Editor's note- ESG, which contains sustainable ideas through environmental and social responsibility and management, is taking a place as mandatory, not an option. Yet, quite a number of businesses are still ignoring this matter. ESG management is directly linked to consumption value. Thus, we are reporting on the steps of leading ESG management businesses this year, hoping to bring messages to both consumers and businesses that are not aware of their importance.

[Consumerwide - Hayoung Chang Reporter/ Yohan Bok Reporter] 2023 was a year of change for Innisfree. Innisfree has announced new logo and slogan to establish a new identity. Yet, ESG activities focusing on the environment have not changed. Innisfree made an effort for ESG management, having weighed on the environment this year according to its brand identity, "The New Isle," which is an island where everyone becomes perfect while enjoying nature freely in the middle of a green sea full of unknown energy. Innisfree tried to minimise environmental impact through brand packaging and constantly hosted forest-making campaigns globally. They picked up trash on beaches. Raw material from Jeju was traded fairly, concerning both the region and the environment.

E: effort for the environment, containing brand identity.

Innisfree is minimising environmental impact from the product development stage to packaging. For less plastic and easier recycling, Innisfree is applying monomaterials such as PP or metal-free pumps and recycled plastics or glass to more products. Innisfree is applying Coral Leef-Friendly products to all sunscreen products to protect the ocean environment while expanding its refill cosmestics lineup. At the same time, Innisfree is using FSC-certified paper packaging and boxes for official online mall delivery, and FSC paper and bean oil ink are used for product boxes.

Besides, Innisfree has been continuing the empty bottle collection campaign since 2003 in response to climate change. In particular, customers are rewarded with 300 beauty points for the return of one empty product bottle. If there are a lot of bottles, they can be sent via delivery service using an app. Collected bottles are recycled and born again as product containers, finishing materials for interiors, and household products. On 2023 Earth Day, Innisfree hosted a refill event and presented a picnic mat made of plastic waste recycled cotton in collaboration with Kitty Bunny Pony.

Since 2012, Innisfree has been involved in forest protection activities, which include the prevention of desertification, loss of soil, and flooding; restoration of forests after fire; preservation of protected areas of nature; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands. Between 2012 and 2022, Innisfree planted 255,561 trees on an accumulated basis in 11 regions of the domestic area and overseas. In 2023, there will be approximately 37,000 planted trees in domestic and overseas areas, which include Inner Monglia, Hong Kong Peng Chau, and Thailand Mangroves.

S: Social responsibility, connecting environmental steps, and Jejudo.

The social contribution activities of Innisfree were connected to environmental activities. In September, during the Save Jeju Bada project, a total of 40 people (30 participants and 10 staff) participated in a beach cleaning event at Jeju Hamdeuk Beach. They collected a total of 602.6kg of ocean trash.

Along with brand identity, Innisfree has been sponsoring the Innisfree Moeum Fund through a 10 billion won of donation commitment since 2015.

The Fund is enhancing the discovery, preservation, and creation of Jeju nature and cultural heritage value by promoting the nature and culture of Jeju and also training people to open the future of Jeju. Innisfree has also hosted the Clean Jeju campaign through Inni Dawoomi (a nature preservation activity) since 2011. By choosing representative spots in Jeju, Innisfree has initiated ocean trash and wood waste collection activities at the beach. In 2017, they changed the Innisfree Green Expedition to Jeju Dawoomi and began expanding participants to include university students in domestic areas and Jeju local citizens to clean damaged oreums. Dongbak (common camellia) and Torreya nucifera ingredients are made from the Dongbak flower and the seed of Torreya nucifera in Jeju Dongbakmaeul and Bijamaeul. Grandmothers from those villages collect them, and Innisfree purchases them directly, which is a type of fair trade that cares for both local society and the environment. This can create new jobs in the area while contributing to the local society. It also minimises environmental damage.