As South Korea gears up to host international talks on plastic waste, the K-pop industry is facing scrutiny for its environmental footprint. Critics highlight the paradox of a booming music industry that relies heavily on physical CD sales, which contribute to significant plastic waste.
K-pop and Environmental Impact
Despite K-pop being a cultural phenomenon, its marketing strategies are raising eyebrows. Fans often purchase multiple CDs not just for music but to collect photos of their favourite band members. This has led to a staggering increase in CD sales and, consequently, plastic waste.
- Over 119 million physical albums were sold in 2023.
- Plastic usage by K-pop agencies surged to about 800 metric tons in 2022.
- This marks a 14-fold increase in just five years.
Criticism from Activists
Activists from the group Kpop4planet are campaigning against the industry’s practices, especially as delegates arrive in Busan for the United Nations negotiations on a global plastic waste treaty. Kim Na-yeon, a vocal figure in the movement, mentions that most fans are streaming their music instead of buying CDs, underscoring the wastefulness of the current system.
– “Most people listen to music via streaming and don’t even own CD players,” says Kim, highlighting the unnecessary churn of CD production.
Government Initiatives and Industry Response
The South Korean government touts high recycling rates—over 73%—but environmentalists argue this figure is misleading. Many plastics thrown into recycling ends up incinerated or dumped. Activists claim the actual recycling rate may be as low as 27%.
On the industry side, agencies like Hybe, the company behind BTS, are exploring alternatives like Weverse albums, which allow fans to access content digitally.
Future Directions
While South Korea boasts a highly developed recycling infrastructure, its heavy consumption of plastics, partially driven by the K-pop industry’s demand for physical merchandise, requires immediate attention. As international calls to action grow, K-pop agencies may need to rethink their business models to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability.
Will changes come in time to make a difference or will the plastic waste continue to pile up?