• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.32 no.11
• /
• pp.745-756
• /
• 2023

Growing stringent global regulations in Korea poses a threat to corporate sustainability. Companies must respond strategically to navigate these regulations and avoid greenwashing. Objective of this research was to analyze how Korean companies are responding to the global trend of reducing plastic use and propose improved management strategies. Seven indicators were developed to assess companies' post-plastic strategies and applied to analyze the sustainability reports of Amore Pacific and LG Household & HealthCare. These indicators included, 1) disclosure of plastic raw materials used by weight or volume, 2) disclosure of recycled plastic raw materials used by weight or volume, 3) disclosure of waste recycling, reuse amounts, and disposal using waste treatment method 4) strategies to reduce environmental impact of plastics, 5) plastic packaging, reduce, recycle, reuse, and composting (in the real environment), 6) plastic management roadmap for the circular economy, and 7) education for sustainable plastic management. Based on the review of considered companies, we propose in-listed sustainable plastics management strategies: disclosing the ratio of plastic raw materials and recycled raw materials for all products, considering recycling rate throughout the product value chain, and not only for the production phase, reviewing carbon dioxide emissions based on life cycle assessment rather than reducing plastic consumption, studying the biodegradability of biodegradable plastics in natural environment such as soil, considering the consumer's perspective.

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.337-349
• /
• 2017

This study analyzed contents of 12 kinds of middle school technology Home Economics(1) textbooks, 9 high school Technology Home Economics textbooks and 2 high school home science textbooks based on the 5 areas and 9 subject areas of 'Understanding of market and consumer', 'Reasonable consumption', 'Resolution and prevention of consumer problems', 'Formation of desirable consumption culture', 'Career and occupation related to consumption life' for the purpose of analyzing connectivity of contents in the area of 'consumption life' in the Technology Home Economics curriculum revised in 2009, and analyzed connectivity of contents on the basis of 'developed', 'repeated', 'different' and 'reduced' based on the results of analysis on the contents of the textbooks. Analysis results show that middle school Technology Home Economics(1) textbooks are mainly dealing with problems related to consumption life and ways to practice healthy consumption life, high school Technology Home Economics textbooks emphasized understanding of consumption culture in modern life and practice and method of sustainable consumption life, and high school home science textbooks contain overall contents of household financial management and consumption life. In general, contents were distributed as 'developed' 11 times (32.4%), 'repeated' 6 times (17.6%), 'reduced' 13 times (38.2%), 'different' 4 times (11.8%). Contents of the majority of textbooks are composed suitable for the curriculum achievement standard, but connectivity of 'developed' cannot be considered a desirable type of connectivity. various formation plans as suggested shall be devised not to let learning elements of 'consumption life' area discontinued considering school levels and achievement standard of curriculum.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.825-842
• /
• 2014

This study is to analyze essays on the practices of consumption happiness which the students who took the class 'consumption and happiness' wrote. To do this, 108 essays which the students submitted in both semesters in 2013 were analyzed qualitatively. As a result, the 4 themes such as 'reflection on the life of consumption', 'practices', 'changes', 'recognized meanings of the class' were extracted. Firstly, some students were reflective on their acts of consumption in everyday life. They have consumed in an undisciplined, unthoughtful manner and have experienced various negative emotions in their consumption, and have the motive of change. Secondly, the study showed the consumption of clothes, eating, house, leisure, body, digital, wedding is variously included in their practices of consumption. In the category of common practices, 'sharing consumption giving a bigger happiness', 'sustainable consumption caring about the earth and the next generation', 'smart consumption through discipline', 'responsible consumption considering community and producer', 'field trips and consumption of experience as learning' are included, and 'meaningful feeling of happiness through practices' are extracted. Thirdly, they have experienced positive changes such as reduction in consumption desire and increased concern with mind, relationship and conscious consumption. Fourthly, students think of the class as a necessary, useful, practical subject, and have a precious opportunity to learn many aspects they don't think about before, and don't practice, and say that they persistently continue to practice. Therefore, to promote the happiness as a consumer and consumer citizen leader in the society, it's necessary to offer a related class in more universities.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2024

