Korea to ban disposable cups, plastic straws by 2027

The government will seek to ban disposable cups and plastic straws to reduce waste gradually by 2027. In a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, 10 government bodies including the Ministry of Environment reported their “natural circulation” initiative, which aims to cut down urban life waste in all processes from production and consumption to management and recycling. 

The plan is to eliminate disposable products from the consumption stage by 2027. The government will gradually ban disposable cups and plastic straws, which can be replaced with multi-use ones, starting at restaurants and cafes. The government has already taken action to ban serving drinks in plastic cups at coffee shops. Excessive packaging will be restricted for supermarkets and retailers, which will be forced to use eco-friendly materials.