The Big Read: Reducing single-use plastics and disposables - are we there yet? Or are companies just greenwashing?

SINGAPORE: Before she leaves home, Ms Cha Yoo Kyung, 27, always makes sure she has three essential items with her: A food container, cutlery and a reusable shopping bag.

She uses them to pack her lunch every day from coffee shops and hawker centres near her office, as part of a conscious effort to cut down on single-use plastic waste. 

“I’ve cultivated this habit for about five years now, and it’s mainly thanks to my mum. She takes active steps to minimise unnecessary use of plastic, and she’s been carrying an eco bag to get groceries for as long as I can remember,” said the Singapore permanent resident, who works as a writer.

Asked if it was difficult to change her behaviour or to maintain it, Ms Cha said no.

“It’s like trying to drink more water throughout the day. You just have to remind yourself and translate that thought into action constantly,” she said.

“And if you forget easily, leave your container and utensils in the office instead of taking them home. Set a reminder to bring your container out during lunch, or have a colleague who asks you, ‘Eh, where’s your container?’ This helps a lot.”

Ms Cha is part of a growing minority of people here who strive to do more for the environment by reducing the use of plastics and single-use disposables in their everyday lives. 

Hawker centres, as ubiquitous as they are here, have also taken baby steps to become greener. 

When Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre opened in December 2022, it made the news for its aim to be one of the greenest hawker centres in Singapore.

Among other things, its 44 stalls do not use disposable cutlery for dining in. For takeaways, they use only biodegradable containers or paper bags and boxes, instead of plastic ones.

Still, some diners quickly complained about having to fork out S$0.80 (US$0.60) for biodegradable containers, underlying the challenge of getting more Singaporeans to embrace sustainability. 

That reportedly prompted the operator to then stipulate that stall owners are to charge no more than S$0.30 for these containers. This practice is still in place, hawkers there told TODAY last week.

However, this also means that some hawkers have to subsidise the cost of the containers, as they said their actual cost is at least S$0.50 per container. 

Similar consumer complaints surfaced earlier this month - over homegrown bakery brand BreadTalk’s implementation of a S$0.10 charge per disposable plastic carrier bag as well as a S$0.50 charge for a woven carrier bag by American footwear store Skechers.

While some consumers support such moves to cut waste, others question if these practices are actually “greenwashing” and aimed at helping retailers increase their profits.

Greenwashing is when a business misleads consumers that their products or practices have greater environmental benefits than is the case.

Meanwhile, businesses - from bubble tea shops to hawkers, bakeries and mini marts - as well as environmental advocacy groups and consumers themselves also tell TODAY that green habits such as those adopted by Ms Cha are still the exception rather than the norm.

Convenience is an often cited reason, with consumers saying it is too “troublesome” to bring their own bags or containers.

As Singapore takes baby steps towards cutting down single-use disposables and plastic waste, TODAY takes a deeper look at how Singapore has fared, why public attitudes have largely not changed and what more can be done to nudge more consumers to go green. 

HOW SERIOUS IS PLASTIC WASTE IN SINGAPORE?

Plastic is the fourth highest type of waste generated in Singapore, with one million tonnes of plastic waste generated in 2022, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA). 

This translates to 177kg of plastic waste per capita in 2022, a 17 per cent increase from the 145kg per capita in 2017. 

Only 6 per cent of plastic waste is recycled. The remaining 944,000 tonnes, comprising single-use and reusable plastics, are disposed of. 

NEA’s website also states that in 2020, about 200,000 tonnes of domestic waste were single-use disposables, comprising both packaging and non-packaging items such as carrier bags, food and beverage containers, as well as tableware and utensils.

Singapore is also one of the world’s greatest consumers of single-use plastics, with a per capita use of 76kg in 2019, according to global data gathering platform Statista. This was also the biggest volume in the Asia-Pacific region.

NEA said on its website that with Singapore’s only landfill, Semakau Landfill, projected to be fully filled by 2035 based on the current rate of waste generation, reducing the use of single-use disposable items will help cut waste generation.