The projected growth of global meat production over the next decade is attributed to rising income levels and population expansion. One potentially more pragmatic approach to mitigating the adverse externalities associated with meat production involves implementing alterations to the production process, such as transitioning to cultured meat, hybrid cultured meat, and meat alternatives. Cultured meat (CM) is derived from animal stem cells and undergoes a growth and division process that closely resembles the natural in vivo cellular development. CM is emerging as a widely embraced substitute for traditional protein sources, with the potential to alleviate the future strain on animalderived meat production. To date, the primary emphasis of cultured meat research and production has predominantly been around the ecological advantages and ethical considerations pertaining to animal welfare. However, there exists substantial study potential in exploring consumer preferences with respect to the texture, color, cuts, and sustainable methodologies associated with cultured meat. The potential augmentation of cultured meat's acceptance could be facilitated through the advancement of a wider range of cuts to mimic real muscle fibers. This review examines the prospective commercial trends of hybrid cultured meat. Subsequently, the present state of research pertaining to the advancement of scaffolding, coloration, and muscle fiber development in hybrid cultured meat, encompassing plant-based alternatives designed to emulate authentic meat, has been deliberated. However, this discussion highlights the obstacles that have arisen in current procedures and proposes future research directions for the development of sustainable cultured meat and meat alternatives, such as plant-based meat production.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Organic Agriculture Conference
• /
• 2009.12a
• /
• pp.281-281
• /
• 2009

Although national and regional environmentally friend agriculture (EFA) and food development programmes such as the Life-Food Development Plan (LFDP) have been established in Korea, some policy measures in these programmes seem to be unsuitable for Korean organic farming development. Policy measures tend to support external input purchases of organic fertilizers rather than market development actions such as providing consumer information, research, education, training and statistical data collection. The development of an organic action plan (OAP) for Korea is therefore considered essential for the sustainable future of organic farming in Korea. The purposes of OAP are 1) to define and set the clear goals/targets for the organic sector development, 2) to integrate various organic stakeholders and public institutions in partnership, 3)to focus on specific issues with tailored measures and 4) to integrate and develop different policy measures (Stolze, 2005). Most EU member state countries have developed their own OAPs and each reflects its own priorities with regard to organic sector development. This study compares and contrasts the Welsh, England and EU OAP with the Korean Jeonnam Life-Food Development Plan (LFDP) in order to facilitate the development of the organic food and farming sector in Korea. Early action plan, for example, the first Welsh OAP(1999) focused support on developing the supply of organic products whereas later action plans (e.g. England OAPs in 2002 and 2004 and the second Welsh OAP in 2005) focussed more on developing consumer demands for organic products. The EU OAP (2004) also aims at market support related to consumer demand and then organic farming production for its environmental and other social benefits. OAPs not only provide specific issue-solving tools but also perform a role as providing a focus for organic sector development as a whole. The Korean LFDP provides issue-solving tools but plays no regulatory role such as policy development, harmonizing various policy measures and conflicting factors and providing evaluation tools for further development. A national-level OAP could also facilitate international trade of organic products. To achieve better harmonized and sustainable approaches for the Korean organic industry, National- as well as regional- regulatory policy systems are urgently required in the form of an Organic Action Plan.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2000

An EMERGY analysis of the main energy flows driving the economy of humans and life support systems consists of environmental energies, fuels, and imports, all expresses as solar emjoules. Total EMERGY use(720.0 E20 sej/yr) of the Nakdong River Basin is 96 per cent from imported sources, fuels and goods and services. EMERGY flows from the environment such as rain and geological uplift flux accounted for only 4 percent of total EMERGY use. Consequently, the ratio of outside investment to attracting natural resources was large, like other industrialized areas. EMERGY use per person in the Nakdong River Basin indicates a moderate EMERGY standard of living, even though the indigenous resources are very poor. Population of 6.66 million people in 1996 is already in excess of carrying capacity of the basin. Carrying capacity for steady state based on its renewable sources in only 0.226 million people. EMERGY yield ratio and environment loading ratio were 1.07 and 28.52, respectively. EMERGY sustainability index, a ratio of EMERGY yield ratio to environment loading ratio, is therefore less than one, which is indicative of highly developed consumer oriented economies. This study suggests that the economic structure of the Nakdong River Basin should be transformed from the present industrial structure to the social-economic structure based on an ecological-recycling concept for the sustainable use of the Nakdong River.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.19 no.spc
• /
• pp.78-81
• /
• 2011

