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

The use of disposable waste is increasing day by day. The annual per capita consumption of disposable plastic by Koreans reaches 19 kg. The annual per capita use of plastic bags is 533, which is 100 times that of Finland. Domestic parcel delivery volume is estimated at 5.15 billion cases in 2023. As of 2021, parcel packaging waste amounted to 2 million tons, accounting for about 8.8% of total household waste. When sending parcels with disposable boxes, the greenhouse gas emissions per use amount to 835.1g in CO2 equivalent.

Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

It is time to endure inconvenience for the future. Policies and practices to reduce disposable items are humanity’s task for a sustainable future. The government must move beyond theoretical discussions and establish effective and sustainable proper policies. Customized policies should be promoted starting from areas where application is easy.

However, so far, the government’s disposable item reduction policies have been close to failing grades. Many eco-friendly policies quietly disappeared after repeated postponements due to industry appeals that they could not keep up on the ground. Regulations on paper cups and bans on plastic straws have been abandoned. The disposable cup deposit system also became ineffective as it shifted from nationwide mandatory implementation to voluntary implementation. The regulation policy on excessive packaging of disposable parcel boxes was postponed for two years. To comply with the regulations, various sizes of parcel boxes are needed, but the government did not provide guidelines and only offered a ‘postponement’ card when the distribution industry fell into confusion.

The nationwide planned implementation of the disposable cup deposit system was changed to voluntary implementation by the private sector. The disposable cup deposit system requires a 300 won deposit to receive a drink in a disposable cup at cafes, which is refunded upon returning the cup. It 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. There were also effects. The number of tumblers used in Jeju (from January to July) increased from 22,979 in 2022 to 70,805 in 2023, a 180% increase in one year. In Sejong, it rose from 6,890 in 2022 to 12,369 in 2023, a 79% increase. During the same period, the increase rate of tumbler use outside Jeju and Sejong was only 20%. Returning disposable cups and receiving deposits in Jeju is a familiar scene. On the afternoon of the 30th of last month, a line of citizens waiting to use the disposable cup return zone installed at Jeju International Airport continued. The reporter also returned three disposable cups the day before. The usage method was convenient. Just download the Resource Circulation Deposit application (app), scan the barcode, and return the cup. Since the reduction effect has been confirmed, it should be expanded nationwide, but instead, it has taken a step back.

The European Union (EU) plans to fully implement the deposit return system by 2029. Norway, Germany, and others already strongly enforce the deposit return system. Norway has steadfastly operated the deposit return system for 50 years, and citizens have naturally accepted the system. It is said that 20% of Norway’s plastics are new plastics, and the remaining 80% are recycled plastics.

The EU also encourages the use of reusable packaging boxes that are collected and reused instead of disposable ones. The EU plans to put 20% of parcel volumes into reusable boxes by 2030. It will first apply mandatory reusable boxes up to 90% for large appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. Since delivery workers can install and then collect the packaging boxes, it was decided to start with home appliances. Detailed environmental policies from the government are needed.