Studies indicate that single-use coffee cups may expose consumers to as many as 10,000 microplastic particles annually, even with just weekly use. This exposure poses potential risks not only to individual health but also to families, pets, and the broader ecosystem. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, May 20 (Korea Bizwire) – In a bold move towards a more sustainable future, Seoul has announced a comprehensive strategy to reduce the use of single-use plastics, aptly dubbed the Plastic-Free Seoul initiative.
Starting from September, events and festivals hosted by the city with an anticipated attendance of 1,000 or more people will be prohibited from using disposable products.
The push for a greener approach extends beyond public gatherings, as the second half of the year will witness the introduction of reusable containers at major private funeral homes, including the Samsung Seoul Hospital funeral hall.
“Our goal is to establish a plastic-free Seoul,’” announced Seoul Metropolitan Government officials on May 20. “This year, we are implementing measures to curb the use of single-use products across various sectors.”
Beginning in September, an amended Seoul Metropolitan City Waste Management Ordinance will come into effect, prohibiting the use of single-use products at city-hosted events with an expected attendance of 1,000 or more.
Moreover, event organizers will be mandated to include waste reduction plans during the planning stages, fostering a culture of eco-friendly celebrations.
The push for a greener approach extends beyond public gatherings, as the second half of the year will witness the introduction of reusable containers at major private funeral homes, including the Samsung Seoul Hospital funeral hall. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
The city’s efforts extend to venues notorious for generating large amounts of disposable waste, such as sports stadiums and funeral homes. Following the designation of the Seoul Medical Center as a “No Single-Use Plastic Funeral Home” in July 2022, 38 food and beverage outlets at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium began serving their offerings in reusable containers in April.
In the coming months, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to introduce reusable containers at the Seoul Metropolitan Dongbu Hospital and, in the latter half of the year, at the Samsung Medical Center funeral hall.
To support this transition, the city will provide partial financial assistance to these facilities to offset the costs associated with implementing reusable container systems. This initiative is expected to reduce the annual waste generation at these venues by approximately 80%.
Furthermore, starting in the second half of 2023, Seoul will launch a Personal Cup Points System to incentivize the use of reusable cups. Customers who bring their own cups to participating establishments and pay with the Seoul Pay app will receive 300 points per transaction.
By consistently using personal cups, residents can accumulate up to 9,000 points per month, which can be redeemed like cash.
In addition to these initiatives, the city has been providing subsidies to small cafes to purchase paper or alternative straws since May 13, covering approximately 3 cents per straw to encourage the transition away from plastic.
Since launching the Zero Waste Seoul initiative in 2022, the city has successfully reduced single-use plastic waste by approximately 378 tons over the past two years, resulting in a greenhouse gas emission reduction of approximately 1,039 tons.
“From daily life to city-wide policies, we are actively implementing measures to reduce single-use products,” said Kwon Min, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Resource Recovery Facility Promotion Unit. “Our efforts aim to achieve tangible reductions in plastic waste across Seoul.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
