Information Must Be Provided to Verify Eco-Friendliness
Kim Mikyung, a proportional representative of the Democratic Labor Party in the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly, stated during the business report session of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly's 392nd temporary meeting at the Environmental Industry Promotion Institute that "it is necessary to assess the actual environmental impact of 'reinforced plastic' (a new recyclable plastic material promoted as eco-friendly and made from marine waste and other sources)."
Kim pointed out, "While it is positive that reinforced plastic is produced using marine waste and can be recycled by mixing it with biodegradable materials, it is being marketed simply as 'eco-friendly' despite having a structure that can place a burden on the environment during the recycling stage."
She further stated, "There is insufficient explanation regarding the fact that the recycling process may require more energy and cost compared to ordinary plastics," and added, "Efforts are needed not only for policy and technology development but also to provide the public with practical information."
In particular, she emphasized, "Focusing solely on durability and usage period is not a truly eco-friendly approach. The effectiveness of recycling and ways to minimize environmental burden must be discussed together."
In response, Lee Jongyeon, acting director of the Environmental Industry Promotion Institute, explained, "Reinforced plastic is produced from renewable resources and, when mixed with some biodegradable plastics, increases the potential for recycling." However, he also acknowledged, "There is a need for both social awareness improvement and technological supplementation regarding energy consumption and cost issues in the recycling process."
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