Dobong-gu is developing a sustainability index to measure how ready local cafes are to cut single-use plastic cups; a policy roundtable is set for Nov. 10 at Duksung Women's University
Dobong-gu in Seoul will hold a policy roundtable at Duksung Women's University at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 10 to advance development of the "Dobong Green Cafe Index."
The Dobong Green Cafe Index is a sustainability metric designed to systematically assess how prepared cafes in the district are to reduce their use of single-use plastic cups.
The index is being developed as part of the Dobong-University Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) project, a joint initiative involving local residents and university students.
The project began in a first-semester 2026 course titled "Climate Crisis and Community" offered at Duksung Women's University under the ESD framework.
Participants identified single-use plastic cup consumption at cafes as a pressing local issue and developed a preliminary index to measure how ready establishments were to reduce disposable cup use. They then conducted a pilot survey of 30 cafes near the university to test the index.
In the second semester, through a course called "Environmental Protection and Law," the scope expanded district-wide and the tool was relaunched as the Dobong Green Cafe Index. A survey team of 20 people — students and Dobong-gu residents — was assembled to conduct field research.
At the Nov. 10 roundtable, participants will share data collected through the field survey and discuss policy improvements based on the findings, including possible revisions to local ordinances.
The roundtable is open to anyone interested in reducing single-use items or in local environmental policy, with 30 spots available.
Applications can be submitted online through the Dobong-gu district office website (under Announcements/Budget → Event Registration) or the Dobong Sustainable Development website (under Notice Board → Events/Registration).
Attendees will receive a certificate of participation and will be listed as contributors to the final research report on the Dobong Green Cafe Index.
The roundtable goes beyond a simple presentation of research findings — it connects indicators developed and tested directly by residents and students to the local government's policy review process.
The initiative is drawing attention as a practical example of university-community-local government collaboration in sustainable development education, spanning index development, field research and policy proposals.
Dobong-gu District Mayor Kim Dong-wook said the roundtable was "a venue for translating the results of research conducted jointly by the university and the community into tangible local environmental policy." He added that the district would "seek effective policy directions for reducing single-use items by drawing on the diverse opinions of residents."
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