EnvironmentSouth Korea: New product packaging requirements

South Korea published a Draft partial amendment of the “Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources”.

Manufacturers of products are obliged to indicate the packaging method (packaging space ratio and number of packaging) on the outside of the packaging material. Penalties are imposed if packaging method is not indicated on the outside of the packaging material.

The Act itself (which entered into force in 2019) is currently the main Korean regulation laying down rules for packaging and its recycling.  It requires that materials and structures of packaging be graded and evaluated according to their recyclability. Once the grades are determined, they should also be marked on the labels of products, which is to promote the production of easily recyclable packaging. The grades should be labelled on each product, but they have nothing to do with sales ban.

Additionally, the Act imposes a ban on PVC plastics and colored PET bottles.