Selling Restrooms at Convenience Stores?… CU Hosts Eco-Friendly Product Exhibition

Post-treatment with sawdust or leaf mold instead of water
Sale of daily necessities and rainwater storage tanks via proprietary app

CU, a convenience store operated by BGF Retail, announced on the 9th that it recently opened a special product page under the theme "Our Attitude to Protect the Earth" within the home delivery menu of its own commerce app, Pocket CU, showcasing eco-friendly products.

Among the eco-friendly product list focused on daily necessities such as salt, cosmetics, soap, solid toothpaste, and bamboo toothbrushes, there were also unique items like an "ecological toilet" that does not use water and a "rainwater storage tank" designed to recycle rainwater.

A customer is examining the unique eco-friendly product, the 'Ecological Toilet,' at Pocket CU.
[Photo by BGF Retail]

The ecological toilet (2.5 million KRW) sold by CU is a portable toilet made by the social enterprise SpaceSun. CU explained that this product targets the recent trend among not only the older generation but also the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) who dream of rural living or operate weekend farms.

Installing a flush toilet in a farm shed requires water facilities and space for a septic tank, as well as separate reporting procedures to local governments. In contrast, the ecological toilet can be installed anywhere with just a space of 1.2m in width and 1.35m in length. Instead of water, sawdust or leaf mold is used for processing, which controls odor and maintains cleanliness. The excrement can be fermented and used as compost, enabling both resource saving and recycling simultaneously.

By using the rainwater storage tank (3.1 million KRW), rainwater can be collected and reused for various purposes such as agricultural water, landscaping water, cleaning water, and initial wildfire suppression water. It helps save the cost of tap water usage and allows people to visually observe ecological circulation. CU explained that inquiries for purchase have been coming from daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools for educational purposes.

Eco-friendly ecological toilet sold at CU.
[Photo by BGF Retail]

CU stated that by introducing unique eco-friendly products, it is increasing customer interest and implementing various policies to establish an eco-friendly consumption culture in daily life. BGF Retail, which operates CU, has named its company-wide eco-friendly slogan "Be Green Friends" and is introducing Green Stores certified by the Ministry of Environment as green stores in the industry.

To reduce carbon emissions generated throughout logistics activities, 2,400 solar modules were installed on the rooftop of the logistics center in 2020 to produce renewable energy. Two years ago, more than 1,000 LED floodlights and additional eco-friendly facilities and fixtures were installed.

Eco-friendly packaging has also been introduced for products. Packaging containers for sandwiches, gimbap, and others have been made from biodegradable resin (PLA), reducing about 195 tons of plastic annually. Since 2021, CU has operated a no-label private brand (PB) bottled water, reducing about 35 tons of film last year alone. Recently, CU became the first in Korea to introduce eco-friendly cup noodles containers applying PHA coating technology, a biodegradable bio-material, on the inside of the container. In addition, CU is engaged in waste management, eco-friendly campaigns, and establishing a culture of not using disposable products.

Park Hee-jin, head of BGF Retail’s online commerce team, said, "We are continuously introducing eco-friendly products reflecting the recent trend of value consumption," adding, "We will continue to systematically plan eco-friendly activities and do our best to fulfill the role of a green platform that protects the Earth."

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