Have we become greener?

Liang Dingzi, Today Online 26 Nov 07;

A check-out assistant at a supermarket recently reminded me: "Tomorrow is the first Wednesday of the month. Don't forget to bring your own bag. Otherwise, you must pay for the bag."

She had just attended to a customer who insisted on double-bagging all the items he had bought. She then grumbled, saying: "Actually, the things he bought are not heavy; there was no need to use two bags."

Six months after the start of the Bring Your Own Bag campaign, have we become greener?

If the aim is to inculcate the habit of recycling, we would have succeeded only if people take their own bags every time — rather than just on an appointed day — they visit the supermarket.

The problem with such campaigns is that people no longer are enthusiastic about them once the novelty wears off.

However, according to a BBC poll of 22,000 people in 21 countries, four out of five people are prepared to alter their lifestyles to address climate change. Many favoured green taxes if the monies are channelled to improving energy efficiencies.

And you don't have to be an ascetic to do your part in the global green effort.

More than limiting the use of plastic bags, it is a good time to do a personal audit of whether you are doing as much as you can to recycle.

When the last light bulb blew, did you replace it with an energy-saving one? We can follow Australia's lead by banning incandescent light bulbs, but rather than wait for that to happen, we can start using energy-saving bulbs.

Are you someone who habitually leaves the lights on when they are not in use?

You may also consider waking up early as it makes sense to do all your activities when it is still bright, instead of burning lamps late into the night.

Some of us may be habitual late risers while others may be more inspired at night. You should still save whenever you can. Use a lamp only when you need it and don't run the drier when there is sunlight.

Also, when was the last time you rode the bus or train instead of driving? Or when was the last time you walked to get to a place two blocks down the road?

Some car owners may worry that taking public transport may not be as convenient or reliable as driving their own cars.

You can always try going to work using the bus or train on a day that will be the least inconvenient. You may even be surprised by your new-found "freedom" of not having to suffer traffic jams and look for a parking space.

Do you put aside articles such as old newspapers, bottles, cans and cardboard boxes to be recycled? Or, do they get dumped down the chute with other non-recyclable rubbish?

Do you recycle other reusable things, such as books? Donate them; and accept that you do not always need new things. I cannot remember when I last bought envelopes because I recycle those I receive.

During your last shopping trip, did you choose energy-efficient appliances or eco-friendly products?

In Singapore, we are blessed with plenty of rain. Wherever possible, collect rainwater and use it to to scrub your yard or feed plants that are sheltered from the rain.

A lot has been said about jet planes contributing to global warming. For Singaporeans who live on a tiny island, travelling for business or leisure has become a necessary evil.

But hopefully, we can offset our negative actions by making an effort to do something positive. It is not that demanding, is it?

The writer is a management consultant with more than 25 years of experience.

Not quite green, yet
Today Online 27 Nov 07;

NEA itself needs to practise being eco-friendly
Supermarkets can have a deposit counter for bags
Letter from TAN QIAN HUI
Letter from JENNY SWEE

I applaud the efforts of the National Environmental Agency (NEA) in urging the public to play their part in saving the environment, including the current initiative to reduce the use of plastic bags.

Participating stores can consider extending the number of "bring your own bag" days, and I also hope to see more stores taking part in the green effort.

On a separate issue, I note that despite encouraging the public to adopt more ecologically friendly lifestyles, the NEA, while promoting its "Clean and Green Week" recently, gave out an unnecessarily large amount of plastic files, plastic shopping bags and other souvenirs that are not biodegradable. This runs counter to — and undermines — the goal of the campaign. I am sure there are other creative ways to instil the idea of a green lifestyle.

I hope the NEA can offer an explanation and re-look its campaign strategy.

We need to incorporate ecologically sustainable modes of living (for instance, buying local produce that travels less food miles, and reducing consumption), otherwise we will be contributing to the obliteration of the planet that is our home.

I refer to the comment "Have we become greener" (Nov 26) and agree with the writer that once the campaign ends, no one really bothers about using their own shopping bags.

May I suggest that all supermarkets set up a deposit counter, where regular shoppers (perhaps those who shop 10 times within two months) can deposit up to three shopping bags. This will help those who forget to take bags along.

To prevent an accumulation of too many shopping bags, there could be a cutoff point after which the shop can remove your bags — for example, if you have not shopped at the store in the last six months.

Apart from supermarkets, banks and telecom companies should start going green, too. For a start, they can consider printing bills on both sides to save paper.


Time to get more eco-friendly
School's action teaches green lesson Don't blame it all on humble plastic bag
Today Online 28 Nov 07;

Letter from GOPALA KRISHNAN
Letter from VASANTHAN GOVINDASAMY

I refer to "NEA itself needs to practise being eco-friendly" and "Supermarkets can have a deposit counter for bags" (Nov 27).

All organisations should go green. It would not cost much, and at times it may be cheaper.

My school, APMI Kaplan, gives cotton bags to students collecting study books and materials. This is good as the bags are not only durable, they are reusable too.

Now I use my cotton bag whenever I carry books.

When I visited India last year, I was amazed that most shopping malls and clothes shops pack their merchandise in cotton or jute bags. Perhaps our malls should consider doing this too.

I refer to the debate on global warming and cutting back on plastic bag use. If you think it is the humble plastic bag that drives the world heat, think again.

Air-conditioned shopping complexes burn a lot of energy. They are there because we want them. The fuel-guzzling multi-purpose vehicles are there as many of us want to drive them. The skies were cleaner when I was schooling because our parents never drove us to school even if we had cars.

Stop complaining about how bad the National Environment Agency was with its Clean and Green campaign or how supermarkets could better serve the green effort. We must first start with ourselves, then our homes and the rest will fall in place.


Every little green effort counts

NEA took care to distribute reusable souvenirs
Today Online 30 Nov 07;
Letter from TAN WEE HOCK
Director
3P Network Division
National Environment Agency

I refer to the letter by Mr Tan Qian Hui, "NEA itself needs to practise being eco-friendly" (Nov 27).

We thank Mr Tan for supporting the NEA's Bring Your Own Bag Day (BYOBD) campaign and efforts in getting the public to adopt an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, the theme of this year's Clean and Green Singapore (CGS) campaign.

All of us can adopt an environmentally-friendly lifestyle by making small changes in our lifestyle to conserve energy and resources, and to help care for the environment.

For example, we can help to reduce the excessive use of plastic bags by using reusable bags when making purchases at stores. Hence, BYOBD is introduced to educate the public on not taking more plastic bags than they need for reuse at home.

We are still monitoring the impact of BYOBD and will continue to encourage greater participation of the public and more retailers/department stores to join the scheme.

To encourage more people to adopt an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, we made a conscious effort to give out reusable shopping bags and other functional souvenirs such as water bottles, which can be reused, to participants during the recent CGS launch event.

These souvenirs also carried green messages and were intended to spread the message of leading an environmentally-friendly lifestyle by, for example, reducing the use of single-use bags. Hence, these souvenirs helped enhance the objectives of the CGS campaign.

In addition, to minimise wastage, just enough of these souvenirs were produced for the expected number of visitors.

We would like to encourage everyone to incorporate simple environmentally-friendly practices into their lives.

Individually, it may not seem like much, but collectively, all our small efforts can have a greater positive impact on our environment.