Efforts made by South Korea’s MZ generation to reduce environmental pollution fall short compared to the actions of those aged 56 and above. (Image courtesy of Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Mar. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s MZ generation, encompassing individuals aged 14 to 40, is reportedly more invested in environmental and climate change issues compared to older age groups.
However, a recent study by Statistics Korea suggests that their efforts to reduce environmental pollution fall short compared to the actions of those aged 56 and above.
The report, titled “Generational Perspectives on Social Safety and Environmental Awareness,” points out a discrepancy in the MZ generation’s environmental commitment.
Despite valuing eco-friendliness — earning them the nickname ‘MZEco Generation’ — their practical engagement in environmental preservation is relatively low.
One clear example is the reduction of food waste. According to the 2022 Social Survey, nearly 90% of Baby Boomers (aged 56-65) and seniors (65 and older) claimed to make efforts to reduce food waste, whereas only 77.3% of Generation Z (aged 14-25) and 81.9% of Millennials (aged 25-40) said the same.
The use of disposable items was also higher among the younger generations, with 64.9% of Gen Z and 68.3% of Millennials avoiding their use, compared to 81.5% of Baby Boomers and 79.7% of seniors.
Financial constraints appear to be a significant barrier for the younger generations in adopting eco-friendly practices. While over half of the Baby Boomers reported making an effort to purchase and use eco-friendly products, only 40% of the MZ generation shared this sentiment.
The high proportion of unmarried individuals in the younger generation, who might pay less attention to household chores and rely more on delivery services, could also contribute to higher waste production.
Despite these challenges, the younger generations show a willingness to bear the costs associated with environmental protection. Over half of Generation X (aged 40-56) supported bearing environmental protection costs, with 47.3% of Gen Z and 50.5% of Millennials also in agreement.
In other areas, the MZ generation demonstrated high levels of competency, with 7 out of 10 claiming knowledge in performing CPR and artificial respiration. Notably, Gen Z exhibited the highest awareness across all generations on how to respond to earthquakes and fires, with over 90% awareness.
According to a spokesperson from Statistics Korea, the heightened sense of safety among the younger generations could be attributed to their experiences with major incidents such as the Itaewon tragedy.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
