South Korea: Bottled Water to Go Label-Free Starting 2026 – Global Trends in Plastic Reduction and Digital Labeling

Recently, South Korea officially announced a significant new environmental regulation: starting January 1, 2026, the nationwide manufacturing and sale of bottled water will fully transition to a “label-free” system. This measure, by eliminating plastic labels on bottles, aims to reduce plastic usage at the source and simplify recycling processes. It marks a critical step for South Korea in the field of packaging minimization and provides a new practical model for global plastic reduction initiatives.

Core Details of South Korea’s Label-Free Regulation: Clear Requirements and Transition Periods

The new regulation issued by the Ministry of Environment, focusing on the dual goals of “plastic reduction” and “information transparency,” has established clear implementation standards:

1. Core Prohibition and Information Delivery Method:

The use of traditional plastic labels on bottled water is completely prohibited. Core product information will be provided via QR codes on bottle caps.

For multi-pack products, relevant information can be displayed on the outer packaging or carrying handles, eliminating the need for labeling on individual bottles.

2.Mandatory Printed Information List:

The following five items must be directly printed on the bottle body or cap to ensure consumers can access basic information without scanning a code:

    *   Product Name

    *   Brand Logo

    *   Production Date

    *   Expiration Date

    *   Water Source and Contact Information

3.Differentiated Transition Period Arrangements:

Considering the equipment adaptation needs of small retailers, the regulation sets a flexible transition period:

Bottled water sold individually in physical stores: A one-year transition period (until 2027) is granted for gradual adaptation to scanning equipment.Online sales and multi-pack products: No transition period; full compliance is required from January 1, 2026.

4.Policy Background and Environmental Benefits:

According to statistics, approximately 5.2 billion bottles of drinking water were produced in South Korea in 2023, with 65% already being label-free, laying a market foundation for the new rule. The government estimates that full implementation will reduce plastic usage by about 2,270 tons annually, demonstrating significant plastic reduction effectiveness.

Global Trend: Label-Free Plastic Reduction and Digital Labeling Become Mainstream

South Korea’s label-free reform is not an isolated case but part of a global trend to reduce single-use plastics and promote packaging digitization. Multiple countries and regions have taken the lead, forming industry experiences worth referencing:

1.Asian Market: Driven by Corporate Pilots and Policy Guidance

Japan: Since 2020, leading beverage brands like Suntory and Asahi have gradually expanded the market release of label-free water and tea drinks. The core goal is to simplify recycling processes and improve recycling rates by eliminating plastic labels, accumulating substantial practical market experience.

Taiwan, China: Has integrated digital labels and QR code traceability into its overall circular economy strategy, using digital means to meet both environmental goals and information disclosure needs.

Mainland China: Some food and consumer goods brands have initiated pilots, using QR codes to display product information, continuously exploring application scenarios and implementation models for digital labeling (e.g., the label-free bottled water jointly launched by Nongfu Spring and Sam's Club, featuring 100% recyclable bottles).

2.Europe: Digital Product Passports Leading Change

Underpinned by the Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU is advancing the "Digital Product Passport" system. This initiative plans to transfer core information for various products entirely to digital platforms, fundamentally reducing the use of physical labels and further cutting down on single-use plastic consumption.

3.Industry Practice Validation: Significant Plastic Reduction Effects of Label-Free Approach

Coca-Cola's trial data in Europe indicates that for every 1,000 label-free bottles produced, approximately 2.8 kg of CO2 equivalent emissions can be reduced by eliminating the label separation step in the recycling process. This validates the practical environmental value of the label-free approach.

Supporting Policy Reinforcement: South Korea Mandates Use of Recycled PET

To build a complete “reduce-recycle-reuse” circular system, South Korea had previously introduced a mandatory recycled PET (rPET) usage policy for PET beverage bottles, deepening plastic pollution control from a material circulation perspective:

1.Phased Mandatory rPET Usage Targets:

Phase 1 (Starting 2026):Producers of colorless PET bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages with an annual production or filling volume exceeding 5,000 tons must use at least 10% rPET.

Phase 2 (Starting 2030):The applicable threshold is lowered to producers with an annual production volume exceeding 1,000 tons, and the mandatory rPET usage ratio is increased to 30%.

2.Dual Certification System Ensures Safety:

To ensure the safe application of recycled materials in food packaging, the regulation introduces a “dual certification” mechanism, focusing on assessing:

*The decontamination effectiveness of the recycling process.

 *The chemical safety of the materials (with particular attention to risk control for Non-Intentionally Added Substances).

This policy provides regulatory support for the large-scale application of rPET while also imposing higher requirements on corporate supply chain management and quality control.

From South Korea’s label-free regulation to the global promotion of digital labeling and the mandatory use of recycled materials, plastic reduction, circularity, and sustainability have become irreversible trends in the packaging industry. This transformation requires not only policy guidance but also the collective participation of enterprises, industry associations, and consumers. More innovative practices are expected to emerge, propelling plastic pollution governance into a new phase