Uglyus Launches "Proud Empty Plate Campaign" on Earth Day

Uglyus, a startup offering a subscription service for “imperfect” agricultural produce, announced on April 22, Earth Day, that it will launch the “Proud Empty Plate Campaign” to raise awareness about the severe impact of food waste on environmental pollution and to encourage a shift in public perception.

According to data released last year by the Ministry of Environment, approximately 14,000 tons of food waste are generated daily in South Korea, accounting for 28.7% of all waste. This amounts to an estimated 8.85 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

This campaign aims to prevent food waste and highlight the serious environmental issues caused by it. First, Uglyus will release video content on the campaign page of its website, visually illustrating the impact of food waste on the climate crisis and economic loss. The content will address the current state of carbon emissions resulting from food waste and introduce the positive effects of “consumption without leftovers.”

The “1kg Donation for Every Like” event will run until April 27. For every like or comment left on Uglyus’s social media campaign posts, the company will donate an amount of agricultural produce equivalent to 1kg multiplied by the number of participations, with donations going to organizations such as Food Bank, Wooyang Foundation, and Saebit Johan’s House.

During the campaign period, Uglyus will also recruit members for the Empty Plate Club. Any user who pledges to practice food waste reduction can become a member. Participants will receive a Notion refrigerator planner and a discount coupon for Uglyus’s imperfect produce.

Choi Hyunju, CEO of Cabbage, the company operating Uglyus, stated, “Many people think food waste simply disappears, but in reality, it is one of the main causes of the climate crisis. Through the Proud Empty Plate Campaign, we hope people will recognize the seriousness of food waste and join us in fostering a culture of consuming without leftovers.”

Uglyus is an eco-friendly company established in 2021 to reduce agricultural waste. By facilitating direct transactions with farms, improving distribution structures, and offering small-package sales, the company is working toward a table without leftovers. Uglyus also realizes ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) values through regular donations and eco-friendly campaigns.

As of last month, Uglyus has rescued a total of 2.93 million kilograms of agricultural produce, which is estimated to have reduced carbon emissions by over 1.75 million kilograms. In May of last year, Uglyus secured impact investment and is currently pursuing scale-up through new products. The company was selected as a participant in the first batch of D.CAMP, the Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs, and is currently taking part in the program.