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| GS Shop delivers a precooked galbi-tang pack inside a foam box with water bottles instead of ice packs. Courtesy of GS Shop |
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| SSG's "eco ice pack," above, and Hello Nature's "eco-friendly ice pack" can be discarded by simply dumping the water inside and recycling the wrappers. Courtesy of SSG, Hello Nature |
By Ko Dong-hwan
The dumping of ice packs ― with more than 210 million used in 2019 ― has prompted environmental concerns.
The Ministry of Environment, having tackled the issue since last year, on Wednesday highlighted the seriousness of the problem that involves a super-absorbent gel-type polymer packer, or SAP.
"The recent sharp increase in delivery of fresh foods has also increased the use of SAP-filled ice packs," the ministry said. It said 80 percent of ice packs now in the market use SAP.
"About 80 percent of those SAP ice packs have ended up being incinerated and buried, while 15 percent have been ripped and discarded through drains, dispersing micro-plastic particulates throughout sewage systems. The materials cannot be naturally decomposed so cannot be buried in the earth."
The government has announced plans to tackle the issue that involves recycling used ice packs and fining ice pack makers that do not replace SAP with eco-friendly materials like water, starch or salt.
Last year, the ministry trialed a project using recycled ice packs at a major butcher and meat market in Seoul's Majang-dong area in Seongdong-gu. Hyundai Home Shopping, the Seoul Metropolitan Government Merchant Association and Consumers Korea joined the experiment.
While the outcome showed strong demand for recycled ice packs, it also revealed that cleaning used ice packs costs more than making new SAP packs ― 200 won (17 cents) compared to 105 won each.
The test also highlighted ways for easier recycling, including making ice packs in standardized sizes and using the same materials for fill packers and wrappers.
The ministry said Wednesday it has prepared guidelines on recycling and has started distributing them to ice pack makers across the country.
"There are now 616 ice pack collecting boxes in 12 local governments nationwide that citizens can use," the government said. "Collection is also under consideration to be expanded to all city and local governments nationwide."
The guidelines encourage manufacturers to change their fill packer to environmentally safe materials. After a year's grace, the government plans to fine them, tentatively 93.9 won per 300 grams, for each SAP ice pack, starting 2023.
