The Ministry of Environment and the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on August 24 at Seoul Plaza (based in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul) that a ‘Zero Seoul’ launch event will be held with the aim of reducing 10 million disposable cups within this year.
Zero Seoul is a project to make Seoul a sustainable carbon-neutral city to resolve environmental problems such as garbage and climate change.It consists of zero cafes, zero restaurants, zero markets and zero campuses.
Representatives of seven coffee shops will pledge to participate in the Zero Café. AndNam Gyu-ri(actor and singer) will be appointed as the ambassador for Zero Seoul.
Since November 2020, the Ministry of Environment and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have been promoting a trial operation of disposable cups-free stores based on information and communication technology in a public-private partnership with coffee shop affiliates.
As a result of conducting a pilot project for the use of multi-use cups around Seoul City Hall in 2021, the return rate was 80%, confirming the possibility of the project.
The Zero Cafe project is conducted based on the results of the pilot project and expected to serve as an opportunity to change social and cultural awareness.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to select 20 regions with a large floating population and concentrated coffee shops as bases and distribute 800 unmanned returners for multi-use cups within the Zero Café store.
In addition, participating stores will be given a Zero Cafe symbol (logo). Usage fees for multi-use cup will be discounted from 30% to 50%.
Environment Ministersaid, "The Ministry of Environment has been pushing for a 'multi-use container reuse promotion project' since 2021." adding, "We will continue to support the spread of multi-use containers such as multi-use cups."