With domestic and overseas eco-friendly policies strengthened in the new year, Korea's beverage and cosmetics manufacturers are stepping up their responses.
According to the industry on the 7th, starting on the 1st of this month, an amendment to the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources took effect for bottled water and beverage manufacturers, requiring a higher share of recycled plastic and the production of drinking spring water without brand labels.
Under the amendment, corporations that produce 5,000 tons (t) or more of PET bottles for bottled water and beverages annually must use at least 10% recycled feedstock. Ten companies were included in the scope: LOTTE Chilsung Beverage, Coca-Cola Beverage, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corporation, Woongjin Foods, CPLB, Sparkle, Dongwon F&B, Dong-A Otsuka, HiteJinro Beverage, and Emart. Recycled feedstock refers to recycled plastic material that is reprocessed after used PET bottles are collected, washed, and crushed. The mandatory usage rate will then be raised to 30% by 2030, and the scope will expand to manufacturers producing 1,000 t or more annually.
The government also plans to announce the final version of its "comprehensive strategy for phasing out plastic" early this year. The goal is to reduce waste plastic from households and business sites by up to 30% by 2030. The detailed roadmap includes expanding mandatory use of recycled feedstock, standardizing label-free bottled water, a price display system for disposable cups, and restrictions on disposable items at funeral halls.
Related corporations have begun responding to the regulations. LOTTE Chilsung Beverage last year unveiled Chilsung Cider made with 100% recycled plastic. It plans to expand from the 500 mL product to other sizes. The goal is to cut plastic use by about 2,200 t. Dongwon F&B has been conducting tests on all bottled water and beverage products since December last year to introduce recycled feedstock. Oriental Brewery in November last year produced "OB Water," bottled in a sugarcane-based container, and donated it to disaster relief agencies.
Stricter environmental regulations are also being implemented overseas. The European Union (EU) will enforce the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) starting in Aug. Under the regulation, all products exported to Europe must indicate the percentage of recycled material used in their packaging. All plastic packaging must meet minimum thresholds for recycled plastic and substantiate details such as the ratio. Starting in 2030, PET bottles for beverages must use at least 30% recycled material, and some plastic packaging must use 35% or more.
Korean beauty corporations that export to Europe are expanding products using recycled feedstock and building eco-friendly packaging solutions, such as developing bio-based materials. Amorepacific plans to proceed step by step to meet PPWR specifics by reducing plastic use, improving recyclability, and establishing systems for container reuse and collection. LG H&H is conducting research and development on eco-friendly materials, aiming to use more than 5% eco-friendly materials and reduce current plastic use by 10% through streamlined packaging specifications.
COSMAX is applying eco-friendly standards across the entire process from raw material sourcing to production. At the end of 2024, it established a "Package Science Lab" within its research center to strengthen expertise in eco-friendly packaging research. It is conducting various experiments, including the use of recycled plastics and bio-based plastics that emit fewer pollutants. Kolmar Korea last year teamed up with paper corporation Moorim to develop a recyclable paper mask pack pouch. Kolmar Korea said it reduced plastic use by more than 45%.
A beauty industry official said, "We have been steadily preparing for the EU regulation that takes effect in August," adding, "Starting with Europe, there is a global trend of tightening environmental regulations. We are working to respond to international regulations to expand K-beauty."