As Singapore’s population achieves 80% full vaccination rate (at the time of writing), it might no longer be premature to declare that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed us by. However, amidst the revelation of heartfelt stories of resilience, grit, and compassion through the pandemic has revealed in the country, pre-pandemic issues i.e., sustainable living and waste reduction has unfortunately taken a backseat
The bulk of office workers, students, and workers in non-essential industries have been confined to their homes for most of the last 18 months. This has in turn changed consumption habits; consumers, suppliers and producers have had to adjust to new forms of trade and doing business as a result. It comes as no surprise that single-use plastic, most generated by packaging for food, overseas shipments, hygiene products, amongst others, were found to have increased over the last year in a study conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore.
As the country continues its path toward economic and social recovery from the pandemic, here are some simple actions you can take to kick start your environmental recovery efforts if you have not been doing so.
- Opt to use your own containers for food takeaways
The styrofoam containers commonly-used by our favourite cai png stall hawkers are often not recyclable and should not be disposed in recycling bins. Choose to pack takeaway orders in your own reusable containers and refuse disposable utensils.
- Reuse or repurpose shopping bags
Instead of using the provided bags during grocery runs or shopping trips, choose to bring your own reusable bags to carry your purchases. You could even personalise your own shopping bags to suit your personal tastes and preferences, while sending a clear message to reduce the use of shopping bags.
- Shop with eco-friendly and sustainable brands (like us!)
UnPackt is proud to be founded as one of Singapore’s first zero-waste grocers and lifestyle products suppliers. Shopping with us comes with an assurance that products sold are sustainably sourced and cultured. All products and food sold are ascertained to be environmentally friendly. We hope to serve you at our physical and online store as we journey towards building a more environmentally conscious society!
