EcoDevshilt joined a two-day study visit to South Korea on 28–29 October 2026 to explore practical approaches to plastic waste management, recycling and upcycling, and how to adapt them for Khuvsgul.
Organised by Eco&Partners, the program me included visits to four initiatives: Seoul Upcycling Plaza, Plalab, Almang Market and Plastic Mill.
At Seoul Upcycling Plaza, we explored turning waste materials into new products. It happened through workshops, exhibitions, and creative activities. At Plalab, we learned how collected plastic is turned into everyday items, from sorting and shredding to moulding.
The visit to Almang Market showed ways to reduce packaging waste through refill services and the collection of used items. It also showed how a community can build waste reduction into daily shopping. It avoids single-use hygiene products and other waste that cannot be recycled.
The program also included a discussion with Korean waste management expert Dr Hong Su-yeol about the waste management process and the importance of long-term, community-driven campaigns.
What can we apply in Khuvsgul?
One important lesson was that collecting plastic is only the first step. Proper sorting and storage are essential before materials can be reused or processed. The visits also showed how waste management centres can become places for environmental education, community activities and small-scale upcycling.
For EcoDevshilt, these experiences provide useful ideas for developing the existing Waste Management Centre. Potential activities include improving plastic sorting and storage, organising educational visits and workshops, involving local schools and communities, and exploring opportunities to make and promote products from suitable plastic materials.
The study visit gave us an opportunity to learn from different approaches and consider what could work in Khuvsgul. The next step is to assess these ideas based on local needs, available resources and technical requirements.
