Shinsegae Department Store to Use Upcycled Cooler Bags This Chuseok... Expanding Eco-Friendly Certified Gift Sets

Shinsegae Department Store, Eco-Friendly Holiday Package.

First in Department Store Industry to Introduce Upcycled Cooler Bags…Enhanced Eco-friendliness and Functionality
Boxes Printed with Soy Ink on Uncoated Recycled Paper…Minimizing Pollutants

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] Shinsegae Department Store is promoting an eco-friendly shopping culture even during the holidays.

Shinsegae announced on the 2nd that it has introduced the industry's first 'upcycled cooler bag' in celebration of Chuseok. It has also expanded the use of eco-friendly packaging materials such as frozen ice packs made from water and starch. This move is aimed at leading the creation of an 'eco-friendly holiday' as more customers show interest in eco-friendly consumption, including plastic reduction.

The cooler bag, first introduced by Shinsegae in the department store industry, is made from 'R-PET,' a fabric recycled from used PET bottles, as well as from discarded clothing and paperboard. It offers excellent cooling effects and is expected to replace the existing polyethylene foam (PE synthetic resin), which raised environmental pollution concerns. It can also be used instead of an icebox for summer outings, increasing its versatility.

Starting this Chuseok, Shinsegae plans to continuously expand the use of upcycled cooler bags. This is to foster an eco-friendly consumption culture not only during holidays but also in daily life.

The eco-friendly cooling materials have also changed. Previously, in 2019, Shinsegae introduced ice packs made from paper and water that could be separated for recycling. However, these ice packs had the drawback of melting more easily than conventional vinyl ice packs, making them unsuitable for heatwaves and similar climates. To address this, Shinsegae replaced the internal filler of the ice packs with a natural substance made by mixing water and starch, raising the melting point to ensure longer-lasting cooling even in extreme heat. Both the cooling material and the outer packaging of the ice packs are recyclable, minimizing pollutant generation upon disposal.

The printing on paper boxes mainly used for fruit gift sets such as apples and pears has also changed. To minimize environmental impact, the boxes are produced using soy ink on uncoated recycled paper, reducing the proportion of chemical raw materials.

For seafood product packaging, biodegradable vinyl has been introduced, and the use of paper tape in stores is being expanded to actively promote eco-friendly packaging.

Shinsanghwa, head of the ESG Promotion Office at Shinsegae Department Store, said, "Since Lunar New Year 2019, Shinsegae has eliminated all wood and cloth packaging and increased the composition of antibiotic-free products through various activities. In particular, the eco-friendly certified gift sets have been expanded by about 20% this year following last Lunar New Year, steadily increasing their share annually."

Meanwhile, take-out paper cups and cup holders used in Shinsegae Department Store’s Members Lounge and VIP Lounge are also made from uncoated recycled paper to encourage customers to participate in eco-friendly activities themselves. Last month, the company also obtained global certification for its Environmental Management System (ISO14001).

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