Sookmyung Women's University has decided to eliminate disposable plastic bags from its snack distribution event amid growing concerns over packaging material supply disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East. The move aims to reduce single-use waste while supporting students during exam season.
The university said Monday it held a midterm exam snack distribution event at Sunheon Hall plaza on its campus in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to mark its 120th founding anniversary. The university president and academic affairs committee members personally handed out snacks to students ahead of first-semester midterm exams.
Unlike previous events, disposable plastic bags were not provided. Students were asked to bring their own eco-bags or reusable shopping totes to carry snacks. The decision reflects rising concerns over packaging material supply instability driven by surging international oil and raw material prices.
The snacks included smoked eggs, smoked quail eggs and yogurt, prepared for approximately 1,200 students. Kwon Ik-seop, an executive director at Farmers and a parent of a class-of-2026 freshman, sponsored 1,200 smoked eggs and 1,200 smoked quail eggs, expanding the event's scale.
The university said it aims to combine student support ahead of exams with practical efforts to reduce single-use items in daily campus life. "This is an attempt to lower the environmental burden even in routine events like snack distribution," a Sookmyung Women's University official said. "We hope this serves as an opportunity for universities to take the lead in sustainable practices."