In recent years, South Korea has made significant progress in reducing plastic waste, including the introduction of a ban on single-use plastics. In 2015 alone, an estimated 21.6 billion single-use plastic bags were used. Data from Statista indicates that in 2020, the country consumed around 500,000 tons of single-use plastic bags and 84,000 tons of PET bottles.
Korea generated about 390 million metric tons of plastic waste annually by 2021, reflecting a consistent increase over the last decade. In response to this growing plastic consumption, the government has undertaken efforts to reduce waste by crafting the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program that obligates producers to recycle their own waste.
APP Group, an industry leader in the pulp and paper sector, is committed to aiding South Korea in its battle against plastic waste. At the Seoul Food & Hotel 2023 event, APP Group highlighted its Foopak Series as sustainable packaging alternatives for food products.
“Foopak is designed to reduce the environmental impact of plastic usage in Korea. We aim to contribute to a more sustainable future. For instance, Foopak is made from non-plastic materials and can be composted in industrial and home levels,” explained Kin Keung Christopher Wong, Senior Vice President & Global Business Unit Head Industrial White of APP Group.
APP has presented an innovative aqua-dispersion technology to replace conventional petroleum-based plastic coatings, creating a fully sustainable and plastic-free product. Foopak Bio Natura conforms to the US FDA standards and REACH regulations for safe direct food contact. Unlike traditional PE-coated food packaging that takes hundreds of years to decompose, Foopak Bio Natura naturally breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass.
As a leading pulp and paper producer, APP Group strives to advancing eco-friendly practices throughout the industry, focusing on responsible sourcing, innovative paper products, and efforts to minimize its carbon footprint.