Seoul City Supports 95 Operators of 'Zero Market' Reducing Unnecessary Packaging Materials

Zero Market New Opening, Subsidy Support for In-Store Refill Sales Stand Installation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 24th that it is promoting the 'Private Zero Market Activation Support Project' to reduce unnecessary disposable products and plastic packaging materials and spread a 'waste-free consumption culture' by supporting small-scale private unpackaged, bulk, and refill stores as well as stores that reduce various types of packaging materials.

'Zero Market' refers to various types of stores that minimize the use of disposable products and plastic packaging materials. It has a broader meaning than typical zero-waste stores that sell bulk, refill products, and unpackaged products.

Seoul City, together with the Seoul Design Foundation, selected a total of 95 support businesses through public recruitment, document screening, and on-site inspections from June to September, and provided support for establishment and operation costs ranging from 2 million to a maximum of 8 million KRW.

For the selected businesses, training for opening and operating zero market businesses was conducted on September 5th, and a cooperative network was formed to facilitate mutual communication. Going forward, active support will be provided to foster self-sustainability through joint purchasing, promotion, and other activities.

News related to the stores can be found on social networking services (SNS). Promotional materials (card news) introducing 35 stores are currently posted, and promotional materials for the remaining 60 stores will be continuously uploaded. Related information such as products sold, locations, and phone numbers of completed stores is being sequentially posted on the Smart Seoul Map.

Zero Markets offer not only refill and eco-friendly products but also stores operating resource circulation activities, stores conducting environmental education, and stores operated together with cafes or workshops, providing visitors with diverse and new experiences at each store.

Choi Cheol-woong, Director of the Resource Circulation Division, said, "We hope this support project will serve as an opportunity for the waste-free consumption culture to become familiar to citizens," and added, "We will continue to strive to establish Zero Markets as eco-friendly consumption spaces in everyday life that citizens enjoy visiting."

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