From scorching heat in the summer to record snowfall in the winter, this year, Korea has definitely felt the impact of climate change.
As such, more and more consumers are pursuing environmentally-friendly choices in their daily lives.
To take a closer look at these, we have our reporter Ahn Sung-jin in the studio.
Welcome Sung-jin.
Hi Dami, Thanks for having me here today.
So Sung-jin, a specific keyword for next year relates to these eco-friendly moves?
Right Dami, around the world, this year may have been the pinnacle of demonstrating awareness for the environment.
For instance, here in Korea last month we saw the United Nation’s fifth and final round of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.
So as you mentioned more people are opting for eco-friendly choices these days.
The reasons may vary, but collectively this move shows “climate sensitivity,” which is a phrase that has been selected as a rising consumer trend in Korea for 2025.
Climate sensitivity refers to taking action based on the awareness of the environment.
Ultimately, it means that consumers and companies choose strategies and actions based on the impact of climate change on our lives.
I heard you visited a cafe this week where you saw this in action.
What’s so special about this place you visited?
This cafe located in a quiet area of Seoul is unique for a very special reason – it does not provide any disposable products.
If you look around in the cafe, instead of paper napkins or plastic cups and straws, everything here is reusable, even in the kitchen.
If you want to take out a cake, you have to bring your own container from home.
It may seem a bit odd, but surprisingly, a number of customers have tried this themselves.
“Unlike other cafes, I like how this cafe is eco-friendly. Last time I came here, I brought my own pot to take out this cake. It’s memorable that they really work on campaigning for a green environment.”
The shop owner said the cafe strives for zero waste, and as a result, it produces only 1/10th of the trash of other cafes.
But it’s not only shops pursuing change –customers are also stepping up.
This social media influencer brings her own container to cafes and restaurants.
Have a listen to what made her pursue these choices.
“Recently when I went to the market, the shop owners said I was the first to do something like this, and I had a lot of people stare at me. But as an influencer with millions of followers, I would like to work more on challenges like these.”
Then outside of places like these, what are some practices already being upheld?
Both the central and municipal governments have been working on reducing the use of plastic, especially in our daily lives.
One impressive example that I think is important is a project that the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been working on.
Especially post-COVID 19, the usage of plastic has skyrocketed, with more and more people ordering food at home.
To reduce this and to foster eco-friendly consumption, the local government had a zero-restaurant pilot project, from 2021 to early this year, where if you order from certain restaurants, you have the option to have your food delivered in reusable containers.
This was all under a grand scheme to create “Zero-waste Seoul.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Government also implemented the “personal cup usage point system”, where if you order a drink with your own tumbler or cup and pay with Seoul Pay, you can earn 3-hundred won worth of points per order.
This means if you use a personal cup everyday, you can stack up to 9-thousand won per month.
And in addition to the practices already implemented, what other efforts do we need moving forward?
Right, so efforts moving forward, there are things that can be done as an individual and there are efforts that require multiple stakeholders working together.
First have a listen to what a professor has to say about how individuals can make an impact.
“These days, more people order delivery food, increasing plastic use. It doesn’t require something big, if each and every individual can try just by a bit, it would bring much positive change.”
What this suggests is that as climate change and environmental issues become more apparent, more and more consumers are making sustainability a priority.
Thanks for the thought-provoking item today Sung-jin.
Pleasure as always, Dami.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=279429
Arirang TV(public institution's name)'s public work is used according to KOGL