Due to the recent popularity of K-pop, the amount of plastic used in album production is rapidly increasing. As a result, the problem of environmental pollution is being seriously pointed out.
Hive production alone is approximately 14 million tons per year, but measures to prevent overpackaging have not yet been improved, making it even more urgent to prepare countermeasures.
According to data submitted by the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee on the 9th from the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Ministry of Environment, the waste fee and producer responsibility recycling (EPR) contribution imposed on album sales from 2020 to 2023 did not meet the growth rate of album sales. .
Looking at the album production volume by year, it steadily increases by 31% to 38% from 58.07 million copies in 2021 to 76.26 million copies in 2022 and 105.46 million copies in 2023, while the annual waste burden increases by 105.5% in 2021 compared to the previous year. % △Increased by 101.1% in 2022 △Increased by only 11.9% in 2023.
The EPR contribution imposed on recyclable products such as PET, film, and synthetic resin also increases by 49.7% in 2021, 110% in 2022, and 67.6% in 2023, making it difficult to compare trends.
Looking at the status of waste levy and payment by music manufacturer from 2022 to 2023, among the entertainment companies that paid the waste levy, Hive produced the most plastic albums in 2022, with 729,147 kg, at 133.23 million won.
In 2023, Hive produced 1,405,057 kg of albums and paid the highest levy (150,711,830 won).
In addition, JYP Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment, and YG Entertainment followed suit.
The Ministry of Environment is exempting entertainment companies that produce less than 10 tons of plastic albums per year from plastic waste fees. In 2022, 6 out of 14 places were exempted from the levy for less than 10 tons, and in 2023, 5 out of 11 places were exempted. Plastic albums weighing 35,027 kg and 16,710 kg, respectively, were exempt from the levy.
It is known that there are currently more than 5,000 agencies registered in Korea. Considering that there are only about ten entertainment companies that produce albums weighing more than 10 tons, it is expected that the number of ‘hidden plastic albums’ released by most entertainment companies that are exempt from levies will be significant.
If plastic waste cannot be regulated due to excessive packaging of albums, there is also a plan to improve the levy standards. However, it has been reported that the Ministry of Environment has not established a plan to improve recycling fees.
The National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee pointed out, “As K-POP develops, sales of physical albums with goods attached to the fandom are rampant, raising serious concerns about environmental pollution.”
In particular, he emphasized, “Famous idol fan clubs even ran their own campaign called ‘The Sin of Plastic Albums.’ Government ministries must come up with a plan to strengthen the standards for plastic levies.”
Economy Queen Reporter Kim Young-i Photo News 1
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