2023.12.13
AT Rothmans reduces packaging, uses eco-friendly paper
By Ko Dong-hwan, The
Korea Times - BAT Rothmans boosted its environmentally sustainable operations
by reducing packaging sizes for efficient manufacturing and launching practices
to improve recycling of its used packaging materials, according to the tobacco
producer, Tuesday.
The company,
fronting its environmental principles Reduce-Replace-Recycle, has introduced
"eco-packages" that reduce the size of its products by 30 percent
comapred to the previous products. It cut down the volume of packaging
materials used and carbon emissions generated during their distribution,
according to the company.
The packaging uses
eco-friendly paper for easier recycling. Recently launched machines to collect
wasted products from users in the street also help the company further recycle
the packaging materials.
At its manufacturing
plant in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, the company has set up
solar-powered facilities to pipeline its products and treat wastewater with
minimized carbon emissions. The regulated practices last month earned the
company a recognition by the country's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy
at this year's Korea Energy Awards.
Outside its business
site, the company earlier this year started taking discarded cigarette butts as
its own responsibility and launched the "ggotbat" program, referring
to a Korean word meaning flower garden. The community service searches street
corners and alleys that are heavily littered with cigarette butts and invests
in turning the spaces into flower gardens. This year the company has introduced
20 such rejuvenated spaces across the country.
Seeing that
cigarettes poise a significant influence over the country's youths, the company
has also begun supporting them by encouraging them to share their ideas and
implement them into its business practices. The initiative is run by BAT
Group's annual competition, Eco League Presents Battle of Minds.
Since 2016, the
company has been partnering with Korea Welfare Services, an adoption service
provider in the country, to support orphans preparing to age out of the
institution and become independent when they reach their late teens by
providing educational and financial support.
Source: https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2023/12/419_364972.html