[Consumerwide_Hayoung, Chang Reporter / Yohan, Bok Reporter]  Cosmetic containers are becoming a main cause of environmental problems. Because, in many cases, it is not easy to recycle cosmetic containers.

On the 28th, Korea consumer agency announced helpful information. The Korea consumer agency has announced their report on recycling class and marks indication on cosmetics container. The research was carried out through 294 products from the 15 top cosmetics distribution and sale businesses in the domestic market, and 16 official online shopping malls. There were 62.6%(184 products) of containers that were classified as 'hard to recycle'. Only two products were classified as the best, and 45 products as excellent for recycling. Products that have a marked ability class for recycle were 56.1% (165 products).

What would be the consumer perception of it? Consumers evaluated cosmetics businesses' efforts at environmental protection as insufficient by giving an average of 2.6 out of 5 full points. Among the consumers who participated in the survey, 42.6%(298 people) considered 'reducing packaging' as the first thing to do for environmental protection. Besides, ▲ using containers good for recycling 18.1%(127) ▲ using containers easy to recycle 16.1%(113) ▲facilitating container collection program 68.7%(61) ▲ extending refillable product 7.0%(49) ▲extending refill staion 6.4%(45) were suggested. In addition, it appeared to be that consumers were aware of the cosmetics package recycling system at a high rate, since 84.9% (594) of the entire participants knew about the system.

The important part is that 87.3% (611) responded that they would purchase a product with an eco-friendly container if the products are under the same condition. This can mean that they are willing to practice consumption value by using eco-friendly containers.

In spite of this, cosmetics businesses appeared to be not generous about class markings for recycling, which is compulsory to recycle the product package. There were only 8 products out of 45, which were marked with best or excellent recycle class. And, only 1 place had a recycle reliability class and recycle separation information among 16 onlinemalls.

While 87.3% of consumers who're willing to purchase products with eco-friendly containers, this kind of step is not easy to understand.

If businesses truly care about sales increasing through consumption value, they have to be more initiative in marking the recycle classes.

The problem lies that even if the container of the cosmetics has the recycle marks, it still does not resolve the issue.

Followed by environmental organizations, cosmetics containers are collected as trash without being recycled. It doesn't matter whether it has recycling marks or not. Hence, environmental organizations are demanding the cosmetics businesses collect on their own for recycling. The cosmetics businesses have got to make extra effort for environmental protection if they don't want to be the ones who cause environmental issues with containers. Consumers can practice by purchasing cosmetics with eco-friendly containers. Through this, we need to extend use of eco-friendly recyclable containers. This is a consumption value. Cosmetics businesses need to extend the use of eco-friendly containers while collecting the empty containers. 

However, governments may need to bring forward alternatives, regarding the 'unconditional disuse of cosmetics containers', which has been indicated by environmental organizations. Otherwise, all the work of consumers and businesses may go right down the drain.