Korea Cosmetic Association (KCA) and Korea Packaging Recycling Cooperative (KPRC) introduced the “Reverse Recycling Scheme of Cosmetic Containers”[1] on December 8, 2020. The new scheme intends to minimize the negative impacts of packaging recycling requirements on the cosmetic industry.
Background
On December 25, 2019, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) enacted the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources [2], which banned PVC materials and colored PET bottles. The act also required enterprises to evaluate the packaging material grade.
The manufacturers or importers shall grade the recyclability of specific packaging materials into four levels: “best to recycle," "good to recycle," "normal to recycle," and "difficult to recycle." Additionally, the recyclability grade needs to be attached to the products. (Find more about the recycling requirements at ChemLinked Article [3])
To protect the product’s efficacy, most cosmetic containers are colored and made of complex materials. As a result, plenty of cosmetic containers are subject to "difficult to recycle." The "difficult to recycle" mark may make consumers think the cosmetic brand is non-environmentally friendly. This has led to complaints from the cosmetic industry about losing K-beauty’s competitiveness and destroying the "natural cosmetics" image, which is one representative image of Korean cosmetics (Learn more about K-beauty at ChemLinked [4]). Therefore, KCA and KPRC launched the “Reverse Recycling Scheme of Cosmetic Containers” to help enterprises break through this dilemma.
The new scheme requires cosmetic enterprises to reverse collect the containers of the products from consumers. By participating in this project, the enterprises can have their products exempted from labeling the "difficult to recycle" mark. The authorities planned to recycle 10% cosmetic packaging materials by 2025. In 2019 the rate of recycling was at 0.56%. |
1. Companies subject to Reverse Recycling Scheme of Cosmetic Containers:
Manufacturer of importers of cosmetics with glass bottles, PET bottles, or other synthetic resin packaging materials can apply for joining the reverse recycling scheme to KPRC. KPRC will then notify MOE with the company information and the recycling plans. After approval, the “difficult to recycle” label can be omitted.
2. Reverse Recycling Procedure
After using the cosmetics, the consumers can return the containers to any of the following places connected with the cosmetic companies:
Brand shop
Convenient store
Supermarket
Shopping mall
Other business places selling cosmetics
The cosmetic companies need to pay for the recycling fees to KPRC and transport the containers from the aforementioned places to the recycling factories. The recycling fee varies based on material types, transportation costs, and other.
3. Application Method
Cosmetics manufacturers and importers shall submit an agreement to participate in the “Reverse Recycling Scheme of Cosmetic Containers” and a recycling plan to KPRC before December 31, 2020. Both need to be filed in Korean (Consult with ChemLinked if you need translation service). The scheme will last for five years. Any company can apply to withdraw from the project; however they will simultaneously be responsible for labeling the recyclability grade ("difficult to recycle") onto the respective products.
4. Enterprise Obligations
Cosmetic enterprises involved in the scheme should submit the below documents to KPRC within the stipulated time:
1 | Recycling plans | Before January 31 each year |
2 | Records of produced or imported cosmetic containers of the whole year | April 15 of the next year |
3 | Records of recycled cosmetic containers of each season | April 15, July 15, October 15, and January 15 next year |
ChemLinked’s note
A non-eco-friendly label may damage the brand image among Korean consumers. Therefore, we suggest overseas enterprises participate in the "Reverse Recycling Scheme of Cosmetic Containers."
The overseas companies can take part in the project by having their importers represent them, as only importers are eligible to join the project. (To export cosmetics to South Korea, the enterprise initially needs to establish an importer as a responsible distributor. The importer is representative of the overseas brand in South Korea. Find more about S. Korea cosmetic requirements at CosmePedia [5].) As mentioned above, once the importer participates in the project, the imported cosmetics needn't label the recyclability grade.
We also recommend importers to check the cosmetic container materials at first. If the materials are evaluated as "best/good/normal to recycle," it's unnecessary to be involved in the project. Check how to assess the material recyclability at ChemLinked article [6].
Furthermore, to attract customers to return the cosmetic containers, the importer might engage the marketing methods such as "change containers for free samples." An environmental promotion advertisement in the stores can help collect the containers and enhance the image as a green environmental protection brand.
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