Coupang is taking its eco-friendly logistics strategy a step further by introducing reusable delivery bags—tentatively named “Eco Bags”—for general merchandise, becoming the first in the Korean industry to do so. The e-commerce giant had previously used its reusable cold-chain bags, known as “Fresh Bags,” for grocery deliveries. With this expansion, Coupang aims to balance sustainability with consumer convenience.

Coupang Logistics Services (CLS) announced on Tuesday that it has begun trialing Eco Bag deliveries in select fulfillment camps in Incheon, Busan, and Jeju. The company expects the multi-use bags to significantly reduce environmental waste caused by conventional packaging materials such as cardboard boxes, plastic wraps, and Styrofoam. Replacing disposable materials with reusable bags could offer a scalable solution to one of the delivery industry’s most pressing environmental challenges, Coupang said.

In parallel, Coupang is also testing a new version of its Fresh Bag in parts of Incheon and Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. Fresh Bags are Korea’s only reusable insulated delivery containers and have served as a signature feature of Coupang’s sustainable cold-chain logistics, drastically reducing the use of Styrofoam.

The new model addresses concerns raised by delivery workers regarding the previous Fresh Bag’s hook-and-loop fasteners, which had added to their physical burden during deliveries. Following a labor inspection last year, the Ministry of Employment and Labor recommended that Coupang find ways to alleviate this strain. The redesigned Fresh Bag is part of the company’s broader efforts to improve working conditions while advancing its commitment to green logistics.

[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단 전재, 재배포 및 AI학습 이용 금지]