Hello. I am Hyeongju Jin from Belgium.
If you want to know more about me, please refer to my introduction on this Handong Platform.
https://saebeomi.blogspot.com/2026/06/handong-friend-hyeongju-jin-from.html
1. Home (지역의 환경문제 파악)
'Apple in the Tree' Campus Cafe at Handong Global University 'Apple in the Tree' is one of the most highly frequented on-campus cafes, serving hundreds of students daily. However, there is a severe deficit in tumbler usage. The vast majority of customers opt for single-use plastic cups and straws, resulting in a massive, visible mountain of plastic waste generated and discarded on campus every single day.
2. Objective (환경문제의 원인 파악)
The Convenience Trap and Lack of Tangible Incentives The root cause is a mixture of psychological inertia and a lack of immediate, tangible benefits. Students lack the immediate alertness or motivation to carry a bulky tumbler around campus. Currently, the price of "convenience" (using a disposable cup) is zero, which means there is no compelling economic or practical reason for students to break their daily habit of choosing single-use plastics.
3. Plan (환경문제의 해결책)
Strategic Price Architecture and a Long-Term Loyalty Loop Instead of relying on passive, short-lived poster campaigns, we propose a structural "Price Restructuring" policy.
- Base-Price Adjustment: Raise the base price of all
drinks served in disposable cups by a set margin (e.g., 300-500 KRW).
- The Tumbler Credit: Pass this entire margin back
to tumbler users as an aggressive, immediate discount.
- The Eco-Stamp Loop: Implement a "5-Visit
Eco-Stamp" system where using a tumbler five times rewards the
student with a free beverage upgrade or drink, embedding sustainability
into a long-term routine.
4. Execute (해결책 실천 및 실행 방안)
Official University-Cafe Partnership and Institutional Mandate We should formally submit this operational restructuring model to the Handong Student Welfare Committee and the management of 'Apple in the Tree.' We will first pitch this as a "Green Campus Partnership" to calculate the financial feasibility. Phase 1 will update the cafe's POS (point-of-sale) system to integrate the adjusted pricing and digital stamp system. Phase 2 will focus on a permanent institutional mandate, proving that long-term economic structures, not just temporary awareness, are what truly solve campus climate challenges.
Your focus on 'Apple in the Tree' stood out because it directly connects to students' daily lives as a campus café they visit every day. You effectively presented a case based on your own observation of hundreds of students using disposable cups and straws daily, with the resulting trash visibly piling up on campus. You also accurately analyzed the root cause: there is no extra cost for using disposable cups, so students have no reason to change their habits. To address this, your solution proposes changing the price structure by raising disposable cup beverages by 300 to 500 won and offering a corresponding discount to tumbler users. Furthermore, adding an 'eco-stamp' system—providing a free drink after five uses—was a brilliant touch to ensure it doesn't end as a one-time campaign but turns into a lasting habit. What made this especially impressive was that it is practically feasible by simply adjusting the existing payment system without requiring separate facilities, and the plan is extremely systematic, proposing it to actual decision-makers like the Student Welfare Committee and café management, and dividing the implementation into two phases following a financial feasibility review.
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