Sejong, February 3 - The Korea National Park Service (KNPS, Chairman Song Hyung-geun), an affiliate of the Ministry of Environment, announced that the National Park's on-site employees would start wearing eco-friendly patrol uniforms made from recycled PET bottles from February 1, 2023. The KNPS prepared these eco-friendly uniforms to fulfill its role as a public institution concerning carbon neutrality. The KNPS made three types of patrol uniforms (those for winter, spring/autumn, and summer) with regenerated fibers produced from discarded PET bottles.

The employees of Korea National Park Service working in national parks across South Korea have tried on these eco-friendly patrol uniforms for two months since September 2022 to improve production quality. With employee feedback, the KNPS upgraded the uniform's comfort and functionality. By October 2023, it will distribute 22,465 uniforms to all national park rangers across the country. Making one uniform requires an average of 13 waste PET bottles, and about 292,000 waste PET bottles (500ml) will be used to produce these eco-friendly patrol uniforms this year, resulting in a carbon reduction of about 3,122kg. The FITI Testing & Research Institute (an authorized testing agency) tested the eco-friendly materials used in the uniforms. The regenerated fiber content in the winter, spring/autumn, and summer uniforms are 38%, 40%, and 58%, respectively.

The KNPS will offer opportunities for people to try on these eco-friendly patrol uniforms at the KNPS Headquarters Center for Public Relations (22, Hyeoksin-ro, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do) and the Chiaksan National Park's Center for Participatory Learning (891-1, Hakgok-ri, Socho-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do) from February 1 to 28. The KNPS will continue to pursue its carbon-neutral policies, such as rental service for eco-friendly lunch boxes, campground multi-use containers, and the operation of eco-friendly patrol vehicles.

Song Hyung-geun, Chairman of the KNPS, said, "National parks have a great impact on the environment and society, so we will take the lead in advocating carbon neutrality by wearing these eco-friendly patrol uniforms." He added, "We will consider introducing other eco-friendly workwear and uniforms."

Contact: Kim Dong Seob

Korea National Park Service / +82-(0)33-769-9403

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr