S-OIL announced on the 16th that over 50,000 customers have received carbon-neutral points linked to electronic receipts, the first of its kind initiated by a refinery. Launched in March last year, the S-OIL electronic receipt is a practical eco-friendly campaign that issues 100 won ($0.09) of carbon-neutral points for every receipt issued, in collaboration with the Korean Environment Corporation.

According to S-OIL, the number of customers participating in the carbon-neutral points program has grown from 28,000 last year to over 50,000 recently, marking an 80% increase in just one year through the fuel management app equipped with electronic receipt features (MY S-OIL). The popularity of the program has also led to a significant increase in app installations, rising from 440,000 to 650,000 last year. S-OIL has expanded the number of fuel stations where customers can use the MY S-OIL app from 351 in March last year to 1,200, enhancing customer convenience and supporting eco-friendly practices.

A representative from S-OIL stated, “It is known that reducing one paper receipt leads to a decrease in carbon emissions by 1.7g and waste by 0.7g. This awareness has increased customer interest in electronic receipts due to the growing eco-friendly trend. Moreover, since electronic receipts are managed through the MY S-OIL app, there is no concern about personal data leakage. Customers can also use the ‘Quick Refuel’ service without a physical card and easily manage their fuel performance along with bonus points, which has been positively received by customers who prefer smart consumption patterns.”

According to the Ministry of Environment, 12.8 billion paper receipts are issued annually in South Korea, requiring the logging of 120,000 trees, and resulting in the emission of over 22,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The waste generated from receipts amounts to 9,358 tons. Therefore, to promote a culture of carbon neutrality in daily life, the ‘Carbon-Neutral Points’ system offers incentives like cash for each electronic receipt issued.

In March of last year, S-OIL became the first refinery to collaborate with the Korean Environment Corporation to allow customers to receive carbon-neutral points. Customers using the MY S-OIL app can select to receive electronic receipts and register on the carbon-neutral points website (https://www.cpoint.or.kr/netzero) to accumulate points (100 won per receipt, with an annual cap of 70,000 won), which can be used like cash.

The S-OIL representative added, “We will continuously push campaigns to expand the use of electronic receipts considering environmental protection and customer convenience, and actively engage with customers who practice eco-friendly activities in their daily lives, thus promoting our ESG management.”

Jin Sang Lee daedusj@autodiary.kr