A scene in which cup prices are separately charged when ordering a drink at a café and straws are provided only upon request may not be far from becoming everyday life. Last December, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment officially reported its 2026 key work plan and presented ten major tasks for implementing the 2035 NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution). Among these, the Plastic-Free Comprehensive Plan directly targets our everyday consumption patterns, including a system reform that separately charges for disposable cups and restrictions on straw use.
Why has the government introduced the plastic-free policy now?
A Necessity, Not a Choice: The Plastic-Free Policy
The backdrop to the government’s strong push for the plastic-free policy is the global environment. The European Union (EU) is already implementing a directive that completely bans single-use plastics, and the United Nations (UN) is also discussing global-level regulatory measures through the ‘International Plastics Treaty.’ As plastic use is directly tied to climate and environmental issues, our government is likewise pursuing the plastic-free policy in step with the situation in which individual countries and international organizations are taking action.
[Plastic-Free Comprehensive Plan Public Debate © Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment]
The problem identified by the Korean government is the ‘excessive use’ of plastics. Domestic waste plastic emissions were approximately 7.71 million tons in 2023, and if the current trend continues, they are projected to exceed 10 million tons by 2030. It is the government’s judgment that, even if plastic is an essential material in our lives, the consumption of disposables and packaging materials has exacerbated the problems of waste increase and environmental persistence.
Accordingly, the government has presented ‘source reduction,’ which reduces plastic from the usage stage, as the core of its policy. Alongside this, it plans to lower waste plastic generation to the 7 million ton level by 2030 by concurrently expanding the use of recycled raw materials. In this way, the plastic-free policy has arrived at cafés — spaces closely connected to daily life. The ‘separate cup billing system,’ which separately charges for disposable cups, and the restriction on providing straws in stores have already become topics of discussion. The government’s calculation is that by making consumers feel the cost and inconvenience at the consumption stage, it will reduce the unconsciously repeated use of disposables.
Between Environment and Reality: The Challenges of the Plastic-Free Policy
These policies go beyond simple regulation to herald a change in café culture as a whole. The ordering method in which disposable cups were the default gradually shifts to a structure premised on the use of reusable cups or personal cups, and straws likewise become an option rather than an ‘item provided as a matter of course.’ For example, when purchasing a drink priced at KRW 5,000, an additional KRW 100–200 for the use of a disposable cup would be separately added and indicated together on the receipt.
In this process, consumers become directly aware of the cost of cup use, and the responsibility for the choice regarding the use of disposables also returns to the individual. At the same time, as fines may be imposed for providing disposable cups free of charge under the revised law, cafés also face a situation in which they must contemplate changes to their operating methods premised on compliance with the system.
[Disposable Cup © Unsplash]
Meanwhile, voices of concern are also emerging from the field. Alongside the naturally ensuing complaints of everyday inconvenience, it is also pointed out that for small business owners with small-scale establishments, the process of implementing the system itself could act as an operational burden. In particular, the issue is also raised that confusion is unavoidable in actual practice, as there is no clear standard on how beverage prices and disposable cup prices should be separately determined and communicated.
The plastic-free policy has been put to the test between the unavoidable choice for the environment and the changes that daily life and business sites must bear. To reduce confusion, phased application and clear standards must be established together so that consumers and the industry can adapt to the change.
Moreover, there is a need to actively utilize incentives such as discounts when bringing a tumbler, so that the transition for the environment is perceived as a choice rather than a burden. When citizens naturally join in for the environment and feel that responsibility, the plastic-free policy will become a substantive opportunity to move toward a sustainable future.
by Editor L