Phased Ban on Disposable Paper Cups in Cafes to Be Introduced This Year

The government is moving to re-regulate the use of disposable paper cups inside cafes.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment included a plan in its recent presidential policy briefing to expand the ban on in-store disposable use from plastic cups to paper cups.

The restriction will be implemented sequentially starting with larger stores based on floor area, and is expected to include independent, privately-owned cafes as well.

The ban on paper cups in cafes was previously withdrawn in 2023 due to the burden it placed on small business owners, leaving the practice unregulated until now. It is estimated that more than 17 billion disposable paper cups are used annually in South Korea.

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