Opened in Seoul in 2016, the Picker is the country's first franchise selling "zero-waste" eco-friendly items such as cleaning brushes, scrubbers, zipper bags made of silicone, rubber gloves and dishcloth.
By Lee Dasom
Photos = The Picker
April 22 marks the 54th Earth Day, which was founded in 1970 in the U.S. to raise awareness of environmental pollution. In 2009, the United Nations officially declared International Mother Earth Day.
To mark Earth Day in Korea, the country since 2009 has run "Climate Change Week" featuring programs such households turning off their lights for 10 minutes at night, tree planting and performances to promote carbon neutrality.
Even beyond this week, people can still promote carbon neutrality in everyday life by pursuing a "zero-waste" lifestyle.
Zero waste refers to the reduction of the use of disposable items and minimizing waste by separating trash, eating fewer side dishes, using personal cups, avoiding disposable goods and not buying overpackaged products. In 2022, March 30 was designated by the U.N. General Assembly as International Day of Zero Waste to boost interest in and efforts toward environmental protection.
To easily access and practice zero waste in daily life, shopping at zero waste stores is nationwide recommended.
This business sells eco-friendly products that generate no trash in the process of production, distribution and sales. Around 300 such stores are operating across the country, according to a search result of the app Kakao Map.
The items available at such stores range from daily consumables such as toothpaste and toothbrushes to stationery. Classes are also offered on topics like making soap or other household goods or introducing techniques for a zero-waste lifestyle.
The Picker, the country's first "zero-waste" store, sells not only eco-friendly goods but also eco-friendly ingredients such as organic white rice, pesticide-free beans and brown rice pasta.
In 2016, the Picker, the country's first zero-waste store, was launched in the Seongsu-dong neighborhood of Seoul. Owner Song Kyongho said his business not only sells unpackaged products but also shows the big picture of consumption.
In Korea, he said, public awareness of zero waste has risen thanks to the frequency of disasters and adverse environmental issues such as the danger of microplastics, outbreak of COVID-19, fine dust and abnormal climate.
"We can see that deep insight and action are being taken when people urge companies that use unnecessary packaging and additional materials to change their behavior to elicit major change or when more voters eye climate-related policy," he added.
Green Baton Cooperative, another entity seeking to resolve environmental issues in daily life, also champions a zero-waste culture. It hosted in February a related workshop for zero-waste store owners in Seoul.
"Zero-waste stores in Korea allow people to make aggressive efforts toward resolving the environmental challenges we face," the cooperative's chief Yi Jiyeon said. "Recently, more people believe that zero waste doesn't just mean reducing the use of plastic."
"A zero-waste lifestyle ultimately begins by preventing the results of one's actions from damaging others' lives and recognizing and living together with unseen effects and flows."
"I am confident that just by examining a zero-waste product, you can directly or indirectly experience the standards through which it was made and thus enjoy a richer experience on a visit," Song added. "I recommend first reflecting on your life carefully rather than just blindly buying goods."
dlektha0319@korea.kr
