[Consumerwide - Jinil Kang Reporter / Yohan Bok Reporter]  The household industry began to support the life safety of citizens with visual impairment through Braille tag production and distribution to distinguish frequently used household items and support for citizens with visual impairment. Besides, some businesses are providing life convenience for people with visual impairment as a part of their ESG management. Daily household products, including kitchen liquid dish soap, washing detergent, shampoo, fabric softener, fabric smell remover, rinse, body washer, and hand soap are often designed in a similar size, shape, and texture. This can be uneasy for consumers with visual impairment. For instance, they might mistake a fabric softener as a washing detergent. Furthermore, it can be a cause of safety accidents.

In awareness of the issue, 8 household product businesses decided to continue their household Braille tag support project this year in cooperation with KCA. They used to support Braille tags for dish soap, washing detergent, shampoo, fabric softener and rinse items. And, this year, Braille tag is applied to fabric smell remover, rinse, body wash, and hand soap items additionally. The total donation units are 6530, which is 1.6 folds from a year prior. The tags are passed to the 6530 families who have a member with visual impairment through 17 domestic centres of Korea Blind Union.

The following contents are details of each project supported by various businesses. LG H&H supported products, including Ellastine shampoo and rinse, dish soap, washing detergent Tech, and fabric softener Aura, which is worth 25 million won and 40 million won in contribution to the Braille tag project. LG H&H has already developed five types of fabric softener that contain the Braille alphabet. In the process of developing the container, people with visual impairment participated to enhance readability and accurate texture, and they adjusted the product effectively. LG H&H plan to expand Braille marks on more household products including detergent, shampoo, and toothpaste in the future. An associated person from LG H&H said, "We will try our best to enhance the convenience of 250 thousand customers with visual impairment in Korea by adopting a Braille system for washing products that are closely related to daily life."

P&G Korea donated household products, including Downey fabric softener, Febris fabric smell remover, Head&Shoulder shampoo, Pantene treatment, which is worth 20 million won, while producing Braille tags to secure the safety of citizens with visual impairment on a daily basis. Donations and Braille tags are distributed to citizens with visual impairment in domestic areas. The accumulated product donation of P&G Korea is 69 million won over two years. An associated person from P&G Korea said, "We are grateful for continuing our social contribution activity to cover citizens who are exposed to safety issues. It would be wonderful if our Braille tag could enhance the lives of people with visual impairment. We will try to advance in embracing society through meaningful activities."

L'Oréal Korea is sponsoring citizens with visual impairment by donating 6530 household Braille tag set and products worth 25 million won. An associated person from L'Oréal Korea said, "We are glad to participate in a project which enhances the safety and quality of life of people with visual impairment. We will strive to support citizens with visual impairment to maintain an easier life."

Amorepacific is giving away Braille stickers, which can be used for cosmetics and household products in 10 categories including skin toner, lotion, shampoo, and rinse (cosmetics household products). The Braille letters include alphabets and numbers that are processed with double-sided images, which can assist users who can not read Braille letters. Amorepacific staff members with visual impairment participated in analysing the Braille letter sticker production. Amorepacific has also been making and providing stickers designed with high contrast which enhances readability of users with low-vision. The Braille stickers are going to be passed to the Korea Welfare Foundation for the Visually Handicapped, schools for children with visual impairment, and individuals and institutions upon request. In relation to this, an associated person from Amorepacific said, "Depending on the cosmetics, the position of the product name or size is different. Moreover, customers with low vision can have a hard time distinguishing containers that have similar shapes." Focusing on the issue point, Amorepacific designed Braille stickers so that customers of all ages and impairments can enjoy cosmetics and household products.

Besides, some businesses are supporting life convenience of people with visual impairment.

McDonald's began installing and facilitating kiosks for customers with impairment in their stores, which is the second globally and the first try in Asia. Currently, it's been installed in 16 stores in Seoul, and it's going to be expanded to overall areas in Korea. The kiosk has a voice guide and a touchpad which can assist the process of figuring out product information and menu order.

Hanhwagroup distributed the 2024 year's Braille letter calendars for people with visual impairment. The Calendar project began in 2000 because of an idea by Kim Seounyeon, the Chairperson of Hanhwagroup, who wished that people with visual impairment would have the joy of enjoying the new year. Prior to this, he received an email from a person with visual impairment asking for help. The Braille letter calendar counts a total of 40 thousand units, including the table calendar type (30 thousand) and wall calendar type (10 thousand). It can be applied through the Hanhwagroup social voluntary work homepage till the 10th of November.