In recent years, both the authorities and environmental groups have launched various initiatives to nudge people to cut down on single-use plastics and disposables.

These initiatives include:

• The BYO (Bring-Your-Own) Singapore movement started by non-profit organisation Zero Waste SG in 2017, which saw over 430 retail outlets offering incentives to customers who bring their own reusable bags, bottles or containers.
• The phasing out of the use of plastic straws by over 270 food and beverage outlets in a 2019 drive by the World Wide Fund for Nature.
• The Say YES to Waste Less annual campaign launched in 2019 by NEA in partnership with businesses to encourage consumers to reduce the use of disposables.
• From 2021, major producers of packaged products were required to collect data on the packaging they supply to the market so they can better manage or reduce their use of disposable packaging.
• A minimum five-cent charge mandated by the Government for every disposable plastic bag in major supermarkets, starting from July 2023.

The various moves have moved the needle in changing consumer behaviour in some aspects.

In January this year, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said the number of plastic bags used at large supermarkets had dropped by 50 to 80 per cent since the mandatory minimum charge of five cents kicked in. 

For a retiree who wanted to be known only as Mrs Nathan, the shift towards eco-living started three years ago. 

Carrying a reusable bag at a FairPrice supermarket, the 65-year-old told TODAY that her children persuaded her to stop using plastic bags to “save the animals”. 

As an avid news reader who has read about the effects of climate change, she added that the switch was easy for her. “If we don’t start (practising green habits), then our children and grandchildren won’t start. So we have to start somewhere.” 

Mrs Nathan also said she rarely eats out, but when she does so with her family, she brings tiffin carriers in case there is unfinished food. 

Another eco-conscious individual, social media executive Clara Quek, 25, said she would also bring her own bag, cup, and container when she goes out. 

“I started doing it during my internship two years ago as we always bought food back to the office to eat, and most of my colleagues brought containers.”

Ms Quek said that initially, washing and drying the containers after eating felt troublesome, but she soon adapted to it. 

“My motivation was to save on money paid for the plastic containers or cups, as I can save about S$1 on these disposables daily. If I ever forget to bring my container, I’ll choose to eat out instead,” she said. 

HAVE ATTITUDES CHANGED?

Although more shoppers in supermarkets appear to have swapped single-use plastic bags for their own reusable carriers, hawkers and other retailers told TODAY they have seen little change in consumer behaviour.

On a weekly basis, they encounter only a handful of customers who bring their own containers or bags, compared to hundreds who do not.

Mr Melvin Chew, 46, who runs Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck hawker stall in Chinatown, said that consumers have come to accept that charges for plastic takeaway containers, as long as they are reasonable, are the norm. 

“When we started implementing takeaway charges of S$0.20 in the late 90s, there were many complaints. People thought hawkers should absorb the container cost.

“But now, they’re probably used to it, unless you use something different like biodegradable packaging and charge S$0.50, maybe the complaints will come again,” he said.

As with most hawkers, Mr Chew currently uses plastic containers for takeaways. He said he considered more eco-friendly alternatives such as biodegradable ones, but they cost twice as much. 

Mr Chew explained that he does not profit from his charges for plastic containers.

In fact, he is making a slight loss as he is charging S$0.30 for large containers, even though they cost him about S$0.40 each. 

He charges S$0.20 for small containers, which is his cost price. 

Ms Doreen Winata, a franchisee of Shi Nian Pig Leg Rice in Kovan, said the rise in Goods and Services Tax (GST) to 9 per cent this year prompted her to start charging S$0.30 for takeaway containers. 

The 27-year-old said that she initially absorbed this packing cost, but the GST hike made it difficult for her to sustain the business. After implementing the charge, she also switched to biodegradable containers to better justify the increase in price to her customers. 

“I actually hoped the S$0.30 charge would also make more people think about bringing containers, but I guess they are used to it because almost every stall charges for takeaway now.” 

Over at Hussain Muslim Food, also in Kovan, hawker Siti Leonita Minhad, 37, explained that it is tough for hawkers to cut down on the amount of plastic bags used because sometimes, they will need to pack different food separately to prevent spillage.

“We also usually double-wrap hot food in plastic bags to ensure that it is safe until the customer reaches home.” 

Customers who bring their own bags and cups to bubble tea stalls and bakeries are also few and far between, according to operators that TODAY spoke to. 

Those working at several bubble tea stalls, including Chi Cha San Chen, LiHo, and The Alley, said while they welcome customers who bring their own cups, they normally see such individuals less than five times a week. 

The situation is also similar at food outlets such as Old Chang Kee, Dough Culture, and Jian Bo Shui Kueh, as well as bakeries nestled in public housing blocks. 

Ms Chin Mei Lee, 60, a supervisor of an Old Chang Kee outlet in Bishan, said she has seen a slight uptick in customers who decline plastic bags when their food is being packed after the Government announced the minimum five-cent charge for plastic carriers in supermarkets last year, even though Old Chang Kee does not have such a charge.

“Those who buy one or two snacks will tell us they don’t need a plastic bag, but there are only one or two such customers in a day,” she said.

Likewise, Ms Widya Pujilestari, 43, who works at a bakery in Bishan, cited the same frequency of seeing only one to two customers a day declining plastic bags or asking for separate items to be packed together. 

“Generally, it would be difficult for bakeries like ours to reduce their use of plastics as we need to separate food with different taste profiles. We have sweet and savoury puffs, and we don’t pack them together unless the customer tells us it’s okay,” she added. 

Environmentalists say that given Singaporeans' busy lifestyle and preference for convenience, getting people to consciously adopt green habits remains a work in progress.  

“Most people in Singapore, both consumers and businesses, are driven by dollars and cents - what is the cheapest and most convenient - and rarely by altruistic reasons,” said Ms Lin Qinghui, founder of D2L.sg, a one-stop food surplus and waste manager. 

“The culture here is to throw things away. It’s all about convenience, and it’s hard to change this because it’s ingrained in Singaporean society.” 

Mr Rayson Lim, 27, who is unemployed, said he did try to pick up the habit of bringing his own container out for four to five months in 2022. Eventually, he stopped because he gave in to his laziness in washing the container after eating. 

Civil servant Shafiq Ahmad, 29, echoed Mr Lim’s sentiments. “I haven’t tried bringing my own container before, but just the thought of doing the washing after eating makes me feel it’s tiring and troublesome.” 

Ms Tan Huileng, executive director of Zero Waste SG, said that the best way for consumers to change their habits, such as bringing their own containers, is to make it easy to include them in their daily routine. 

“Place them where they can be obviously seen so you can easily grab them and go,” she said.

“Lastly, put some of these items in accessible areas in your journey, such as your car or office, so even if you forget to bring them from home, you still have access to your own container along the way.”  

GREENWASHING CONCERNS 

Amid the push to use less disposable plastic in everyday life, some companies have jumped on the bandwagon through moves such as charging for plastic bags and switching from conventional plastic bags or packaging to those using biodegradable plastic or paper and other non-plastic materials. 

However, there has also been debate on whether some of these practices constitute greenwashing. 

For example, consumers have taken to online forums to discuss how one health and beauty retailer has started charging for plastic bags but still uses plenty of plastic for its house-brand water products. 

Another discussion involved a food court chain that removed plastic straws but introduced cups with plastic caps for cold drinks, which sell for at least S$2. 

A consumer pointed out that cold drinks cost about S$1.40 a cup before the change. 

Some questioned whether the amount of plastic used for the cap is less than that of a straw, and whether this is just a gimmick to increase profit. 

Others asked if paper or cloth alternatives for disposable plastics used by some retailers are actually more environmentally friendly.  

Ms Lin, the environmentalist, cautioned against advocating for non-plastic alternatives without considering Singapore’s “unique” waste management system.

She said that in Singapore, where all trash goes to the incinerator, plastics are efficiently incinerated, potentially reducing their harmful effects compared with countries relying on landfills.

