On December 19, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Kim Wansup) announced that it signed a business agreement for a pilot project to expand the distribution of reusable delivery packages with five related companies* in distribution and logistics at WeJOINs in Jung-gu, Seoul.

* E-Land, Lotte Global Logistics, AJ Networks, Lalawash, Syntrovalley

This agreement was reached as related companies came together to reduce delivery packaging waste and promote a culture of reusable delivery packages. Reusable delivery packages are an effective means to fundamentally reduce single-use delivery packaging, but there have been limitations to their activation due to various reasons such as the additional costs associated with the recovery and cleaning of delivery boxes. To address this, companies equipped with the necessary facilities for operating reusable delivery packages will collaborate to promote a pilot project aimed at expanding the distribution of reusable delivery packages.

The pilot project target area is the three districts of Gangnam in Seoul (Gangnam, Seocho, Songpa), and specific apartment complexes located in these areas will be selected to receive deliveries using reusable delivery boxes. 

Deliveries will be conducted for approximately three months from the end of December this year to March next year, replacing refrigerated and frozen products that were previously delivered in Styrofoam boxes with reusable delivery boxes* that possess excellent durability, insulation, and cleanability. 

* Made from expanded polypropylene (EPP) produced from recycled materials, it offers better recyclability compared to Styrofoam and can reduce the need for insulation materials.

The detailed implementation method is as follows: When a consumer orders a product through a retail company (E-Land), the retailer will package the product in a reusable delivery box rented from a reusable delivery box rental company (Syntrovalley). The product packaged in the reusable delivery box will then be delivered to the consumer through a delivery company (Lotte Global Logistics) and collected afterward. The collected reusable delivery boxes will be cleaned by a cleaning company (Lalawash) and resupplied to the retailer through a logistics company (AJ Networks). 

The Ministry plans to analyze the economic efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery system utilizing reusable delivery boxes through this pilot project, and based on the results, it will establish various measures to promote the reusable delivery market, including support for the recovery and cleaning costs of reusable delivery boxes.

Kim Go-eung, Deputy Minister of the Resources Circulation Bureau, stated, “A revolutionary change in packaging methods is required to reduce delivery packaging waste.” He added, “We will strive to establish reusable delivery packages as a new culture in our society and to serve as a model for successful resource circulation policies.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com