"Reduce Use of Disposable Items in Funeral Homes"… Ministry of Environment Signs MOU with Local Governments and Industry

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The public and private sectors have joined hands to spread an eco-friendly funeral culture without disposable products.

On the 28th, the Ministry of Environment will sign a voluntary agreement with Chungnam Province, Chungnam Regional Self-Sufficiency Center, the funeral industry, Korea Consumer Agency, and civic groups to create a funeral culture free of disposable products.

This agreement was promoted to reduce disposable items such as cups, spoons, and containers mainly used at funeral halls. It is estimated that about 370 million (2,300 tons) disposable waste items are generated annually at funeral halls nationwide.

The Ministry of Environment and Chungnam Province plan to establish a system for supplying, collecting, washing, and resupplying reusable tableware at Chungnam Medical Center (Gongju) together with the Chungnam Regional Self-Sufficiency Center, creating an excellent model for funeral halls without disposable products.

The Chungnam Regional Self-Sufficiency Center will operate a reusable tableware washing facility established in the Asan area starting February next year. Based on operational experience, they are considering expanding to other regions such as Seosan. It is expected to be an opportunity for funeral halls, which have used disposable products due to difficulties in installing washing facilities and labor shortages, to switch to reusable tableware.

Funeral halls across the country will strive to promote the use of reusable tableware and spread an eco-friendly funeral culture, and Korea Sangjo and the Sangjo Guarantee Mutual Aid Association plan to recommend the use of reusable tableware to customers using the contracted funeral halls. The Resource Circulation Society Solidarity, Chungnam Environmental Movement Federation, and Korea Consumer Agency will conduct promotional activities to improve consumer awareness and build consensus.

Through this agreement, the Ministry of Environment will establish a cooperation system to efficiently operate and expand reusable tableware washing facilities and will continuously consult with related industries to spread a funeral culture without disposable products.

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