[Initial Perspective] Time to Endure Inconvenience for the Future of 'Reducing Single-Use Products'

The use of disposable waste is increasing day by day. Annual per capita consumption of disposable plastic in Korea amounts to 19 kilograms. The annual per capita usage of plastic bags is 533, which is 100 times higher than that of Finland. The volume of domestic parcel deliveries is estimated to have reached 5.15 billion in 2023. As of 2021, packaging waste from parcel deliveries amounted to 2 million tons, accounting for approximately 8.8% of all household waste. Each time a parcel is shipped in a disposable box, greenhouse gas emissions amount to 835.1 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

It is time to accept some inconvenience for the sake of the future. Policies and actions to reduce disposable products are a challenge humanity must address for a sustainable future. The government needs to move beyond empty discussions and establish effective, sustainable, and well-designed policies. Customized policies should be implemented, starting with sectors where application is easier.

However, the government's policies to reduce disposable products have so far been close to failing. Many eco-friendly policies have quietly disappeared after repeated delays in response to industry complaints that they are difficult to follow in practice. Regulations on paper cups and bans on plastic straws have been abandoned. The disposable cup deposit system has also become virtually meaningless, shifting from nationwide mandatory implementation to voluntary participation. The regulation on excessive packaging for parcel deliveries has been postponed for two years. To comply with the regulations, various sizes of parcel boxes are needed, but the government failed to provide guidelines, and when the distribution industry became confused, it responded by offering a "postponement" card.

The disposable cup deposit system, which was to be implemented nationwide, was changed to voluntary participation by the private sector. Under this system, customers pay a 300-won deposit when receiving a drink in a disposable cup at a cafe, and the deposit is refunded when the cup is returned. The system was first implemented in Jeju and Sejong from December 2022. In 2023, the participation rate of stores in the disposable cup deposit system reached 94% in Jeju and 65% in Sejong. The results were positive. The number of tumblers used in Jeju (from January to July) increased from 22,979 in 2022 to 70,805 in 2023, marking a 180% increase in one year. In Sejong, the number rose from 6,890 in 2022 to 12,369 in 2023, a 79% increase. During the same period, the increase in tumbler usage in regions outside Jeju and Sejong was only 20%. In Jeju, returning disposable cups and receiving the deposit back has become a familiar sight. On January 30, lines of citizens formed to use the disposable cup return zone installed at Jeju International Airport. The reporter also returned three disposable cups the previous day. The process was convenient: simply download the Resource Circulation Deposit application, scan the barcode, and return the cup. Since the reduction effect has been confirmed, the system should be expanded nationwide, but instead, the government has taken a step back.

The European Union plans to fully implement a deposit return system by 2029. Countries such as Norway and Germany are already enforcing deposit return systems rigorously. Norway has steadfastly operated its deposit return system for 50 years, and citizens have naturally accepted it. In Norway, only 20% of plastic is new, while the remaining 80% is recycled plastic.

The EU also encourages the use of reusable packaging boxes that are collected and reused instead of single-use ones. By 2030, the EU plans to package 20% of parcel deliveries in reusable boxes. For large home appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, the use of reusable boxes will be mandatory for up to 90% of deliveries. The policy will be applied first to home appliances because delivery personnel can collect the packaging boxes after installation. Detailed environmental policies from the government are needed.