Lotte Chilsung Beverage will launch its ICIS N bottled water on October 8, featuring the country’s lightest plastic bottles to date. (Image courtesy of the Ministry of Environment)
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – In a move to reduce plastic waste, South Korea is set to introduce its first domestically produced lightweight water bottles, bringing a familiar sight from overseas travel to local store shelves.
The Ministry of Environment announced on October 3 that Lotte Chilsung Beverage will launch its ICIS N bottled water on October 8, featuring the country’s lightest plastic bottles to date.
These new bottles, weighing just 9.4 grams for a 500ml container, are 2.2 grams lighter than their predecessors.
This weight reduction is expected to decrease plastic usage by 20-30%, potentially saving 127 tons of plastic annually. The innovation brings South Korea in line with international practices, where thinner, more easily collapsible bottles have long been the norm.
This weight reduction is expected to decrease plastic usage by 20-30%. (Image courtesy of the Ministry of Environment)
However, the transition to lighter bottles presents both advantages and challenges. While the bottles’ collapsibility makes them easier to recycle, it also raises concerns about product integrity during distribution and handling.
To address this issue, Lotte Chilsung has pioneered the use of nitrogen injection in South Korean bottled water, a technique already common in coffee, mixed beverages, and liquid teas domestically, and in water bottles internationally.
The process involves injecting liquid nitrogen into the bottle, which expands as it vaporizes, maintaining internal pressure and strengthening the container.
The adoption of nitrogen injection for bottled water in South Korea has been slow, partly due to a lack of clear guidelines.
However, in the first half of 2021, the National Institute of Environmental Research confirmed that nitrogen injection does not affect water quality, paving the way for this innovation.
“It’s very encouraging that a company has voluntarily proposed collaboration to reduce plastic use by producing nitrogen-injected bottled water, and has actually brought a product to market,” said Lee Seung-hwan, director general of the Water Use Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Environment.
He added that the government plans to work with other companies to expand the use of this technology.
The Ministry of Environment will monitor the distribution and sale of nitrogen-injected bottled water for any issues and consider requiring labeling to indicate the use of this process.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
