Emart Fruits and Vegetables to Reduce Plastic Use by 1,000 Tons Annually with 'Recycled PET'

Introduction of Recycled Plastic Packs Using 50% Recycled PET to Reduce Plastic Usage
Annual Plastic Reduction Target of 1,000 Tons, Equivalent to 10,000 Times the Plastic Usage per Capita in Korea
From June, 'Water Separation Easy-Peel' Label Stickers Will Be Applied to Packs for Easy Disposal

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Emart is introducing recycled plastic containers for fruit and vegetable products to reduce annual plastic usage by 1,000 tons. This amount is equivalent to 10,000 times the annual plastic usage per capita in Korea.

Emart announced on the 30th that starting June 1, it will introduce 'recycled plastic containers' made from recycled PET material for fruit and vegetable products packaged in plastic packs.

The recycled plastic containers introduced by Emart are made from recycled raw materials using separated and processed waste plastic. The recycled raw materials are selected, washed, and processed under strict standards, making them safe for use with fruits that are washed or peeled before consumption.

Emart will apply recycled PET at 50% content in recycled plastic containers for all fruit plastic packs except for pre-cut fruits ready to eat immediately after purchase. Previously, Emart’s fruit plastic pack products used 100% virgin PET raw materials. For vegetable pack products, Emart has proactively converted about 27% of the total plastic pack usage to packs made with recycled materials and plans to gradually increase the recycled PET usage ratio to 55%.

Through this transition to recycled plastic containers, Emart aims to reduce plastic usage by more than 1,000 tons annually. As of last year, the annual plastic pack usage for fruits and vegetables sold by Emart was approximately 2,101 tons. Emart plans to convert 1,099 tons, about 52% of the annual plastic usage, to recycled PET raw materials, thereby reducing new plastic production and cutting plastic waste by half.

This reduction is equivalent to cutting the plastic consumption of over 10,000 people annually, based on the per capita annual plastic consumption in Korea (98.2 kg, according to 2016 Statistics Korea data). Compared to using new plastic materials, carbon emissions can be reduced by up to 79%.

Starting in June, Emart plans to apply 'Water Separation Easy-Peel' label stickers, which facilitate separation and recycling, to all plastic-packaged products beginning with tomato packs. These special labels are easier to remove compared to conventional laminated paper labels. In cases where some label stickers are not removed, the water separation function allows the stickers to automatically separate during the washing process at recycling centers.

Emart’s active eco-friendly initiatives are driven by the rapidly growing trend of 'meaning-out consumption (value consumption),' where consumers purchase products reflecting their beliefs and values. This trend is especially strong among the MZ generation, the emerging main consumer group, who place high importance on environmental and social values in their consumption.

Jinil Choi, Executive Director in charge of Fresh Products at Emart, said, "Efforts by companies for eco-friendliness and sustainable management are no longer optional but essential. We will continue to gather small actions to lead genuine ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management as Emart Fresh."

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