"Environment as Investment, Not Expense"…BGF Retail Accelerates Eco-Friendly Business Initiatives

Choo Yeon-woo, Manager of BGF Retail Management Planning Team
Implementation of Eco-Friendly Store at Seocho Green Branch
Industry's First Dedicated Green Product Display Stand Installed
Reduced Electricity Usage and Waste Emission

Ryu Wang-seon, Head of Sales Development Division at BGF Retail (third from the left), and Yoo Je-cheol, President of the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (third from the right), along with other officials, are posing for a commemorative photo at the Green Store designation plaque ceremony by the Ministry of Environment at CU Seocho Green Branch (Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu).

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] CU, a convenience store operated by BGF Retail, has become the first in the industry to receive the Ministry of Environment's Green Store certification. In addition, it is implementing various eco-friendly policies that the industry has found difficult to attempt due to cost and other issues, such as producing and selling electricity at convenience stores.

On the 23rd, Choo Yeon-woo, Manager of the Management Planning Team at BGF Retail, who met with Asia Economy, explained BGF Retail's expanding eco-friendly policies, saying, "The environment is an investment, not a cost." Manager Choo is in charge of BGF Retail's overall eco-friendly business, including leading the Ministry of Environment's Green Store certification. In June, CU Seocho Green Store was designated as the 600th green store certified by the Ministry of Environment. The certification was created to encourage store operations that promote eco-friendly consumption by selling and promoting environmentally friendly products, and CU Seocho Green Store is the first convenience store to receive this certification.

As the first in the industry, there were many difficulties in obtaining the Green Store certification. Manager Choo explained, "While large marts have Green Store certification standards, convenience stores did not have related standards, so both the Ministry of Environment and we were in a difficult situation," adding, "We put a lot of effort into becoming the guideline for the convenience store industry."

CU Seocho Green Store has implemented all elements of the store?from facilities and fixtures to interior design and operations?in an eco-friendly manner. To encourage eco-friendly consumption, it installed the industry's first dedicated display stands for green products certified by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, such as tissues, shampoo, kitchen detergent, and eco zipper bags.

Although the Green Store requires twice the equipment cost compared to regular stores, BGF Retail's clear policy is that this is an "investment," not an "expenditure." Manager Choo said, "Chairman Hong Seok-jo always emphasizes that the environment is an investment for the future," adding, "In line with this policy, there are about 20 employees dedicated to eco-friendly tasks, and internally, an environmental committee with external advisory members is also operated."

Manager Choo also noted noticeable changes following the introduction of the Green Store. Electricity usage is 17% lower compared to regular convenience stores. The global warming index, which measures the impact on global warming, is reduced by 80% compared to regular stores. The biggest change is the shift in consumer awareness visiting the store. Customers are naturally encouraged to purchase green products, and efforts are made to reduce waste as much as possible under the symbolism of the Green Store.

Manager Choo stated, "Customers visiting Green Stores tend to purchase green products in the same product category twice as much." He added, "Our future plan is to release in-house products as eco-friendly products," explaining, "As early as the end of the year, we plan to produce the containers for CU's sandwich products using biodegradable materials." CU plans to increase the number of Green Stores like Seocho Green Store to six this year and expand further in the future.

Meanwhile, BGF Retail began full-scale electricity production through a solar power plant starting in July. BGF Retail installed a total of 2,400 solar modules on approximately 9,000㎡ (about 2,700 pyeong) of unused rooftop space at the Chungbuk Jincheon Central Logistics Center. Through this, it can produce up to 1,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually. This amount of electricity is enough to supply about 1,400 households for one year and is sold to Korea Electric Power Corporation and the Korea Power Exchange.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.