South Korea's environment ministry signed a pact with 23 major food and beverage chains, including Starbucks and McDonald's, to phase out single-use plastics across over 22,000 stores. Starting in September, customers who bring their own tumblers can save up to 800 won ($0.60) per drink through combined store discounts and government carbon neutrality points. The initiative also ends default plastic straws and bans double-cupping and hybrid PET cans that complicate recycling. The government plans to monitor the program for three years to shape future environmental legislation and aims to expand similar frameworks to funeral homes, sports stadiums, and amusement parks. This is a coordinated effort to normalize eco-friendly habits in a country with a fast-paced coffee culture and high single-use plastic consumption.
