South Korea eases courier packaging rules and encourages plastic cuts

South Korea has proposed revisions to its packaging regulations for courier shipments, introducing more flexible requirements for parcels containing fragile products and easing standards for companies using automated equipment or recycled and paper packaging materials. 

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has opened an administrative notice period for a partial revision of the “Notice on Simple Measurement Methods for Product Packaging Materials and Packaging Methods.”

The move follows the introduction of Disposable Packaging Methods and Standards in April 2024, which aims to cut packaging waste from parcel deliveries. The rules apply to companies with average annual sales of KRW50 billion (US$34 million) or more.

Under the standard, the packaging space ratio must not exceed 50%, although this requirement does not apply to packages where the combined length, width, and height are 50 cm or less. In addition, packaging is limited to a single layer, meaning only one stage of packaging is permitted.

The government is currently operating under a two-year guidance period. The proposed revision reflects industry stakeholders’ discussions, highlighting implementation difficulties. 

Kim Go-eung, director general for the Resources Circulation Bureau at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, says: “This amendment takes into account the practical applicability of regulations on excessive packaging in the parcel delivery sector.” 

“After the system is implemented, we will continue to listen to the opinions of various stakeholders and strive to operate the system in a realistic manner. At the same time, we will cooperate with relevant industries to reduce waste generated by excessive packaging.”

Supporting real-world operations

According to the revision, packaging used to protect products that are vulnerable to impact, such as glass, ceramics, and clay, will be exempt from the application of packaging standards when deemed unavoidable.

When companies use automated equipment for parcel packaging, the minimum size standard that exempts packages from the packaging space ratio will be adjusted to reflect practical realities in operations.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment plans to finalize and implement the revised announcement in this April.To attach a shipping label when packaging parcels, the combined length, width, and height must be at least 50 cm. However, when packaging small items, empty space inevitably increases. Therefore, the packaging space ratio requirement is not applied to packages measuring 50 cm or less.

“Due to the structural characteristics of the currently installed automation equipment, it is necessary to use cardboard boxes and plastic packaging materials that are at least 60 cm (width + length + height),” says the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. 

“The revised notification adds 10 cm to the current minimum standard of 50 cm when packaging is done using automated equipment that has been installed or is currently being installed.” 

Manual packaging will continue to follow the existing minimum standard of 50 cm.

Incentives for sustainable materials

The criteria for the packaging space ratio will also be eased in cases where plastic packaging use is reduced, or plastic film packaging containing recycled materials is used.

When 20% or more recycled material is used in parcel plastic packaging, the packaging space ratio will be relaxed from 50% to 60%. When paper cushioning materials are used, a 70% packaging space ratio will apply, considering that additional cushioning may be needed compared to plastic materials.

Additionally, packaging standards will not apply when two or more products are packaged together for sale or when packaging materials are reused. 

Products that are long or flat and therefore difficult to package will also be excluded if they meet specific criteria. Long products are defined as those where the length of each of the two shorter sides is less than 20% of the longest side, while flat products are defined as those where the second-longest side is at least four times longer than the shortest side.