Gwangyang Steelworks Environmental Resources Group Leads Carbon Reduction by Reusing Ice Packs

Contributing to Resource Circulation by Reusing Ice Packs with Gwangyang Climate Environment Network

Ice Packs Reused and Provided Free of Charge to Local Small Business Owners

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks’ ‘The Greener Environmental Energy’ volunteer group took the lead in carbon reduction activities through resource circulation by carrying out an ice pack reuse support project on the 1st in collaboration with the Gwangyang Climate Environment Network (Standing Representative So O-seop).

The ‘The Greener Environmental Energy’ volunteer group announced that they decided to participate in volunteer activities to spread the culture of resource circulation of ice packs amid the increasing demand for delivery services such as online shopping and food delivery due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, about 80% of ice packs are indiscriminately discarded in volume-based waste bags, and about 15% are discharged into sewage systems, emerging as a major cause of soil and marine pollution due to microplastics. In particular, 40% of discarded ice packs are made of superabsorbent polymers, which do not decompose naturally.

To address this issue, last month on the 4th, the volunteer group, together with the Gwangyang Climate Environment Network, which signed a business agreement for an ice pack reuse pilot project with Gwangyang City, collected ice packs from 50 dedicated collection boxes installed in apartments in Gwangyang City and carried out washing and drying work.

They also supported dedicated storage containers to hold the ice packs after reuse, enhancing convenience.

The ice packs that have undergone the reuse process will be packaged and supplied free of charge to local small business owners after assessing demand from groups such as the Gwangyang General Market Merchants Association and the Jungma Market Merchants Association.

It is especially meaningful because the cleaned ice packs are delivered in recycled baskets made from discarded banners.

Jo Young-bong, Head of Safety and Environment Department at Gwangyang Steelworks, who participated in the volunteer activity, said, “With the increase in online shopping, disposable products have surged, leading to an increase in waste generation, which is regrettable. I hope people will participate in carbon neutrality by raising awareness of the importance of resource conservation through increased reuse of resources in daily life to reduce waste generation.”

The Gwangyang Climate Environment Network, which collaborated with the ‘The Greener Environmental Energy’ volunteer group at Gwangyang Steelworks, is an organization where citizens, companies, and public institutions voluntarily reduce greenhouse gases in daily life to respond to climate change.

They are affiliated with and active at Gwangyang Steelworks and plan to actively realize a low-carbon, eco-friendly society through various carbon neutrality activities, including this recent project.

Meanwhile, on the 31st, Gwangyang Steelworks collected empty PET bottles used at the steelworks site and signed a business agreement for the Gwangyang Bay Area Resource Circulation Project with Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority and Hyosung TNC Co., Ltd. to recycle them for making work uniforms (T-shirts) and safety vests. They are actively leading various carbon neutrality activities and practicing Green with POSCO.

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