Companies partner with P4G Seoul Summit to make sustainable changes

Social Affairs

Published: 27 May. 2021, 20:04 Updated: 01 Sep. 2021, 15:45

Companies partner with P4G Seoul Summit to make sustainable changes

Staff at Ikea Korea, partnered with the P4G Seoul Summit, introduce sustainable home furnishing products displayed in all four branches in the country as the company aims to reduce carbon emissions and encourage sustainability. [IKEA KOREA]

Eco-friendly e-commerce deliveries, sustainable furniture and plastic bottles without labels are some goods and services provided by the companies partnered with the P4G Seoul Summit as a part of efforts to reduce the carbon footprint from the private sector.

On April 20, a group of 23 companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the P4G Seoul Summit Preparatory Office to jointly promote the climate conference hosted by the Korean government in a sustainable and carbon-neutral manner.

They include a range of companies such as Coupang, Ikea Korea, Jeju Province Development Corporation’s Jeju Samdasoo and Tree Planet, signifying the partnership between the private and public sectors for green growth to coincide with the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit which takes places Sunday and Monday.

Coupang, the only e-commerce company participating in the second P4G Summit, showcases its eco-friendly Rocket Delivery model. It uses its own reusable insulated “eco-bags” for fresh food delivery, eliminating the need for Styrofoam boxes. [COUPANG]

Coupang is the only e-commerce company participating in the second P4G Summit, where it will showcase its eco-friendly Rocket Delivery model, using innovative technology and logistics to reduce carbon emissions and wasteful packaging.

Under Coupang’s streamlined business model, the company directly purchases products from a manufacturer and sends them to customers from logistics centers. This method differs from the conventional e-commerce model, where sellers receive products from manufacturers, repackage them and deliver them to customers through courier companies.

Over 75 percent of Rocket Delivery parcels are delivered in plastic delivery sleeves, which do not require excessive packaging or cardboard boxes, according to the company.

Coupang tries to minimize packaging and uses corrugated boxes made from wood pulp, a biodegradable substance, and introduced its own reusable insulated shopping bags for fresh food delivery, eliminating the need for Styrofoam boxes.

It also uses delivery trucks on both inbound and outbound trips, reducing travel mileage.

“Coupang is firmly committed to the aims of the P4G Summit to respond to climate change and achieve carbon neutrality through close cooperation between governments and the private sector, and we are pleased to participate in this meaningful event,” said Coupang Representative Director Kang Han-seung in a statement, adding that the company strives to “become a model for green e-commerce across the globe.”

Ikea’s Kungsbacka kitchen drawer front is made out of 25 recycled PET-bottles to reduce waste and use resources efficiently. [IKEA KOREA]

Swedish home furnishing retailer Ikea Korea as a partner of the summit is likewise introducing activities to support efforts for green recovery towards carbon neutrality and a sustainable future.

Ikea Korea said that as a part of its “People and Planet Positive” strategy, it aims at taking actions to become circular and climate positive and strive for zero waste in its operations.

This includes aiming to use 100 percent renewable or recycled materials in all Ikea products by 2030. It has reached 70 percent as of 2020.

It also aims for 100 percent electric or zero-emission home deliveries in markets by 2025 and to generate renewable energy equivalent to 132 percent of the total energy used in all operations.

Ikea Korea said that 25 percent of home deliveries are now made by electric vehicles (EVs) since the first roll out in August last year, exceeding its initial goal to convert 20 percent of home deliveries to EV delivery by the fiscal year of 2021. All trucks are expected to be replaced by 2025.

Another sustainable effort is Ikea Farmare, an urban vegetable farm demonstrated for the first time globally at its Gwangmyeong branch in Gyeonggi last year. Vegetables raised there are used in the Ikea restaurant.

The company plans to expand buyback and resell services at all its stores nationwide to extend the life of furniture starting in November.

Ikea Korea has also been promoting the importance of sustainable living in showrooms of all four stores in the country since the beginning of the month ahead of the P4G.

It has introduced sustainable home furnishing products such a table lamp made of bamboo, a durable, fast-growing plant, an LED work lamp with higher energy efficiency and a kitchen range made from recycled plastic bottles.

The company has also operated green buildings with sustainability solutions to reduce energy, water and waste in its operations by installing solar panels and geothermal heating and cooling systems at all Ikea stores in Korea.

Jeju Samdasoo launched its “Green Edition” label-less plastic bottles for the P4G Seoul Summit, which will be collected and turned into eco-friendly products. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Korea’s best-selling water brand Jeju Samdasoo launched its “Green Edition” label-less plastic bottles for the summit. These bottles given out to the attendees will be collected and turned into eco-friendly products as a part of the company’s efforts toward carbon neutrality and sustainability.

Tree Planet, a social venture startup, plans to donate plants to school classrooms after the summit, aiming to offset the summit-induced carbon emissions and introduce a greener learning environment for students.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]