Government Launches Six-Month Plastic Reduction Campaign to Cut Annual Waste by 10%

The government is launching a nationwide campaign to reduce plastic usage. In response to growing instability in the supply of raw materials such as petroleum and naphtha due to the recent Middle East war, this initiative aims to lower dependence on plastic and fundamentally reduce everyday consumption.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on April 12 that it will implement the “Plastic Reduction Pledge Campaign” for six months starting April 13. This campaign, which encourages participation from citizens, public institutions, and companies, focuses on reducing the amount of waste plastic generated through small actions in daily life.

As the price of naphtha, a raw material for packaging materials such as plastic and vinyl, rises due to the Middle East war, a citizen visiting a packaging material store in Bangsan Market, Jung-gu, Seoul, is looking around the products on the 31st. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The government estimates that if every citizen reduces their use by one disposable cup (about 20 grams) per day, it could lower the nation’s annual waste plastic generation by approximately 10 percent. Currently, about 3.83 million tons of waste plastic are generated annually from households. The government explained that the cumulative effect of each person making this simple change could result in a significant reduction.

To this end, the government has presented nine simple rules that can be easily practiced in daily life. Key points include: using tumblers instead of disposable cups; using reusable shopping bags; utilizing reusable delivery packaging; choosing reusable containers or take-out packaging for food delivery; refraining from using straws and disposable cutlery; reducing unnecessary use of vinyl; shopping at zero-waste stores; purchasing recycled-material products; and thoroughly separating waste for recycling.

Citizens who wish to participate can join the campaign by logging onto the resource circulation action platform, taking the pledge, and uploading verified photos of their actions. To encourage participation, the government plans to provide small prizes each month to those who submit proof of their involvement.

The government has also called for cooperation from public institutions and companies. The plan is to expand the adoption of reusable containers and encourage organizations to implement plastic reduction measures at the institutional level. In addition, educational programs targeting youth will be provided to promote awareness and improve perceptions among the next generation.

Collaboration will also be strengthened with more than 3,400 “Disposable Item Reduction Stores” nationwide. In participating stores such as cafes and restaurants, the use of tumblers and non-provision of disposable items will be promoted to naturally encourage consumers to reduce plastic usage.

Kim Goeung, Director of the Resource Circulation Bureau at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, stated, “Small actions, such as reducing one disposable cup each day, can lead to significant change,” adding, “We hope that the joint participation of citizens, companies, and public institutions will serve as an opportunity to overcome the resource crisis.”

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