GS25 Promotes 'Zero Food Waste' Initiative to Strengthen Eco-Friendly ESG Management

Introduction of Biodegradable Food Waste Processor Using Microbial Decomposition
Testing with 'Sunpungga' from February... 95% Reduction in Food Waste
GS25 Developing Specialized Device, Expected to Eliminate 30,000ℓ Daily if Installed in All Stores

A man is disposing of food waste into a food waste disposer at GS25.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] A groundbreaking plan to drastically reduce food waste generated at convenience stores is being promoted.

GS Retail's convenience store GS25 announced on the 22nd that it will officially launch the 'Food Waste Zero Project' using the 'disappearance-type food waste processor through microbial decomposition' in partnership with Sunpungga.

GS25 reported that after testing the operation of the disappearance-type processor at directly managed stores for 30 days from February 17 to March 18, the amount of food waste was reduced by more than 95%. The processing cost dropped from about 100 won per liter (ℓ) to 55 won, roughly half of the previous cost.

The reason GS25 is promoting the introduction of the disappearance-type processor is that, unlike drying methods that only reduce moisture or grinding methods that discharge food wastewater, this method naturally reduces the volume of food waste by up to 99%, making it the most eco-friendly food waste processing method.

GS Retail plans to expand the scope from April by conducting additional tests at 10 GS25 franchise stores and aims to actively expand the introduction as early as May. Separately, discussions are underway to develop devices suitable for GS25's waste output capacity.

During the additional testing period, economic feasibility will be compared between device introduction costs and garbage bag purchase costs based on food waste output, and the selection of device models considering the range of stores and processing capacity will be specified. GS25 expects that when introduced to all stores, about 30,000ℓ of food waste will be naturally eliminated within stores daily through eco-friendly methods, significantly contributing to strengthening ESG management.

Kim Myung-jong, Head of New Business Promotion at GS Retail, said, "Through a partnership with Sunpungga, which received the first domestic K-Mark certification for disappearance-type food waste processors, we are promoting food waste zero activities," adding, "We will continue various efforts to pass on a safe environment to future generations."

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