Conversely, some other materials used to replace plastic come at a higher environmental cost as they might not burn as efficiently or as cleanly as plastic. 

“Plastic is not environmentally friendly, but if you look at the life cycle analysis across these materials, it’s the lesser evil because the alternatives, like woven cloth, fabric, cardboard, and paper, could actually bring more harm by leaving a larger carbon footprint," said Ms Lin.

A life cycle assessment is a comprehensive method used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle.

It considers various environmental factors, such as energy consumption, resource depletion, emissions to air, water, and soil, and waste generation at each stage of the product's life.

Similarly, Mr Yasser Amin, who heads Stridy, a non-profit organisation addressing urban waste management issues worldwide, said terms such as “biodegradable” or “compostable” often confuse the average person. 

“It's like a marketing tactic,” said Mr Yasser. He cited how some coffee and cafe chains switched from plastic to compostable straws, when these may not be the more environmentally friendly option.

“Companies should be more aware and capable of conducting life cycle assessments to determine the true environmental impact of their alternatives. People need to question company claims more thoroughly.” 

On NEA's website, in explaining why Singapore does not ban single-use plastics, the agency says that doing so may lead to a switch to disposables made from other materials such as paper or degradable plastics, “which also create waste, have their own set of environmental impacts and are not necessarily better for the environment”. 

“In view of the above, instead of advocating a switch to degradable materials, Singapore’s approach is to reduce the use of disposables regardless of material type, and promote the use of reusables.”

A spokesperson for Starbucks, which is one of the cafe chains in Singapore using compostable straws, said in response to TODAY's queries that the company “strives to ensure sustainability and eco-friendliness across every touch point, taking proactive steps whenever feasible”.

"Our compostable straws are made from corn starch. In our efforts to eliminate plastic straws and reduce our environmental footprint, our cups and strawless lids are made of 100% recycled PET. This directly impacts the reduction in the usage of virgin PET in our ecosystem, reducing the overall carbon footprint," she said. 

PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a type of lightweight recyclable plastic commonly used to make beverage bottles and food packaging. 

The spokesperson also listed various green initiatives by Starbucks Singapore, including a Borrow-A-Cup programme to encourage reuse, Bring Your Own Tumbler discounts, and a transition to eco-friendly materials for all packaging.

A Skechers spokesperson said in response to TODAY's queries that it replaced plastic bags in 2019 with non-woven bags, which are resistant to tearing or fraying and are a more sustainable alternative to traditional woven fabrics.

As these bags can be used multiple times, they reduce the need for disposable plastic bags, “which, in turn, helps to reduce carbon footprint”, the spokesman added.

“While we understand the concerns raised by environmentalists regarding alternative materials, we want to emphasise that ... (we are) constantly evaluating and improving our processes to minimise our carbon footprint. 

“Our use of materials undergoes rigorous scrutiny to ensure we make meaningful strides towards a more sustainable future. We acknowledge the complexities involved and remain dedicated to transparent communication about our efforts,” she said. 

Other businesses that adopt and market their eco-friendly initiatives speak of similar challenges.

Ms Vanessa Kenchington, chief executive officer and founder of Plain Vanilla Bakery, said she and her team “openly admit” that they have had difficulties implementing plans to further their sustainability goals. 

The bakery, which has several outlets across the island, ties boxes of cupcakes with twine to reduce the use of paper bags. Reusable paper bags are sold for S$0.50 each to those who need them. 

Ms Kenchington said that while the company aims to be environmentally conscious and is committed to using more natural materials, balancing sustainability goals with the practicalities of running a viable business has been a constant challenge. 

"When we looked into the possibility of composting our packaging independently, we realised there were not many packaging options that would meet the compostable requirement. It was hard to ensure the authenticity of suppliers claiming to offer compostable materials, which meant our packaging options would be very limited,” she said.

“We accept that there are limitations to this for a business of our size when we try to be as sustainable as possible, and there is only so much we can do.” 

Ms Germaine Lye, co-founder of sustainable fashion brand Our Barehands, said that it, too, is constantly balancing its priorities and has adopted a long-term approach to gradually work towards choosing sustainable practices as the business grows. 

