From Blackpink to Waterbomb... Showed 'Action' for the Earth

[Financial News]   The concert venues, which used to turn into trash dumps after the shows, are changing. They sell water packs made from eco-friendly materials and use the proceeds to purchase solar power. Discarded water guns are recycled to create new photo zones. The joy of the concert is enhanced with the value of 'environmental protection'.

Recently, at the Goyang Sports Complex where the Blackpink concert was held, pink 'trash piles' could be seen all over the concert hall after the show. It was water packs provided on-site for people visiting the K-pop artist's concert venue in the sweltering heat with a heatwave warning.

However, these water packs were not trash. At the concert, instead of plastic water bottles, more than 80,000 specially made water 'Blackpink Water' made from 100% recyclable paper were supplied. 

Blackpink decided to participate in the use of renewable energy through the new world tour 'Deadline' which started on this day. To this end, their agency YG Entertainment signed a purchase agreement for the 'Peace Renewable Energy Certificate' (P-REC) with the International Organization for Migration under the United Nations.

P-REC refers to a certificate given to renewable energy produced in conflict areas.


YG and Blackpink sell the eco-friendly paper pack water 'Blackpink Water' and donate part of the proceeds to activities related to resource circulation.

In addition, they decided to purchase solar power produced in the South Sudan region equivalent to part of the electricity consumption generated during this world tour. The purchased power will be reinvested in the South Sudan region to be used for power supply to higher education institutions that need reconstruction after the civil war. 

Around the concert venue, there were also booths such as 'Your Green Step' where spectators could measure their carbon footprint directly, and a booth by the British Embassy in Korea reviewing Blackpink's efforts to respond to climate change.

Tetra Pak Korea, which made the pink water packs, collaborated with the comprehensive environmental company HRM to selectively collect the paper packs after the Goyang concert. The aseptic packs collected over two days are expected to be recycled into products such as whiteboard paper and toilet paper.

Starting with the Goyang concert, Blackpink will perform 31 times in 16 cities around the world.



After 'Waterbomb Seoul 2025', held outdoors at the Global Stage in KINTEX, Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, from the 4th to the 6th, there were many concerns about the water guns that poured out.

Waterbomb is a water festival that combines water, music, and fashion. It first started in Seoul in 2015 and has become a representative festival symbolizing summer. However, it has always faced criticism whenever the event is held. It has been criticized for using a large amount of water, and recently, the plastic water guns piled up after the Waterbomb festival have been revealed, sparking a debate over resource waste.

The controversy did not last long.  On the 7th, about 1,500 colorful water guns arrived at the environmental organization 'TRU' in Gyeonggi Province. All of them were water guns used at the Waterbomb event, donated to the environmental organization for recycling and reuse.

TRU plans to repair and reuse or donate discarded toys and use them for environmental education. Some toys will be used to make 'Neul', a recycled plastic board.

A TRU representative told Yonhap News, "From the planning stage of the event, there were inquiries about whether the water guns could be donated, and it was carried out as such. The water guns that came in will be melted down and used to create future Waterbomb festival photo zones."

They added, "We don't think it's possible to create a festival without plastic, but please see it as an effort to recycle so that it doesn't become trash," and "If disposable items are used at the festival, collaborating with organizations that can recycle them is also a way."

y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon Kyung Reporter