Sejong, August 29 - The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) and the Seoul Metropolitan Government (Mayor Oh Se-hoon) launched a campaign called 'Zero Seoul.' As part of a 'Zero Seoul' campaign, the two institutions launched a waste-free coffee shop ("Zero Cafe") project on August 24 to reduce 10 million disposable cups this year. The Zero Seoul project aims to make Seoul a sustainable and carbon-neutral city to resolve environmental problems such as waste and climate change. The Zero Seoul project consists of Zero Cafe, Zero Restaurant, Zero Market, and Zero Campus. 

During the 'Zero Cafe' launch ceremony, CEOs from seven franchise coffee shops pledged to participate in the 'Zero Cafe' project. 

The Ministry of Environment and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have been test-operating 'cafes with no disposables' based on ICT with franchise coffee shops since November 2020. The pilot operation for using reusable cups in cafes around the City Hall showed a cup return rate of 80 percent, ing the project's potential success.

The Ministry of Environment and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have been test-operating 'cafes with no disposables' based on ICT with franchise coffee shops since November 2020. The pilot operation for using reusable cups in cafes around the City Hall showed a cup return rate of 80 percent, ing the project's potential success.

The Zero Cafe project has been launched based on the outcome of the pilot project, which is expected to trigger changes in social and cultural awareness. The Seoul city government has selected 20 areas where coffee shops stand close together, and there are large floating populations. The Ministry of Environment and the Seoul city government will provide 800 reusable cup return machines to the participating coffee shops in the selected areas. Coffee shops participating in the project will also have the Zero Cafe mark on the store, discount 30-50 percent for reusable cups, and have stationed assistants. 

Minister Han Wha-jin said, "The Ministry of Environment has been promoting using reusable containers since 2021. We will continue to support spreading the culture of using reusable cups and containers."

Contact: Yim Yang-seok, Deputy Director

Resource Circulation Policy Division / +82-(0)44-201-7354

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr