KGC Ginseng Corporation said on the 20th that the Buyeo plant was selected as a green corporation by the Geum River Basin Environmental Office on the 30th of last month.
On the 13th, at the Buyeo plant in Buyeo County, South Chungcheong, a "new green corporation plaque unveiling ceremony" was held with the Geum River Basin Environmental Office. The green corporation program is a certification system operated for outstanding corporations and business sites that practice sustainable environmental management based on cooperation between the government and corporations.
The Buyeo plant is the world's largest red ginseng manufacturing plant represented by the Jung Kwan Jang brand, and it is Jung Kwan Jang's core production base that has inherited the manufacturing technology of Goryeo ginseng. Starting near the Geum River in Buyeo in 1978, it now processes more than about 8,000 tons of fresh ginseng annually.
KGC Ginseng Corporation said the Buyeo plant was selected as a green corporation in recognition of its ongoing management and improvement efforts to minimize environmental impact while operating large-scale production facilities. The Buyeo plant was highly rated for its continued eco-friendly management, including certifications for the environmental management system (ISO 14001) and the energy management system (ISO 50001); recognition of "red ginseng marc," a by-product generated during red ginseng manufacturing, as a recyclable resource; and obtaining the international Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) "Gold" grade.
Designated as a green corporation by the Geum River Basin Environmental Office, the Buyeo plant plans to push forward in phases with more than 3.6 billion won in environmental facility improvement investments, including introducing pellet boilers, expanding solar facilities, and reinforcing wastewater treatment facilities.
The KGC Ginseng Corporation Buyeo plant is also continuing social contribution activities for mutual growth with the local community along with environmental management. The social volunteer group composed of executives and employees has carried out donations, on-site volunteering, and cooperation with welfare agencies since 2010 for local children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income households, and in recognition of these contributions, it received the Prime Minister's Commendation at the 15th People's Recommendation Awards ceremony in Jan.
A KGC Ginseng Corporation official said, "The Buyeo plant is Jung Kwan Jang's core production facility with history and tradition, and its results have been recognized for strengthening environmental responsibility along with quality competitiveness," and added, "Through this selection, we will further advance our environmental and energy management systems and continue eco-friendly facility investment and operation to develop it into a production base that leads ESG management."