According to a survey, the use of single-use plastics in Korea's duty-free stores has decreased.
South Korea's Environment Minister Han Hwa-jin said a survey was conducted on the use of single-use plastics at 12 duty-free stores that signed voluntary agreements between 2019 and 2023. The results showed a significant decrease in use in 2023 compared to 2019.In 2023, the use of plastic shopping bags in Korea's duty-free stores was more than 16.76 million, a decrease of about 81 percent from 89.2 million in 2019.
This is a significant decrease considering the significant reduction in plastic shopping bag use during COVID-19 (2020~2022), a period when overseas travel is difficult. Most importantly, per capita use by duty-free shoppers increased from 2.34 in 2019 to 2.6 in 2020, and has continued to decrease since then. during the period of January~May 2024, per capita use decreased to 0.83 bags.
Korea's Ministry of Environment signs contracts with 12 duty-free stores
The Ministry of the Environment of Korea signed a Voluntary Agreement on Reduction of Disposables and Distribution Packaging Materials on September 15, 2023 with the Korea Duty Free Shop Association and 12 duty free stores to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags and cushioning materials (also known as “bubble wrap”). The 12 duty-free stores that signed the agreement accounted for 96.2% of sales and 82% of the total number of outlets among all duty-free stores.
The 12 duty-free stores signed are Lotte Duty Free, Shilla Duty Free, Shinsegae Duty Free, Hyundai Department Store Duty Free, H.D.C Shilla Duty Free, Jeju Tourism Corporation, Gyeongbokgung Duty Free, Grand Duty Free, DIM Duty Free, Busan Duty Free, City Duty Free, and Ulsan Duty Free.
Plastic bags to paper bags
It has been analyzed that the duty-free shoppers' industry has switched from plastic shopping bags to paper shopping bags and uses plastic shopping bags only in unavoidable situations (e.g., limited use of paper shopping bags, such as in the case of carrying heavy duty-free items or when it is difficult to convert to paper shopping bags, such as sealed envelopes).
Significant reduction in cushioning material usage
The use of plastic cushioning materials has also decreased dramatically. in 2019, 77.79 million plastic cushioning materials were used, and in 2023, it decreased to 7.05 million. Per capita use also decreased from 2.04 units in 2019 to 0.26 units from January to May of this year (2024), a decrease of 87%.
This may be due to the fact that the duty-free industry has minimized the use of plastic cushioning materials in order to reduce the customary use of plastic cushioning materials, by not using plastic cushioning materials on products with a low risk of damage, etc. This is also the result of using multi-recycled cushioning packages or paper cushioning materials, or actively using sturdy multi-recycled boxes instead of cushioning materials in order to prevent damage to duty-free goods during transportation.
The duty-free store industry also recycles and reuses logistics packaging materials that prevent falls, and conducts environmentally friendly management, including converting commercial vehicles to electric vehicles, minimizing the use of disposable items in offices, and issuing electronic receipts.
Contracts will be expanded
The Ministry of the Environment will start with the disclosure of the results of the survey on the use of disposable goods in the duty-free store industry this time, where an agreement was voluntarily concluded, and will analyze the use of disposable goods after agreements have been concluded with a wide range of industries, including baseball stadiums, coffee shops, and restaurants, and will disclose them in turn.
Previously, the duty-free store industry had been committed to green management in duty-free store operations, but prior to the agreement, it basically used plastic shopping bags or overused plastic material cushioning materials in practice to prevent damage to duty-free goods during transportation. The Korea Duty Free Shop Association and the duty free store industry are actively fulfilling the voluntary agreement and working to accelerate the transition to green management.
Korea plans to make every effort to reduce sources of waste in cooperation with various industries that have the positive will to reduce disposable items.
Environment Minister Han Hwa-Jin said, “The effects of the voluntary reduction, although not immediate, have been clearly visible and wider in scope. We are grateful to the duty-free store industry for actively practicing the voluntary agreement to reduce the use of single-use plastics to 87%, and will continue to work to spread these results throughout society.”
Measures to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Korea
Expanding the ban on disposables: Starting November 24, 2022, South Korea has banned convenience stores and bakeries from providing or selling disposable plastic bags, so customers can bring their own or purchase paper bags and eco-friendly bags separately, etc. In addition, disposable items such as paper cups and plastic straws will not be allowed in restaurants, coffee shops, etc., and plastic cheering supplies will be banned in sports facilities, etc. The Korean Ministry of Environment decided to implement a one-year transition period to reduce the use of disposables.
Ban on single-use plastic bags: South Korea has banned the sale of single-use plastic bags in hypermarkets since 2019, and the Ministry of Environment banned the use of single-use plastic cups in coffee shops in 2019. With the arrival of the New Year, the scope of the “plastic restriction” has been expanded from coffee shops to supermarkets and bakeries, etc. At the beginning of 2020, 2,000 large supermarkets and 11,000 supermarkets with an area of more than 165 square meters in South Korea will ban single-use plastic bags across the board. This means that in these places, you can't buy single-use plastic bags even if you pay for them. More than 18,000 bakeries across the country are also prohibited from providing free plastic bags from 2023 onward.
Fines for violations: After the transition period of the new “plastic ban” rule, store owners will be fined up to 3 million won for violations. The Ministry of the Environment has also increased the penalties for violators, with law enforcement officers visiting coffee shops from time to time to conduct on-site inspections, and imposing fines of up to 2 million won for violations based on the size of the coffee shop and the number of violations. In addition, large supermarkets caught using disposable plastic bags will be fined up to 3 million won.
Encouraging the use of environmentally friendly alternatives: Some companies have developed environmentally friendly lunch boxes that can reduce the use of plastic by 50 per cent. Some caterers have begun using paper lunch boxes made from sugar cane residue. Korea's leading cosmetics manufacturer has also commercialized the first paper packaging instead of plastic cosmetic containers.
Strengthening of publicity and education: The Korean Government has promoted the concept of environmental protection and attracted participation in the plastic ban by organizing environmental activities and visiting food establishments that are not subject to the “plastic ban”.
The implementation of these measures aims to reduce the use of single-use plastic products and reduce the environmental pollution caused by plastic waste.
