A Resource Circulation Model Created by Residents and Local Businesses
Seocho District in Seoul (Mayor Seongsoo Jeon) announced on November 17 that its “Seocho Carbon Zero Shop” initiative, which aims to reduce single-use products and promote a culture of reuse, has surpassed 600 participating stores in just four years since its launch. The certification ceremony for the 600th location was held at “Happy Side Dish” in Seocho 2-dong on November 14.
Seongsoo Jeon, Mayor of Seocho District (third from right), and Woohak Song, owner of Happy Side Dish Store (center), are taking a commemorative photo celebrating the achievement of the 600th Seocho Carbon Zero Shop. Provided by Seocho District.
The “Seocho Carbon Zero Shop” project encourages residents to collect nine types of reusable items-such as hangers, shopping bags, and ice packs-at home and deliver them to local businesses like laundromats and butcher shops, where the items are reused. Starting in 2021 with 50 stores across three neighborhoods, the program has now expanded to 600 locations throughout Seocho, establishing itself as the district’s flagship resource circulation policy.
The environmental impact of the initiative is also clear. Last year, residents collected and delivered a total of 228,956 reusable items to participating shops, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 27,000 kilograms. This is equivalent to planting 4,000 30-year-old pine trees.
To further encourage resident participation, Seocho District operates a blockchain-based local rewards program called “Good Seocho Coin.” When residents bring reusable items to a Carbon Zero Shop, they earn points, and participating stores also receive designated coins. These coins can be used for purchases at Carbon Zero Shops or for utilizing public facilities.
Of the 75 new locations designated this year, 54 have expressed their intention to join the coin rewards system, contributing to the spread of the circular economy. As a result, 321 stores are now linked to the coin program, accounting for more than half of all Carbon Zero Shops.
At the event, Mayor Seongsoo Jeon presented a certification sticker to the 600th shop, stating, “This achievement is a sustainable change created by both residents and businesses working together. We will continue to establish a culture of reuse in daily life and further develop our community-based resource circulation model to build a sustainable city for future generations.”
Seocho District plans to further expand its “Visiting Resource Circulation Campaign” at community centers and areas with a high concentration of businesses to encourage greater resident participation. This year alone, the district has collected around 9,000 reusable items through 15 campaigns and secured 140 new “Seocho Coin” members.
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