https://saebeomi.blogspot.com/2026/05/handong-friend-dongju-seo-from-pohang.html
the image is generated by ai
H (Home Region)
In my neighborhood, food delivery culture is incredibly common. Every day, especially on weekends, I see apartment recycling zones overflowing with massive amounts of disposable plastic packaging from cafes and restaurants. Even though reusable containers are occasionally offered as an option by some apps, very few people around me actually choose them because returning them feels like too much of a hassle.
O (Observation & Objective)
Looking closely at this issue, the main barrier to reusable container adoption isn't a lack of eco-awareness, but the inconvenience of the return process. Currently, consumers often have to wash the containers and keep them outside their doors for a long time until a courier picks them up. My objective is to bridge this gap by introducing a frictionless, rewarding return infrastructure right where people live, turning a burdensome task into a quick, everyday habit.
P (Plan)
To solve this dilemma, I propose the "Smart Eco-Return Hub System." When ordering food, consumers could opt for reusable containers by paying a very small eco-deposit. After eating, instead of washing the containers or waiting days for a courier, residents could simply drop the unwashed containers into a "Smart Return Box" located right inside their apartment complex or neighborhood hub, scanning a quick QR code to complete the process.
E (Execute & Example)
To execute this idea efficiently, we could suggest integrating the return system with popular digital wallets. Once the QR code is scanned at the Smart Return Box, the deposit could be automatically refunded as app cash, Naver Pay, or campus reward points. By leveraging localized return hubs and instant monetary rewards, this system would maximize convenience, significantly accelerating the popularization of reusable containers and drastically reducing daily plastic waste.
