Ten Bottled Water Companies to Release 'No-Label' Products in the First Half of This Year

Ministry of Environment and Saemmul Manufacturers Sign MOU for Use of Transparent PET Bottles Without Brand Labels

Murabel Water (Reference Photo) [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Ten bottled water manufacturers, including Nongshim and Pulmuone, have decided to launch bottled water without labels within the first half of this year. They have also set a goal to convert more than 20% of bottled water products released by the end of this year to these label-free products.

On the afternoon of the 23rd, the Ministry of Environment announced that it held a business agreement ceremony at the Glad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, with 10 bottled water manufacturers including Nongshim, Dongwon F&B, Lotus, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, Sansu Beverage, Sparkle, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corporation, Coca-Cola Beverage, Pulmuone Water, and Hite Jinro Beverage to use transparent PET bottles without labels. These 10 companies account for 74% of the bottled water production market share.

This business agreement is being promoted in connection with the allowance of production and sales of 'bottled water without labels (small packaging products)' and 'bottled water with labels attached to bottle caps (individual products)' to promote resource circulation of bottled water containers, which was announced on December 4 last year.

They plan to first launch label-free transparent PET bottled water products for bundle packaging and then expand to individual packaging in the future. The goal is to produce more than 20,000 tons of label-free PET bottles by the end of this year. This corresponds to about 20% of the 104,000 tons of bottled water PET bottles produced and released in the market.

The Ministry of Environment will expand institutional support, including incentives, to promote the production of label-free transparent PET bottles. Since December 25, 2019, label-free transparent PET bottles have been awarded the 'Best for Recycling' grade in the recycling ease evaluation. Manufacturers who receive the highest grade can receive up to a 50% reduction in producer responsibility recycling fees.

Han Jeong-ae, Minister of Environment, said, "Label-free PET bottles are products suitable for reducing plastic and promoting recycling, which are key points of the plastic waste reduction measures announced on December 24 last year," adding, "I hope that label-free PET bottles will become a symbol representing Korea's eco-friendly packaging worldwide."

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