● Does the Ministry of Environment prevent bundled discount sales?



In June, the Ministry of Environment was overturned.

This is because a media outlet reported that if the Ministry of Environment's repackaging policy is implemented, discounts such as 1+1 will become difficult.

Concerns were expressed that this could block the sale of bundles such as ramen and beer.



There were over 10,000 comments on this article alone.

There were many criticisms of the Ministry of Environment.

The main content was that it was not common sense to block discount events due to packaging regulations.



● The repackaging guidelines and the phrase'price discount' were misunderstood and



the report was made possible because the document'repackaging guidelines' was released.

This is because, as an example, products that have been repackaged for'price discount' are included in the regulation.




The Ministry of Environment explained that it means not to'repackage' for a price discount, and that it is not preventing the price discount itself.

However, the controversy did not easily subside.

The Ministry of Environment even held an emergency briefing, but rather did not clearly explain the scope and exception criteria for regulated repackaging.



● Reissue the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, prohibit repackaging of entire products with plastic In the



end, the Ministry of Environment decided to re-adjust and announce the guidelines.

This announcement is the'repackaging detailed standard expansion consultation body' released on September 21st.

The detailed consultation bill defined'repackaging', which is the subject of regulation, and even if'repackaging', the exception to the regulation was set.



The key to the regulation is to prohibit repackaging of the entire product with synthetic resin materials such as vinyl.

(This does not apply to repackaging of paper in the form of a box.) It is easy to understand when you think of a 1+1 event at a convenience store.

Convenience stores pick up 2 items twice when purchasing 1+1 products.

In the future, even in hypermarkets, when selling special products such as 1+1, do not bundle packaging.




Looking at the text of the detailed agreement, it may be difficult to understand right away.

So, I'll give an example or explain it easily.

The subject to implement the detailed agreement can be divided into manufacturers and distributors.



★ Subject to repackaging regulations



① Products that have been produced at the factory or imported products (including those packaged by the importer) are additionally packaged in the sales process such as


distributors and agencies -> This applies only to distributors and agencies.

This means that domestic manufacturers will prohibit secondary packaging in the form of re-wrapping products made in factories or imported products with synthetic resin.



② Event planning bundle packaging such as provision of N+1 form for temporary or specific distribution channels, gifts and gifts (except for the components of the main product)


-> This applies to manufacturers, distributors, and agencies.

Milk and detergent are typical for repackaging in N+1 form.

In the future, it is not possible to pack two pieces of milk or detergent and repackage them in plastic.

It is also prohibited to repackage in plastic with gifts or gifts related to milk or detergent.

However, it is allowed to sell tied with tape or hooks.




③ Understanding of 3 unit products and comprehensive products sold individually (except for small-capacity products with the contents of 30mL or 30g or less per package)


-> This is a manufacturer, distributor, or agency.

In particular, manufacturers cannot repackage three or fewer products that can be sold individually at the factory and release them.

However, it is difficult to find these three or less products easily.

Ramen is a typical case that has been repackaged from the manufacturer's stage.

However, as most ramen is repackaged in more than 4 pieces, it is excluded from this regulation.




④ While falling under any of the above ①~③, limited to packaging with a film or sheet made of synthetic resin (including biodegradable resin products containing synthetic resin)


-> Synthetic resin has a disadvantage that it does not spontaneously rot.

Because of this, the alternative material is a biodegradable resin product that decays faster.

Usually, biodegradable films are included in synthetic resins to quickly rot, but the Ministry of Environment decided to determine this type of film packaging as a subject of regulation.



★Exception criteria



① In case of primary food


-> This

applies to

vegetables, fruits, fish, grains, and fruits.




② When products that are not sold individually are bundled and packaged as a unit product (eg, chocolate, gum, etc.)


-> 1 box of gum is applicable.

There are usually 5 pieces of chewing gum in a bucket, but they are not sold individually.

In terms of form alone, it corresponds to repackaging, but in this case, we decided to exclude it from regulation.




③ transport, transportation, hygiene and safety, including the inevitable or re-normal packaging and packaging methods other than packaging for packing materials and if packed number is recognized, the same as the Ministry of Environment


-> press I also do not come up is illustrated Environment Recycling I asked the policy section.

The person in charge also said that there is no product that is currently an example.

It is said to be a provision made with the possibility of an emergency open.

It is included in the regulation of repackaging, but it means that if there is a problem with transport or sanitation, such as primary food, it will be recognized as an exception.



④ When a consumer asks for gift packaging


-> If a consumer wants to wrap a gift, distributors or agencies allow repackaging.





There are opinions that regulations are weak due to a detailed consultation plan for repackaging prepared by the Ministry of Environment,

excluding regulations in the case of bundling gifts with tape

.

First, the packaging material was limited to synthetic resin.

In addition, the form of bundling gift products with tape or hooks has been removed from this regulation.

The Ministry of Environment previously agreed with hypermarkets to eliminate autonomous packaging to reduce excessive use of tape by consumers.

However, this time, the retailer's tape use regulation was not achieved.




● Can I regulate only distributors?



Some point out that this regulation is focused only on distributors and agencies.

Director of the Research Institute for Resource Recycling Economics, Flood Heat, says the regulation has little effect on manufacturers of large companies that produce products.

There are ③ subject to the repackaging regulation, but ramen was excluded because it was limited to '3 or less'.

He is concerned that in the future, the balloon effect may be created by the manufacturer to replace the bundle repacking that distributors cannot.



● Effective from January of next year, and from July of small and medium-sized enterprises



This detailed consultation plan will be implemented from January of next year.

However, we decided to give the system a period of guidance until March next year to give the system time to settle in the field.

Small and medium-sized enterprises decided to give them more time to implement it from next July.

The Ministry of Environment predicts that if this system is implemented for one year, it can reduce 8% of the annual waste vinyl generation.

Waste generated in 2019 amounted to 340,000 tons.

If it is reduced by 8% compared to 2019, a significant amount of 27,000 tons will be reduced.



● Estimated reduction of 8% of annual vinyl waste production



This regulation by the Ministry of Environment took the first step in reducing unnecessary packaging waste.

I went to a hypermarket and listened to consumers directly.

The majority responded positively.

One consumer said, "I just need to pick it up twice, right?" and said that picking up twice is not very cumbersome.

As it is said that the beginning is half, I hope that this system will be established and packaged waste will be reduced as much as possible.