Heads of State Agencies Join Campaign to Reduce Plastic

Heads of state-run research institutes here have been actively participating in a campaign to reduce plastic waste in order to join the global movement to avert environmental contamination.

The "relay" campaign, dubbed Plastic Free Challenge, was jointly designed last November by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Jejupass, which operates a rental car price comparison site for Jeju Island.

Participants in the environmental movement are required to post a photo of their tumblers on social media with the hashtag, #NomorePlasticIslands.

Each hashtag saves 1,000 won ($0.90), which will be used for environmental conservation activities on the resort island as well as for donation to the WWF.

On March 8, Choi Hee-yoon, who heads the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), joined the campaign with the employees of the institute.

"We decided to join the eco-friendly campaign as environmental pollution caused by plastic usage has become more serious globally," Choi said. "KISTI will give every effort to limit the usage of plastic cups."

Choi called on Kim Jang-seong, who heads the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Kim Sung-soo, who heads the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, to be the next participants in the relay campaign.

Ahead of Choi, Han Seung-heon...