This study compares and contrasts the Wales and England Organic Action Plans (WOAP and EOAP) and a Korean regional Life-Food Development Plan (KLFDP) in order to facilitate the development of the organic sector in Korea. Early action plans, for example, the first WOAP (1999) focused support on developing the supply of organic products whereas later action plans focused on marketing and consumer. OAPs may not only provide specific issue-solving roles by proposing new policy measures but also perform a regulatory role as a controller for organic sector development as a whole. The current KLFDP seems to stick to the former role but hardly has the latter role such as setting priorities, harmonizing various conflicting policy measures and factors and performing evaluation process for further progress. To secure better harmonized and sustainable development of Korean organic farming sector, constructing comprehensive national-level organic action plan, which has policy developing, implementing, regulating, evaluating and evolving functions, might be the most efficient choice.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.93-104
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Using green supply chain management (GSCM), the current study focuses on the fashion design industry as a central player in promoting an eco-conscious consumption culture by creating awareness of the need to produce and consume eco-friendly fashion products instead of only capitalizing on the shifting consumer tastes, preferences, and expectations. Research design, data and methodology: This study selected a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) checklist as a research methodology. The purpose is the detailed and disinterested evaluation of all the published information related to the topic of the research. Results: This study suggests brief solutions of the GSCM based on the five categories of sustainable fashion activities that contribute to the development of eco-friendly fashion designs and marketing strategies. This strategy employed by firms to promote sustainable production and consumption is a major factor in enhancing consumers' environmental awareness. Conclusions: The study delves into how brands in the fashion design industry provide a platform for collective action by investing in educational campaigns and transparent communication, collaborating with various stakeholders to maximize awareness of the need for eco-conscious consumption and the availability of green fashion products. Practitioners should consider developing a comprehensive framework to assess the feasibility of different awareness strategies and purchase stimulation approaches.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.593-611
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study is to explore the consumption cultural meaning of Community Currency Movement - a substitute currency institution - through an analysis of consumption behaviors and attitudes of Hanbat-LETS participants, who are recognized as the most active among Korea Community Currency Movements. The analytical method adopted in this study is the participation and observation method, along with the Focus Group Interview. Major findings are as follows: Hanbat-LETS participants experienced the following consumption behaviors and attitudes: economical consumption behavior creating the currency value, sustainable consumption behavior, consumption behavior shared with community, consumption behavior free from the need of competition and ownership, satisfaction from offering one's property, equal status and relationship among members, merry and happy attitude toward life. Community Currency Movement implies the consumption cultural meaning as followings: emergence of alienation through the realization of community society, practice of environment-friendly value, activation of region economy, development of one's ability and means of redemption of unemployment, construction of trustworthy society via trust.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.98 no.2
• /
• pp.203-211
• /
• 2009

The study was conducted to examine consumers' awareness and perceptions on forest certification and their willingness to buy and pay price premium for certified wood products especially for selected four wood products. A total of 136 residents in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province were interviewed in the autumn of 2008. Although only 24.3 percent of the consumers are aware of forest certification, 82.4 percent of the respondents recognized the need and significance of forest certification. In general, 77.2 percent of the respondents were willing to buy certified wood products. Majority of the respondents, 84 out of 136 respondents (61.8%) expressed their willingness to pay (WTP) from more than 0 percent to less than 10 percent. Consumers' average WTP for certified wood products was estimated to be 5.6 percent. From the results of the study, lower priced wood products, such as copier paper (WTP=9.8%) and wood frame (WTP=11.6%), have higher price premiums than high priced products, such as wood table (WTP=6.8%) and wood flooring (WTP=7.6%). In conclusion, there could be feasible markets for certified wood products in South Korea as four out of five consumer are willing to pay more for such products. For the forest certification system to be adopted and widely accepted, the perceptions of forest stakeholders including consumers should be further increased.