“Currently, what guides our decision-making process is to choose the better alternative and one that does not undermine our objectives, to the best of our knowledge. 

“For example, we've chosen to use 100 per cent linen fabric over synthetic ones from day one. We’ve also requested transparency in the fabric production process. It's a learning process for everyone, including us,” she said. 

Our Barehands uses reusable cotton drawstring bags, which it provides free. 

In response to TODAY’s queries on legislation or guidelines to tackle greenwashing, a spokesperson for the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) said that it is currently developing a guide to provide greater clarity to businesses on sustainability claims. 

“In recent years, CCCS has observed an increased interest from the public in environmental sustainability issues, and we have also noticed that more suppliers are making claims on the environmental impact of their products,” said the spokesperson. 

“Although CCCS has not received many complaints ... CCCS sees the need to provide greater clarity to suppliers on the environmental claims that could amount to an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act.”

CCCS will share more details in due course, the spokesperson added.

WHAT CAN SINGAPORE DO AS A SMALL COUNTRY?

In 2021, five government ministries released the Singapore Green Plan 2030, with ambitious targets to make Singapore more environmentally sustainable over the next decade. 

Some of these targets include reducing the amount of waste sent to the landfill by 20 per cent by 2026 and, and by 30 per cent by 2030. 

One may question that the impact that Singapore, a small country with a population of over 5 million, can make in the grand scheme of things.

But experts such as Mr Tomas Louda, chief executive officer and co-founder of ETW, an international recycling company striving to eradicate single-use plastics, said that despite its small size, Singapore can make meaningful contributions to global environmental sustainability by leveraging its strengths in innovation and technology-driven solutions. 

However, Mr Louda said several challenges exist, such as limited public awareness about the consequences of plastic use and the difficulty of encouraging behavioural change.

Furthermore, Singapore's infrastructure and waste management systems may not be fully prepared yet to handle the transition away from plastic.

This would then lead to logistical challenges in recycling and waste disposal.

“Industries reliant on plastic packaging also struggle to find sustainable alternatives without compromising product safety and quality, while the absence of stringent regulations or incentives further impedes progress,” he said. 

“Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including education and awareness campaigns to inform the public, investment in innovation for sustainable alternatives and recycling technologies, implementation of effective policies, and infrastructure development to support the transition towards a plastic-free future.” 

Mr Jonathan Tostevin, chief executive officer of reusable takeaway container rental services Muuse, said that the authorities could improve infrastructure to boost public adoption of reusables. 

“On the policy side, we could test out what happens if we made reuse the default in defined areas like all tourist spots or Sentosa."

Mr Yasser of Stridy added that as the hawker culture is unique to Singapore and some other Southeast Asian countries, it would be challenging to look to different places like Europe and implement their policies here.

Such policies include a ban on the most common single-use plastic items, such as cutlery, stirrers and straws. 

“If we banned plastics in Singapore, we would have a riot. So whenever the Government introduces policies or laws, they have to take into consideration the whole of Singapore and how people would react,” he said. 

“And the hard truth is that only a small portion of Singaporeans care about sustainability.” 

Hence, Mr Yasser said the authorities should also help make adopting reusables less burdensome on stakeholders and consumers. 

“For example, I believe the stallholders in food courts and hawker centres have to pay for washing fees. Why would they want to pay the monthly washing fees when buying styrofoam packets in the hundreds cost less? 

“So how can we look at doing away with washing fees or implementing new infrastructure changes, like building washing facilities in hawkers centres that don't have them?”  

Mr Yasser added that, ultimately, Singapore is a country built on convenience, and achieving sustainability will take time. 

“That’s why it’s very, very, very hard for us to shift. But it has to start with ourselves, as individuals, and how the difference we make will affect others because I know the ripple effect works,” he said. 

“I have been in the ripple effect. Someone organised that beach cleanup I first went to, and because of that, I'm here today. So I do my best. And if everyone does their best, we're going to make a huge difference.” 

This article was originally published in TODAY.