A pale shade of green

Wong Fook Seng, Patrick, Today Online 18 Jun 09;

I APPLAUD any efforts by local companies to go green; however, one wonders about the motivation behind such efforts. Are these attempts really meant to help save the Earth or is it all about cutting costs and good PR?

Do banks switch to e-statements just to save on printing and postage costs? Do firms switch to energy-saving bulbs just to save on electricity bills? Do malls switch to water-saving flushing systems to save on water bills?

Yes, such efforts go some way to prevent more harm being done to our environment, but is so much attention being given to them that the basics of recycling and reducing waste are being ignored?

Let’s take the malls as an example. The water bills may be down, but what about the airconditioning blasting away all day?

In hotels, every effort is made to remind guests not to waste water by avoiding changing towels every day - but are the hotels recycling the thousands of plastic bottles of water given out freely each day? They distribute bottled water at conferences - are these recycled?

In kopitiams across Singapore, people go through thousands of cups each day - are these recycled? No. Cans are recycled because doing so brings in some cash. Recycling plastic does not bring in any cash, so the cups go into the trash.

At the airport, no open bottles of water are allowed beyond the Customs security checkpoint. But do you see any plastic recycling bins there?

What about supermarkets’ “bring your own bag” day? I have asked cashiers and they tell me that only a small fraction of customers - maybe one in 40 - bring their own bags. It’s not working.

Also, the staff don’t think green. Do I need to bag a 12-pack of cola that comes in packaging with a handle? Is there a need to bag canned drink when I intend to drink it on the spot?

All these supposed “go green” efforts go to waste because the root of the problem is poor staff and shopper education - all parties need to be taught why and how to go green.

To really help drive home the idea of reducing waste, look at how Ikea customers are “trained” not to ask for plastic bags - because they have to pay for them. They either bring their own bags or find very innovative ways to carry the items home. It’s a laudable formula.

So, companies, instead of paying lip service to green efforts for the sake of PR, why not do something that will make a real difference?