Do you know how used-up empty cosmetic bottles are recycled? You may have a vague idea of how empty bottles are recycled, regardless of whether they are cleaned for reuse or melted down to make new bottles. This is a special zone where you can experience the process of empty cosmetic bottle recycling – innisfree Empty Bottle Recycling Zone. You all are welcome to Empty Bottle Recycling Zone where discarded, empty bottles are filled with beauty, cherishing the value of nature and resources.

 innisfree Empty Bottle Recycling Zone is situated in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. This special zone is designed to deliver the value of resource recycling through the green campaign by innisfree, titled Empty Bottle Recycling Campaign began in 2003 to reward points for those who bring empty cosmetic bottles to innisfree and recycle these bottles into another products and/or interior props. Up to now, over 14 million bottles were collected, which saved 2,000 trees every year, thanks to the active participation of customers.

 With the theme of 'Filled with Beauty Once Again,' innisfree tried to add beautiful value to things that served their purpose and became obsolete through the Empty Bottle Recycling Zone. As part of its effort, two 80-year-old Hanoks (traditional Korean style house) were combined to build a solid frame and 230,000 innisfree empty bottles were used to make up 70% of the zone, both inside and outside, including the floor, walls and furniture.

 The roof is partially glazed to bring a touch of nature into the zone and, at the same time, enhance the beauty of traditional Hanok and the quaint, nostalgic ambience of the Sogyeok-dong area. The light comes through the ceiling from outside and the vases of flowers made of empty bottles studded over the zone to represent the green work of innisfree. Empty bottles collected through the Empty Bottle Recycling Campaign are transformed into objects, part of a new place dedicated to beauty. There is an art wall on one side to introduce art pieces made through the upcycling of empty bottles on a quarterly basis and, as the first runner and partner working together for the Empty Bottle Recycling Zone project, artist group Fabrikr exhibited their flower vase made from empty bottles.

 The first thing you will see when you enter the zone is an empty bottle-crushing machine. It allows you to observe how the empty bottles are crushed and even have a hands-on experience of recycling bottles into the finished materials. Empty bottles move up along the stairs into the crushing machine and break into pieces. This is the very first stage of the recycling process and you can press down and soften pieces of bottle by simply putting it onto the stairs. It is, however, a short version of the recycling process to help you better understand it. In general, crushing should be repeated 4-5 times to completely break down the bottles.

 There is also an Empty Bottle Count Monitor on the other side to show the number of empty bottles being collected from all over the country in real time and give you the feeling that you watching the monitor together.

 You will also find special products in the Empty Bottle Recycling Zone – Green Products twice the size, but available at the same price. Their eco-friendly bottles are made of materials extracted from sugar cane and their low price is another kind of beauty that greatly appeals to customers. Moreover, the orderly display of innisfree products along with green lifestyle products such as the handkerchief, cosmetic pouch and canvas bag, creates a nice, inviting ambience that's perfect for shopping.

 While browsing around the innisfree Empty Bottle Recycling Zone, you will be amazed at how beautiful empty cosmetic bottles can be when they are recycled and find that it is not very difficult to go green. Come and learn the value and importance of nature here at the innisfree Empty Bottle Recycling Zone for a full experience of the value of innisfree sharing the benefits of nature in pursuit of healthy beauty.