우리나라는 포장 다이어트 열풍... 아이스팩도 재활용<br /><br />There is a trend in Korea aimed at making the country and the planet a more sustainable place... beginning with eco-friendly packaging.<br />Our Cha Sang-mi explains how this trend is changing the online shopping industry. <br />Online shopping has become a new norm in Korean households, with the industry worth more than 94 billion U.S. dollars in 2018.<br />Korea Integrated Logistics Association says that, in 2013, 1-point-5 billion boxes were delivered annually, rising to over two billion in 2016... and topping 2-point-5 billion last year. <br />Targeting trash produced from such boxes, a new trend of "packaging diet" is in vogue -- cutting down on materials that harm the environment.<br />Masking tape takes nearly a hundred years to decompose, so one company designed boxes that don't need the tape.<br />"Working in the parcel delivery service industry for 12 years, I thought it would be so much more convenient for people if there were boxes without tape. So I structured that box in my head and pitched the idea, and my brother designed it with me."<br />The brothers' flagship product, just as the company name, is the wing box.<br />Small 'wings' on the sides of the box come with ecological hot melt adhesives,... harmless for people and the environment.<br />Going a bit further,... delivery service company 'Hello Nature' has developed a returnable delivery box called "The Green Box".<br />"The major feature of Green Box is it's ability to be returned, unlike conventional boxes. Also, you open the box with a zipper instead of tape and it doesn't need plastic or air buffers to keep products fresh."<br />And to recycle ice packs; Seoul's Gangdong-gu District has installed ice pack collection boxes.<br />"We began the campaign this March, when we signed an agreement with Hyundai Home Shopping Network Corporation and a civic environment group. (cut) The civic group goes around and cleans all 18 installed boxes a week, and we continue to raise awareness of the campaign."<br /><br />"There are 17 other collection boxes like this throughout Gangdong-gu District. Residents can come and throw in their ice packs whenever they like. These ice packs are then collected every month to be reused.”<br />The local government is thinking of reusing the collected ice packs at local markets to keep fresh fish or vegetables cool.<br />Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News. <br />
