Are electric vehicles, solar energy, and paper straws, which are considered representative examples of eco-friendly, really eco-friendly?
Although it is packaged with a positive image of being eco-friendly, some point out that it could be harmful to the environment if proper policies are not supported.
According to the Ministry of Environment, etc., related ministries are continuously improving and implementing related systems in the direction of maintaining or enhancing eco-friendliness in relation to electric vehicles, solar energy, and paper straws, and further improvement work is underway.
However, it is being pointed out that EVs, which are the core of the'Green Mobility' policy promoted by the Ministry of Environment's'Green New Deal', have more carbon dioxide emissions than those with internal combustion engine cars, including the production process.
Hans-Werner Jean, who was the director of the German ifo economic research institute, published a study last year that the carbon dioxide (CO₂) generated from electric vehicles was 10 to 25% higher than that of diesel vehicles last year.
In the same year, Volkswagen also said in its'Carbon Neutrality of ID.3' report that the carbon dioxide emissions generated during the production and operation of electric vehicles were higher than those of internal combustion engine cars.
On the other hand, the government emphasizes that as the proportion of new and renewable energy is gradually increasing, the carbon dioxide emitted when generating electricity is decreasing.
An official from the Ministry of Environment said, "If all of the electricity is made only by thermal power generation, carbon dioxide emissions related to electric vehicles may be higher than those of internal combustion engine vehicles." In the end, electric cars will be more advantageous.”
In addition, the battery life of an electric vehicle is only about 7 years, so more carbon dioxide may be generated in the process of recycling a scrapped vehicle or battery, and there is a risk of serious environmental pollution and explosion if the used battery is left unattended.
In this regard, the government plans to establish an eco-friendly and high safety management system and foster new industries through reuse and recycling.
For electric vehicles that have been subsidized under this plan, batteries must be returned to local governments when scrapped vehicles. It is expected that 1,464 batteries will be returned this year and 9,155 batteries by 2022, respectively.
In 2018, the government applied the Producer Responsible Recycling System (EPR) to 23 items including electric vehicle batteries, and established methods and standards for recycling used electric vehicle batteries.
Solar panel is a project that the government has promoted to spread eco-friendly energy to replace nuclear power plants.
However, as landslides caused by the recent rainy season followed one after another, some pointed out whether it was caused by the undeveloped green space caused by solar power generation.
In particular, there was a controversy that the large amount of solar panel waste would rather destroy the environment.
In 2016, when the photovoltaic business was in full swing, the indiscriminate installation of photovoltaic facilities in residential areas, forests, and agricultural lands led to protests from residents, and local governments also put a brake on it.
The government said that the number of solar accidents in mountain areas during this summer flood is only 1% of this year's landslides and 0.1% of total solar power in mountain areas.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said, "We will strengthen safety inspections for solar power facilities and supplement related systems such as permit standards." The Forest Service also said, "When permitting mountain solar power facilities, the disaster safety evaluation standards will be strengthened and the designation of areas vulnerable to landslides. I will review it."
Regarding the controversy over environmental destruction of solar panels, the'Responsible Recycling System for Producers' also includes solar panels, making it mandatory to recycle more than 80% of the collected panels.
The government plans to lay the foundation for the establishment of a system for collecting and storing waste solar panels and development of recycling technologies by 2022, and to introduce a system for utilizing producer responsibility for solar panels from January 2023.
The government banned the use of disposable items in stores as the'Law on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources' was amended in August 2018.
In the same year, Starbucks introduced paper straws instead of plastic straws for the first time in Korea, and luxury hotels and convenience stores also began using paper straws.
However, some point out that if paper straws are not recycled, they are not eco-friendly in the end.
Paper straws are considered environmentally friendly because they rot better than plastic straws.
However, due to the difficulty of separate discharge and recycling, paper straws are mostly incinerated, like plastic straws.
Considering that more energy is used in the production process of paper straws, it is less environmentally friendly than plastic straws.
"There is no eco-friendly disposable products, and the most eco-friendly one is not to use disposable products," said Soo-Yeol, head of the Resource Recycling Society and Economic Research Institute. I know that I have it."
In addition, in order to maintain the recycling collection system smoothly, the Ministry of Environment has assigned 9,730'resource management assistants' to 15,000 apartment complexes across the country, and removes foreign substances and performs administrative work at regional public/private recycling items. 1,82 people are put in to help
The collection and selection subsidies for PET trays, such as disposable lunch boxes and egg plates, which are burdensome due to the low selling price, have been paid from August.
(Photo = Yonhap News)