GS25 partners with outdoor apparel maker to recycle used plastic bottles into clothing

SEOUL -- South Korea's major convenience store franchise GS25 has partnered with Black Yak, an outdoor apparel company, to recycle used plastic bottles into clothing. They will co-develop and sell products through offline and online stores. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is widely used to create plastic bottles and containers. Bottles can be collected and recycled into various products.

GS Retail, the operator of GS25, said in a statement on February 22 that the company has partnered with Black Yak to develop waste plastic products. GS Retail will install special containers to collect plastic bottles while Black Yak will break down and use waste plastics to make apparel products.

"We will replace vests worn by GS25 employees with recycled products made by Black Yak," a GS retail official was quoted as saying. The franchise said the partnership is part of its environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) management, a company operation method that focuses on the use of green energy and reduce the emission of greenhouse gas.

South Korea has a recycling rate of more than 69 percent. Garbage is sorted by hand at each household before being placed outside for collection under a compulsory waste collection program. Violators can receive a fine of up to 100,000 won ($90). In January, Seoul began resting an artificial intelligence-based recycling robot that can autonomously sort cans and plastic bottles from garbage.