GS25 Introduces Biodegradable Straws for Pouch Drinks Selling 100 Million Units Annually

From March, Two Types of Ice Cups Also Replaced with High-Recycling-Grade PET-A Resin "Strengthening ESG Management"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] GS25 announced on the 3rd that it will strengthen its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management activities by replacing all straws given with the purchase of 33 types of pouch beverages sold from the 25th with eco-friendly biodegradable straws made of PLA material.

PLA straws contain no petrochemical components and are made from corn material, making them 100% biodegradable. They offer a similar feel to plastic straws and have durability that does not dissolve easily in water. Unlike paper straws, they do not become soggy or lose shape when wet, nor do they impart a paper taste, addressing the drawbacks of paper straws and earning recognition as eco-friendly straws.

Starting in March, GS25 plans to replace the materials of two types of ice cups sold together with pouch beverages with PET-A resin, which has a higher recycling grade. PET-A resin is known to have a fiber structure that is easier to recycle compared to the PET-A and PET-G blended resins currently used by most companies for ice cups.

GS25 stated, "Through the introduction of PLA straws and the change of ice cup materials, GS25 aims to be the starting point of small habits that save the Earth and establish itself as Korea’s representative eco-friendly platform." GS25 expects that the total length of biodegradable straws and ice cups consumed over one year will exceed 5,000 times the height of Mount Everest.

Meanwhile, anticipating higher-than-average temperatures, GS25 will launch 33 types of pouch beverages from the 25th of this month. The launch is two weeks earlier than last year.

This year, the new pouch beverages introduced by GS25 include ▲ ABC Aid (containing apple, beet, and carrot) ▲ AOC Aid (containing apple, orange, and carrot) ▲ Tart Cherry Aid, reflecting well-being and health-conscious trends. As sales of 1ℓ large-capacity pouch beverages have increased by more than 35% annually, the lineup will be expanded to four types, one more than last year.

Lee Dong-hoon, MD of the Beverage Planning Team at GS Retail, said, "GS Retail believes that small changes and practices for eco-friendliness are also achieved through consumer participation, so we have decided to expand ESG management to all business operations. Going forward, GS25 and over 15,000 offline stores will play a significant role in everyday changes and strive to become an eco-friendly platform."

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