Day 6
Bulk buying albums is common among fans as a way to get rare merchandise and a chance to meet their idols. However, this practice has raised concerns about the plastic waste it generates. In a documentary, CBC explores the growing sense of guilt among fans and their efforts to encourage the K-Pop industry to adopt more sustainable practices.
In the world of K-Pop, CD sales are thriving due to the collectible bonus items they contain, such as posters, stickers, and photo cards. Some fans go as far as buying multiple copies of the same album just to collect all the items, resulting in discarded CDs. Samantha Lui from CBC examines the environmental impact of these marketing methods and the changes fans are advocating for.
Ash Ledoux, a K-Pop fan, used to buy every version of her favorite artists’ albums but has since realized that it’s not necessary to have everything to be a true fan. She has become more conscious of the plastic waste generated by the packaging of these albums and feels a sense of responsibility as a fan.
Kpop4Planet, a platform launched in 2021, aims to raise awareness about overconsumption in the South Korean entertainment industry. One of their campaigns, “No K-pop on a Dead Planet,” focused on the issue of bulk buying albums and plastic waste. They collected over 8,000 unwanted albums from fans and delivered them to entertainment companies as a visual representation of the waste they create.
Bulk buying is actively encouraged by Korean music agencies and labels because sales determine an artist’s popularity and success. Fans buy multiple albums to increase their chances of winning prizes and to support their idols. However, this practice contributes to environmental pollution.
Areum Jeong, an assistant professor of Korean culture, acknowledges the dilemma faced by fans who want to support their idols but also care about the environment. She believes there should be a collective effort between the industry and fans to find a more environmentally sustainable way.
Kpop4Planet proposes the “green album option” where fans can choose how many physical albums they receive when making an online purchase. This way, fans can reduce plastic waste while still supporting their favorite artists.
Some major K-Pop agencies, like JYP Entertainment and HYBE, have promised to make efforts to reduce their environmental impact. JYP Entertainment plans to digitally distribute exclusive content instead of physical albums, while HYBE is using more sustainable materials for their photocards and albums.
Beyond bulk buying, Kpop4Planet also focuses on the environmental impact of streaming music. They argue that streaming music for long periods of time can emit more carbon emissions than purchasing physical albums. Companies like Spotify and Apple Music rely on data centers that consume large amounts of energy.
Kpop4Planet emphasizes the importance of organizing efforts to hold the music industry accountable and promote sustainable practices. They believe that fans have the power to make a difference in creating a more environmentally friendly music industry.
