Dong-A Otsuka said on the 10th that it received the prime minister's award at the 32nd corporate innovation awards.
According to Dong-A Otsuka, the corporate innovation awards ceremony was held the previous day at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul. Now in its 32nd year, the corporate innovation awards is an event co-hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to identify and honor exemplary corporations that lead the way in management innovation and ESG (environmental, social and governance) management practices.
Dong-A Otsuka has been practicing sustainable management by reducing plastic and building an eco-friendly production system. Representative efforts include: ▲ PET and CAN lightweighting ▲ signing a business agreement for a pilot project with the Ministry of Environment on recycled colorless PET bottle materials to expand the use of sustainable PET feedstock ▲ building a carbon-neutral roadmap by declaring "realizing the era of ZERO fossil-derived plastics by 2050."
In particular, through the unlabeled PET product Pocari Sweat (340 ml) launched last year, it reduced about 15 tons (t) of packaging waste and cut about 28 t of carbon emissions. It also contributed to improving consumer health with a product low-sugar strategy.
The company has also continued social contribution activities to address local issues. Starting with a heat illness prevention campaign for vulnerable groups during heat waves in 2017, Dong-A Otsuka has provided support related to heat illness every year. It is also expanding protection activities for the three major heat wave–vulnerable groups (outdoor construction workers, farmers, and seniors living alone and people experiencing homelessness).
Chief Executive Park Cheol-ho of Dong-A Otsuka said, "It is very meaningful to receive the prime minister's award at the 32nd corporate innovation awards," adding, "We will continue to do our best to become a corporation that creates positive value for the environment and society, with innovation and ESG management at the center."