[Hwankyung Ilbo] Invented by Leo Baeckland in 1907, fossil fuel-based synthetic resin plastics revolutionized human life. Their durability and ability to shape-shift have made our daily lives easier and led to the development of industries ranging from automobiles to airplanes to medical devices.

Over time, however, it turns out that the benefits of plastics have also created major problems. The proliferation of single-use plastic products has led to serious environmental problems such as ocean pollution because they are so durable and difficult to break down.

In fact, according to a 2022 OECD report, global plastic production reached about 4.6 billion tons in 2019 and is expected to increase to about 1.23 billion tons by 2060. The resulting greenhouse gas emissions are also expected to increase from about 2 billion tons in 2020 to 5.4 billion tons in 2050.

Experts pointed out that the problem of plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions is due to the "linear economic system" of large-scale production and large-scale disposal of plastics, and advised that plastics should move away from the linear economic structure to a "circular economic system" that enhances the circularity of resources and products to reduce waste generation.

In the 'Circular Economy Implementation Plan' announced in 2020, Europe is accelerating the strategic planning and implementation of specific circular economy business models, including seven core industries such as packaging and plastics, and strengthening the realization of carbon neutrality through innovation and support for each industry sector.

The Republic of Korea also proposed the creation of a low-carbon industrial ecosystem through 'revitalizing the circular economy' as one of the 10 tasks of the '2050 Carbon Neutrality Promotion Strategy' announced in December 2020. Furthermore, in the K-Circular Economy Implementation Plan announced in December 2021, the core industries of the circular economy are the same as the seven core industries of the EU's circular economy, showing that it is moving forward in line with the global trend.

Furthermore, the company has given some benefits to products made of "biodegradable plastics," which are non-hazardous and self-degradable after being reviewed by the Ministry of the Environment, by giving them an eco-certification mark, and has continued to try to eliminate plastic disposables by banning the use of disposable products in cafes after a one-year trial period and requiring them to use multi-use or degradable products.

However, in November last year, the Ministry of Environment unilaterally and indefinitely extended the transition period for the ban, which was two weeks away from ending. At the same time, it rescinded the ban on plastic bags in convenience stores and supermarkets.

In response, an official from the Ministry of Environment said, "The withdrawal of the policy does not mean that we are encouraging the use of disposable products. The Ministry of Environment is revising the policy to encourage members of society to refrain from using disposable products on their own rather than regulating them." "Also, during the trial period, we received a number of complaints about not being able to use disposable paper cups and plastic straws in the field, and one of the reasons why the policy was not well established was due to the high cost burden on small businesses."

However, when it comes to plastic bag use, "alternatives to plastic bags, such as biodegradable bags, paper bags, and pay-as-you-go bags, are well established, which is why we are withdrawing the ban."

In other words, the Ministry of Environment made two contradictory arguments for reversing the policy: one was that settlement was not going well, and the other was that settlement was going well.

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