Shinsegae Department Store Establishes Eco-Friendly Packaging Standards... Challenges 'Zero Waste' Initiative

Eco-friendly Campaign Until the 23rd... Industry's First Eco-friendly Packaging Standards Established
Direct Customer Participation... Upcycling Cool Mats and Mini Pubilla Doll Production and Donation

Shinsegae Department Store is showcasing eco-friendly plant cultivation kits made using coffee grounds, presented by models.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Shinsegae Department Store is transforming into an eco-friendly department store by practicing 'Zero Waste.'

In celebration of Environment Month, Shinsegae announced on the 30th that it will be the first in the industry to establish its own eco-friendly packaging standards and will conduct a campaign from June 1 to 23 introducing upcycled product donations and eco-friendly products.

The campaign slogan, selected through an internal contest, "Better Choice, Better Future," carries the message that "customers and Shinsegae choose and act together to create a bright future," adding meaningful significance.

To create a space for responsible consumption, Shinsegae is leading resource circulation by establishing the industry's first eco-friendly packaging standards. The eco-friendly packaging standards are Shinsegae’s proprietary eco-friendly system aimed at 'Plastic Zero and 100% recyclable packaging.' It classifies packaging into five grades?Excellent, Good, Average, Poor, and Very Poor?based on the use of recycled materials and recyclability rates. Shinsegae plans to use only packaging materials rated at least Good within its stores in the future, striving to create a consumption space that contributes to eco-friendliness in daily life.

Starting June 3, Shinsegae will introduce eco-friendly paper called 'Bagasse Pulp,' made from sugarcane fiber without using wood pulp, in the food hall of Shinsegae Gangnam Store, and plans to expand this to all stores. The use of eco-friendly packaging in the food hall is expected to reduce 25 tons of plastic annually. Beyond the food hall, Shinsegae plans to gradually introduce eco-friendly packaging across all genres within the department store, including fashion and accessories, aiming to become a 'Zero Waste Department Store.'

Previously, Shinsegae was the first in the industry to eliminate paper flyers (2011) and shopping brochures (DM, 2016), and introduced electronic receipts (2017). Thanks to the electronic receipt campaign, approximately 60 million paper receipts were saved as of April this year. Since the 2018 Lunar New Year holiday, Shinsegae has expanded the use of eco-friendly and recyclable packaging and refrigerants, and opened the 'Eco Refill Station,' a refill space for laundry detergent and fabric softener, providing customers with a place to practice responsible consumption themselves. In 2020, it eliminated plastic bags, which were used about 24 million times annually. Plastic bags, known as a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions, have had the effect of planting 40,000 trees annually since their discontinuation.

Programs that allow customers to directly participate in social contribution activities have also been prepared. Until June 12, nine Shinsegae stores including the main store, Gangnam Store, and Times Square Store will collect used ice packs to produce cool mats, which will be donated to animal protection organizations. To expand participation in upcycling, Shinsegae’s own character, Poovilla, will also join. From June 3 to 16, Shinsegae and Levi’s will collaborate to produce and sell mini Poovillas made from discarded denim at Shinsegae Gangnam Store. Shinsegae will donate the sales proceeds and products of the mini Poovilla to the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation.

At Shinsegae Uijeongbu Store, customers who spend over 30,000 won will receive eco-friendly plant cultivation kits. Gwangju Shinsegae will exhibit eco-friendly themed artworks in its gallery, donating the proceeds from sold works, and Shinsegae Gimhae Store plans a children’s flea market to encourage young customers to participate in resource circulation by reusing discarded items.

Products for value-conscious customers will also be introduced. From June 3 to 12, about 60 brands offering eco-friendly consumption experiences and products will be available at Shinsegae Main Store, Gangnam Store, and Centum City Store. At Shinsegae Gangnam Store, a 'Levi’s Denim Bar' will open, where customers can participate in the entire resource circulation process through events producing products from discarded denim, adding significance. At Shinsegae Main Store, a secondhand specialty edit shop called 'Aplixy' will open, introducing carefully selected overseas fashion brands such as Maison Margiela and Sacai. At Shinsegae Centum City Store, a Biotherm 'Waterlover' pop-up, themed on 'World Water Day,' will be held exclusively until June 12. During the event, limited products in recycled glass containers, eco-friendly pouches, beach towels, and more will be available, and a cosmetic container collection program will be conducted in-store to encourage environmental protection participation.

In the wine shops located on the basement first floor of Shinsegae Main Store, Gangnam Store, and Centum City Store, eco-friendly products such as 'Biodynamic Wine,' which minimizes environmental damage in grape cultivation and wine production, and 'Vegan Wine,' which uses no animal-derived ingredients, will also attract attention.

Youngsik Son, CEO of Shinsegae Department Store, said, "Since eco-friendly management has become an essential element rather than a choice, we have prepared various content that allows customers to directly participate and improve environmental issues," adding, "We will lead not only environmental efforts but also social contribution activities and become a pioneering ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) company."

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