creating Jobs for Seniors"

ERT·LG Uplus·Battery Circular Resource Association
'Used Battery Separate Disposal Campaign'

LG Uplus and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry ERT (Entrepreneurship Round Table) are launching a used battery collection campaign together with over 1,600 ERT member companies and small business owners nationwide. The plan is to promote resource recycling and environmental conservation activities while also increasing job opportunities for the elderly.

'LG Uplus with ERT (Council for New Entrepreneurship)' battery separation and disposal campaign poster. Provided by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced that the Chamber's ERT held a kickoff event for the 'LG Uplus with ERT' used battery separate disposal campaign on the 16th at Wells Coffee in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Wells Coffee is the first participating company in the project. Attendees included Park Il-jun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Park Kyung-jung, Senior Vice President of External Cooperation at LG Uplus, Han Ki-young, Chairman of the Jongno-gu Chamber of Commerce, Kim Eun-ja, Chairwoman of the Climate Care Committee of the Jongno-gu Chamber of Commerce, Nam Sang-gyu, Director of the Korea Battery Recycling Resources Association, and Professor Seo Ji-eun of Korea University.

LG Uplus, ERT, and the association plan to produce and distribute used battery collection boxes through the project and conduct donation challenges and reward events. This is to encourage companies and small business owners to separate and dispose of used batteries properly. The current collection rate of used batteries is only 30%. The goal is to increase the collection rate to reduce soil pollution and create public-type jobs for the elderly during the collection process.

ERT will distribute dedicated used battery collection boxes as part of the campaign. Companies wishing to participate in the campaign can request the shipment of collection boxes, which the ERT secretariat will send. If the number of participating companies exceeds 300, batteries for one year of use will be donated to about 120 single-parent infant facilities nationwide. Participating companies that send certification photos after separating and disposing of batteries will be rewarded with battery sets to encourage more companies to join.

The project also provides a 'visiting collection service' by senior workers participating in the used battery collection activation business. This public-type project aims to increase the recycling rate of used batteries and create jobs for the elderly. Senior citizens in the local community will collect the used batteries separated and disposed of by companies participating in the ERT project.

Kim Mi-ok, CEO of Wells Coffee, the first participating company, said, "I wanted to participate in social contribution activities, but it was difficult to find an appropriate item for small business owners to join. I think it is meaningful that small business owners now have an opportunity to contribute to society."

Senior Vice President Park Kyung-jung said, "LG Uplus has taken the lead in creating a virtuous cycle of resource recycling through separate disposal of used batteries by forming the 'Battery Recycle One team' consortium for used battery recycling. We hope that more companies will work hard for a sustainable environment through this project."

Vice Chairman Park Il-jun said, "We launched this project as part of cooperation among various social actors including companies and the public. We will continue to promote excellent cases of member companies and create opportunities to learn from each other to contribute to solving social problems."

Companies wishing to participate in the campaign can submit an application form on the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry ERT website.