On December 23, 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that it held a "National Roundtable on Comprehensive Plastic Reduction Measures" at the National Assembly Members' Hall in Seoul to formulate a blueprint for the new government's plastic reduction policy.
At the roundtable, the government's comprehensive plastic reduction measures, developed through previous rounds of seminars on various topics, field visits, and discussions with stakeholders from various sectors, were unveiled. Opinions were solicited from industry, academia, civil society, and the public.
The Ministry of Climate and Environment's comprehensive plastic reduction measures aim to reduce household and business plastic waste by more than 30% by 2030. Specific plans include reducing plastic waste at sources by 1 million tons and expanding the use of recycled plastic materials by 2 million tons, reducing plastic waste emissions from the projected 10.12 million tons to approximately 7 million tons. Therefore, the comprehensive countermeasures will include source reduction of new plastic materials, sustainable design and production, expanded recycling and reuse, and measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the circular economy industry.
To achieve these goals, the countermeasures encompass several key measures:
Management of Single-Use Plastic Products: Starting in 2026, a separate fee system for single-use plastic cups will be implemented, listing the cost of single-use plastic cups (e.g., 200 won) on beverage receipts to enhance consumer awareness and encourage the use of reusable cups. Simultaneously, the use of straws will be restricted in principle, provided only upon request.
Adjustment of Plastic Disposal Fees:** The waste plastic disposal fee for ordinary plastic products will be increased in stages, gradually rising from the current 150 won per kilogram to reflect environmental costs.
Packaging Standards and Eco-Design: For takeout and express delivery packaging, measures such as lightweighting, standardizing container thickness and materials, and limiting the number of packaging layers will be implemented to prevent excessive packaging. A "Korean eco-design" approach will be introduced to strengthen environmental requirements from the production stage. Pilot programs will run until 2027, with formal implementation expected in 2028. Starbucks, the coffee chain, is promoting the use of its travel mugs.
Furthermore, major countries such as the European Union (EU) have recently introduced "eco-design regulations" requiring sustainable product design and have successively introduced policies such as mandating the use of recycled materials. The government also plans to introduce "eco-design" requirements to ensure sustainability from the design stage and to promote policies that gradually expand the scope of bans to reduce microplastics.
The Ministry of Climate Change plans to summarize the opinions collected at this seminar and formulate a final comprehensive strategy for reducing plastics. This strategy will be released in early 2026 after soliciting opinions from relevant industries and stakeholders and consulting with relevant departments.
Minister of Climate Change Kim Sung-hwan stated, "Plastics are closely related to our daily lives. Only by gathering the sincere opinions and innovative suggestions of all citizens can we improve our plastic reduction policy." "Based on a comprehensive plastic reduction strategy jointly developed with the public, we will strive to propel South Korea to become a leading nation in sustainable, circular, and green civilization."
