Lock&Lock Creates Jeju Olle Trail Benches Using Recycled Plastic Waste

An upcycling bench made from waste plastic is installed on the Jeju Olle Trail. Photo by Lock&Lock

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] Lock&Lock announced on the 31st that it installed upcycling benches made from waste plastic along the Jeju Olle Trail ahead of Resource Circulation Day (September 6).

The upcycling benches are public facilities jointly created by Lock&Lock, TerraCycle, the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, the Jeju Olle Foundation, and the nonprofit Beautiful Store Foundation. They were made by recycling old plastic airtight containers collected from Lock&Lock stores since early this year and marine plastics discarded in the waters around Jeju.

The upcycling benches were installed on Course 4 of the Jeju Olle Trail located in Pyoseon-ri, Seogwipo City. Two benches measuring 150cm in width and 38cm in height were placed in a resting area on the Olle Trail overlooking Pyoseon Beach. Approximately 150kg of waste plastic was used in the manufacturing process, equivalent to about 1,400 plastic airtight containers (460ml) commonly used for side dishes.

The Jeju Olle Trail upcycling bench project took about seven months. Waste plastics collected by Lock&Lock and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation were sorted, separated, and crushed, then recycled into raw materials using TerraCycle’s technology. The benches were produced using a large 3D printer. Throughout the entire process from raw material production to finished product, over 40 tests were conducted to verify safety aspects such as material quality and strength. Additionally, the benches were specially treated to resist corrosion from sea breeze, making them as safe and durable as regular benches.

The bench design was handled by the creative group Very Juno, who also designed the BI for ‘Seoullo 7017.’ The design poetically represents the waves of Jeju and the island’s symbolic basalt colors. The top part of the bench features an engraved water bottle, conveying the message that marine plastics were recycled. This provides comfort as a resting place for many visitors to the Jeju Olle Trail while also raising awareness about environmental issues.

Kang Minsuk, Executive Director of Lock&Lock HR Center, said, “Jeju faces a situation where over 20,000 tons of marine waste flow into the sea annually. By installing symbolic benches on the popular Jeju Olle Trail, we aimed to encourage reflection on the importance of resource circulation. We will continue activities that promote eco-friendly practices and resource circulation.”

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