Currently going viral in Korea, the Plastic Free Challenge is part of an ongoing campaign organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The challenge aims to raise awareness of how individuals and businesses can reduce their plastic waste simply by using their own mugs or tumblers. Participants take a photo of their tumblers or mugs and post it on social media with the hashtag #PlasticFreeChallenge (in Korean), and nominate two others to do the same. Each post earns 1,000 won (about 1 USD), which goes towards making new tumblers. Proceeds from the sale of the tumblers are channelled towards WWF and environmental protection activities on Jeju Island. Participation by Korean celebrities, politicians and businesses has helped the challenge become a viral sensation.

Kicking it off, Head of PSA Korea and President of Pusan Newport International Terminal (PNIT) Seok Lee took on the Plastic Free Challenge with PNIT colleagues on 7 March 2019, when he was nominated by a business associate Mr. Ki Hong Park, President of Korail Logis Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Korea Railway Corporation. In turn, Seok Lee then nominated the other two heads of PSA’s Korean terminals, President of Incheon Container Terminal (ICT) Chang Gyu Jeong, and President of PSA Hyundai Pusan New-port Terminal (PHPNT) Kyu-Bong Kim, and a wave of #PlasticFreeChallenge photos began to sweep through PSA Korea!

Even before taking part in the challenge, PSA’s Korean terminals have been trying to minimise their use of disposable items, with all new and existing employees of PNIT were given their own mugs with self-chosen messages printed on them.

Well done to everyone in PSA Korea who participated in the Korean Plastic Free Challenge and took the opportunity to rethink their dependence on single-use plastics. Thank you for doing your part to reduce waste and champion environmental sustainability alongside PSA’s global Go Green efforts!