"Zero Single-Use Products!" 200 Youth Launch 'Zero Seoul Friends'... Experience Center Opens at Seoul Plaza

Declaration to Reduce 10 Million Disposable Cups, Zero Dance Flash Mob Presented
Opening of Recycling Material 'Zero Seoul Experience Center'... Installed Electronic Display Showing Effects of Disposable Cup and Greenhouse Gas Reduction

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 24th the launch of "Zero Seoul Friends," a group of young people united with the goal of zeroing out the rapidly increasing disposable waste. About 200 young people will work to reduce disposable waste through initiatives such as using reusable cups in cafes and restaurants and the Zero Seoul campaign.

Following the launch ceremony, Seoul will also hold an opening ceremony for the "Zero Seoul Experience Center" at Seoul Plaza, where visitors can get an overview of the Zero Seoul project. The space, created using recycled materials, will operate with the goal of reducing 10 million disposable cups by the end of the year. It will showcase the status of Zero Cafes, Zero Restaurants, Zero Markets, and Zero Campuses, and exhibit Zero Market products such as reusable cups and containers. Outside the experience center, an electronic display board will be installed to show the cumulative reduction of disposable cups and the greenhouse gas reduction effects.

Seoul also appointed actress Nam Gyu-ri as an ambassador to promote Zero Seoul. Having previously participated in environmental campaigns such as the "Use Your Own Cup" campaign, actress Nam Gyu-ri took part in producing promotional videos for Seoul’s Zero Cafes to spread the use of reusable cups. She plans to actively promote Seoul’s climate and environmental policies as a member of "Zero Seoul Friends."

The event will be attended by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Environment Minister Han Hwa-jin, SKT CEO Yoo Young-sang, as well as franchise representatives from Starbucks, Twosome Place, The Venti, Angel-in-us, Dalkom Coffee, Paul Bassett, and others, along with Zero Seoul ambassador actress Nam Gyu-ri. At the "Zero Seoul Friends" launch ceremony, two youth representatives will read the "Zero Seoul Youth Declaration," expressing their strong commitment to actively participate in reducing 10 million disposable cups. A flash mob featuring the youth performing the Zero Dance will also be presented.

Following this, the opening ceremony of the "Zero Seoul Experience Center" will take place. It will introduce small business cafes participating in the Zero Cafe project, including Dalkom, The Venti, Starbucks, Angel-in-us, Twosome Place, Paris Baguette, Paul Bassett, and CJ Foodville. Participating stores will display Zero Cafe stickers to indicate that they use reusable cups.

Inside the experience center, an unmanned return machine for reusable cups will be installed for visitors to try out, and outside, an electronic display board aiming to reduce 10 million disposable cups will be set up. It will show daily cumulative reductions in disposable cup usage and greenhouse gas reduction effects.

Meanwhile, based on the results of the pilot project, Seoul plans to build infrastructure for reusable cup use in collaboration with the social enterprise Happy Connect and SKT. Last year, Seoul conducted a pilot project for reusable cup use, reducing the use of disposable cups by a total of 325,000 at 19 stores near City Hall, including Starbucks and Dalkom Coffee. The return rate of reusable cups at the end of the pilot project reached about 80%, demonstrating high participation.

This year, 20 key areas with high foot traffic and dense cafe clusters have been selected as bases, and 800 unmanned reusable cup return machines will be provided free of charge in cooperation with cafes and franchises. Unmanned return machines will also be installed near universities and subway stations in these base areas to enhance user convenience. The base areas include office-dense districts (Gwanghwamun, Gangnam), areas preferred by the 20s and 30s generation (Sinsa, Seoul National University Entrance), areas adjacent to universities (Sinchon, Konkuk University Entrance), representative commercial districts (Myeongdong, Yeongdeungpo), and media-dense districts (Sangam, Yeouido), totaling 20 locations.

For cafes participating in the Zero Cafe project, the washing and delivery system for reusable cups will be strengthened to provide hygienic and stable reusable cups, and user convenience services will be expanded. Through the "Happy Habit" mobile app, users can find participating stores and return machine information, and return deposits can be refunded via various methods such as T-money, real-time bank transfers, and affiliated cafe points. Efforts will also be made to improve awareness of reusable cups through TV advertisements and citizen participation events.

Yoo Yeon-sik, head of the Climate and Environment Headquarters, said, "Solving the disposable waste problem requires active participation and effort from citizens and companies," adding, "We ask for the active participation of citizens in the campaign to reduce 10 million disposable items. Seoul will also spare no support for the use of reusable cups."

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