Get Eco-Money by Purchasing Local Food using Green Card
Public Relations Division
2022.11.14
114
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Minister Chung Hwang-keun, MAFRA) starts a pilot project to promote local food. From November 14, 2022, when consumers pay local food at direct stores selling locally produced agri-food (“Direct Store”) with Green Card, 10% of the purchase amount will be paid as cash points called Eco-Money Points*. *Eco-Money Points can be converted into cash, voucher, credit-card points, donation for eco-friendly initiatives, etc. For more details, please check the website (www.ecomoney.co.kr)
Green Card is a credit card that rewards users with Eco-Money Points when they purchase low-carbon, eco-friendly products. Eco-Money has been paid when purchasing products certified as Eco-Label, EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) and CFP (Carbon Footprint Labeling) by the Ministry of Environment, and those certified as Non-Pesticide, Organic and Low-Carbon by MAFRA. In addition, MAFRA and the Ministry of Environment decided to allow the use of Eco-Money points when purchasing local food at Direct Stores through working-level discussions held since last May with the aim to reinforce eco-friendly functions* of Direct Store such as environmental protection and carbon neutrality in accordance with the direction of the new Administration. * Local food helps protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions and waste due to its short Food Miles 〔(Food Miles is the distance food is transported from the time of its making until it reaches the consumer (total distance(km)×total food travelled(t))〕
In last July, out of 38 Direct Stores certified, two local-food Direct Stores in Areum-dong and Dodam-dong of Sejoing-Si were selected as the finalist of the pilot project through open competition. The pilot project will be implemented from November 14 till end of December after completing POS system development and testing, and marketing activities from August to October 2022. Director General Lee Sang-man of Rural Policy Bureau of MAFRA said, “The pilot project has a significant meaning as it achieves eco-friendly values of local-food Direct Stores such as carbon neutrality, environmental protection,” stressing that “based on the progress of the project, we plan to engage more Direct Stores in 2023 to benefit low-carbon consumer behaviors.”