[Consumerwide_ HueSoung, Jun Reporter / Yohan, Bok Reporter] Earlier, the delivery app industry was known as the main provider of environmental pollution because of the enormous use of disposable containers. Nevertheless, the delivery app industry is recovering honor by accelerating environmental protection through ESG practice. The presentative case is the use of reusable containers, which can be considered as a practice of consumption value.

The environmental pollution is severe because of using disposable containers for delivery. Last March, according to 'Plastic Korea 2.0 Report' which research work has made by Jayongcheol and his team from the Chungnam University Environmental Engineering in cooperation with Greenpeace, there has been an increase in yearly use of disposal plastic consumption for one person in 2020 from 2017.

The use of disposable plastic cups has increased to 102(56.9%) from 65, water pet 109 (13.5%) from 96, and disposable plastic bags 533개(15.9%) from 460. Based on the domestic population in Korea, which is 51.84 million, a total of 5.3 bn plastic cups were consumed. When we suppose the height of a cup to 11cm, this is about 1.5 times the distance between the earth and moon. In the case of a water pet, it counts 5.6 bn (in standing position), which can be calculated as 14 rounds of the earth, considering a bottle being 10cm diameter. For plastic bags, it's 27.6 bn. This is an amount which can cover 13 times that of Seoulsi when we suppose them as 20liters of plastic bags.

The yearly disposable plastic consumption for one person appeared to be 109 pet water bottles, 102 disposable plastic cups, 533 disposable plastic bags, 568 disposable plastic delivery containers. This means that each person consumed 1314 (19.0㎏) plastics during one year. When it is converted to the entire population of Korea, it is approx. 870 thousand tons.

The delivery app industry has begun offering reusable containers to reduce the use of disposable delivery containers. The reusable container delivery order service, which offers the food in reusable containers and bags, is provided when the consumer chooses a reusable-container-use restaurant through the app category or banner at the time of order. After the meal, customers can return the bag by using the QR-code system. The QR-code is attached to the bag and customers simply need to repack the reusable containers in the bag and place them in front of their homes. ITgreen, which takes care of providing in cooperation with Seoul-si, collecting and pickup, cleaning of the disposable containers.

Because of the subsidies from Seoul-si and the Ministry of Environment, there is no additional cost for using a reusable container delivery service. Stainless materials used for reusable containers are strong to maintain heat and customers can enjoy warm food. It is hygienic since no food smells or stains remain in the containers. Additionally, it is possible to use several times, which can be considered as a futuristic item. Just by one person using a reusable container for one meal, 31kg of green gas and 39kg of waste can be saved during a year.

Yogigo is the first runner of reusable containers. Yogiyo has begun the reusable container delivery service in October 2021 as a demonstration project. Since then, their reusable container delivery service has started officially in February 2022. The reusable container delivery service has extended from Seoul Gangnam district to Gwanakgu, Gwangjingu, Seodaemungu. Last quarter of 2022, the average order of reusable containers has increased 7 times in one year since they began business.

Baemin, Coupang Eats, Ttanggeoyo also began a reusable container order delivery demonstration business in August, 2022. Baemin is providing the reusable container order delivery service in 10 capital areas, which include Gangnamgu, Seochogu, Gwanakgu, Gwangjingu, Seodaemungu (in Seoul), Gimposi, Hwaseongsi, Ansansi, Yonginsi, Anseongsi by May. On the 25th, Siheungsi reusable container delivery order service is starting. Coupang Eats and Ttangggeoyo are working on it in a similar way.

If so, which app users use the most on the reusable container delivery service after 1 year of service history? Based on the ITgreen data, Yogiyo has most customers who choose the reusable container delivery service, because Yogiyo was the first service provider. ITgreen has not opened in public the order statistics on each delivery app regarding an agreement.

Reusable container consumers are increasing rapidly. The statistics were not opened in public. The food taste score of reusable-container-use restaurants are showing a speedy growth. Currently, in the domestic area, including Seoul and Gyounggi, approx. 600 restaurants are membership of reusable containers. ITgreen is planning on having an additional 500 restaurants by June.

An ITgreen-related person said during the interview with Consumerwide, "It's been about 9 months since we've been cooperating with various delivery apps, considering the duration of time, the use of reusable containers is rapidly increasing. Compared to the number of orders at the beginning  of the business, approx. 22 times the user rate has increased. In addition, the reuse rate is about 80%, which proves a positive response from users. In the beginning, the concept of reusable containers was rare among restaurants, so user rates were low. As more customers enjoy reusable containers, and sales records of restaurants have increased along with it, more restaurants are willing to use reusable containers."

To see more effectiveness in environmental protection through reusable containers, the service needs to be expanded in the entire domestic area, not only the capital area.

Hence, initiativeness of delivery apps is necessary. Alternatives to increasing participation of restaurants along with a promotion for reusable container delivery service are necessary as well.