Kakao unveils index on user contributions to environment

South Korea's mobile platform company Kakao Corp. on the occasion of World Environment Day on Monday unveiled on its website figures from the Kakao Carbon Index, a self-developed indicator of eco-friendly contributions from users, to encourage participation in green activities.

The company developed the index last year under its intent to play a more active role in resolving environmental problems.

Specifically, the index quantifies Kakao's eco-friendly activities that attract user participation through the company's services and platforms like the travel distances of electric-powered cabs using the ride-hailing app Kakao Taxi and bicycling using Kakao T Bikes and Kakao Map, the number of e-documents converted by Kakao Pay and KakaoTalk Wallet and electronic bills, and upcycling through Kakao Maker's New Value program.

Using the unit Kakao users' carbon reduction (KUC), the data showed that users last year made 63 million KUCs worth of contributions to reduce CO2 emissions and indirectly raise social value.

Kakao said this is equivalent to the carbon absorption contribution of about 400,000 pine trees.

"The Kakao Carbon Index is undergoing pilot operations and will see steady advancement through collection of various data and analysis and professional environmental partnerships," the company said. "We're also considering the setup of an environmental fund equal to the calculated carbon index and rewards to individual users for their eco-friendly activities."

Write to Ju-Hyun Lee at deep@hankyung.com