Seodaemun-gu Partners with Baedal Minjok, Universities to Cut Disposable Food Delivery Containers

Dedicated return bins to be installed in university dormitories

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Mayor Park Un-gi), is working with Baedal Minjok and local universities to expand reusable-container delivery services and reduce the use of disposable containers for food delivery. Drawing on the area's concentration of universities, the district plans to use campuses and dormitories as hubs for expansion and install dedicated return bins in student residences.

Park Ungi (center), head of Seodaemun District, joins representatives of participating organizations in a cheer after signing an agreement at the district office on the afternoon of the 6th to promote a delivery culture that uses reusable containers. Provided by Seodaemun District.

The district announced on November 8 that it had signed a business agreement in the mayor's office on November 6. Six organizations took part: Woowa Brothers, the operator of Baedal Minjok; reusable-container service provider EatGreen; Myongji University, Yonsei University and Ewha Womans University; and the Seodaemun-gu branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association. The aim is to establish a system covering every step from ordering to container supply, return, collection and washing, while increasing participation by both consumers and restaurants.

Under the agreement, Woowa Brothers will promote reusable-container orders through its app and raise public awareness. EatGreen will supply, collect, wash and resupply the containers. The universities will explain how to use the service on campus and in dormitories, and encourage reusable-container use at festivals and other events. The association's district branch will encourage restaurants to participate.

The initiative will also make returning containers more convenient, addressing a key obstacle to their use. The three universities will install return bins, primarily in student residences. Woowa Brothers will support their production and installation, while EatGreen will collect the containers once a day. This will allow students to return containers along their daily routes, even in dormitories where access by outsiders is restricted.

Customers can search for "reusable containers" in the Baedal Minjok app, find participating restaurants and place an order. After eating, they should close the lids without washing the containers, put them in the dedicated bag and request a return using the QR code. The standard collection method is pickup from the customer's doorstep. After collection, the stainless-steel containers undergo a seven-step hygiene process before being reused.

Starting in 2027, the district also plans to provide subsidies to local food delivery restaurants that use reusable containers and offer discount coupons to consumers. The aim is to extend the use of reusable containers, which has been tried at events such as this year's Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival and Sinchon Global University Festival, to everyday food delivery.

Mayor Park Un-gi said, "Rather than relying on grand slogans, it is important for carbon neutrality to bring about changes people can put into practice in their daily lives. Universities, businesses and the local community will work together to make ordering and returning delivery containers more convenient, so that choosing reusable containers becomes a natural part of everyday life."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.