South Korea to Implement Pilot Project about Resource Efficiency Grading System for Smartphones and Cordless Vacuum Cleaners from 2023

On July 14, 2023, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of South Korea held the inauguration ceremony of "K-Eco Design Council" at the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss the plan to advance the pilot project for the Resource Efficiency Grading System. With the participation of Samsung, LG, Dyson, Cuckoo Homesys and other manufacturers, a pilot project for the Resource Efficiency Grading system will be implemented for smartphones and cordless vacuum cleaners. Based on the results of the pilot project and industry opinions, the MOTIE revealed its policy to establish evaluation methods and grading criteria specific to each product group.

The Resource Efficiency Grading System is a system to evaluate and grade the resource efficiency of each product from various aspects, such as durability, ease of repair, ease of recycling, and use of recycled materials, and to provide relevant information to consumers. It also encourages the production and consumption of resource-efficient products by raising consumer awareness.