"Tears of Paper Straws: Following the Government Led to a Loss of 200 Million Units in Stock"

Paper Straw Companies Request "Emergency Support Funds"

"Paper Straw Companies, Guarantee Our Right to Survive."

Paper straw manufacturers are appealing that they are being driven to the brink of bankruptcy due to blocked sales channels caused by the Ministry of Environment's relaxation of plastic straw usage regulations. They say they trusted the government but were pushed into crisis, and are requesting the injection of emergency support funds.

The "Paper Straw Survival Measures Council" (tentative name), consisting of 11 paper straw companies, released a press statement on the 16th revealing the "damage" caused by the Ministry of Environment's indefinite extension of the guidance period for the ban on plastic straw use.

The council appealed to the industry's difficulties, stating, "Based on member companies, current inventory is about 140 million units, and including non-member companies, it is estimated that inventory reaches about 200 million units." Including companies not participating in the council, the inventory is estimated to be around 200 million units.

Also, based on member companies, monthly production is about 270 million units, but production machines are currently halted, and with sales channels for paper straws blocked, manufacturers are left holding this inventory, they claim.

Representatives of paper straw manufacturers held a rally in front of the Ministry of Environment at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on the afternoon of the 13th, urging the withdrawal of the indefinite extension of the grace period for plastic use regulations and calling for measures to protect the survival rights of domestic paper straw manufacturing and sales companies.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Environment banned the use of plastic straws in cafes and other places starting last November, setting a one-year guidance period during which violations would not be fined. Although strict enforcement of plastic straw use was expected to begin on the 24th after the guidance period ended, the Ministry effectively extended the guidance period indefinitely on the 7th to ease the burden on small business owners such as cafes.

Lee Sang-hoon, Public Relations Director of the Paper Straw Survival Measures Council, said, "Most paper straw companies nationwide are small and medium-sized enterprises," emphasizing, "Emergency financial support must be provided immediately," and "Sales channels where inventory can be sold must be secured."

Regarding the government's statement that the end date of the plastic straw ban guidance period will be "decided later considering international trends such as the UN Plastic Treaty and the alternative product market situation," Lee said, "An exact schedule for the regulatory guidance period must be announced immediately."

Representatives of paper straw manufacturers held a rally in front of the Ministry of Environment at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the afternoon of the 13th, urging the withdrawal of the indefinite extension of the grace period for plastic use regulations and calling for measures to protect the survival rights of domestic paper straw manufacturing and sales companies.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 13th, representatives of paper straw manufacturers held a rally in front of the Ministry of Environment building, appealing for compensation for damages caused by sudden policy changes and for a clear setting of the guidance period. The council then held a meeting with Ministry of Environment officials, but it was reported that no concrete measures were prepared and only differences in positions were confirmed.

In the press release, the council stated, "The Ministry of Environment must prepare practical measures that provide definite help to paper straw manufacturers, who are at a crossroads between life and death, at the next meeting."

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