Food waste and disposables could cost more than you realise.

Singapore, 14 May 2024 – More than 140 partners across various sectors in Singapore have pledged support to this year’s Say YES to Waste Less (SYTWL) campaign, launched today by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Together, NEA and its partners encourage everyone to make environmentally friendly choices in their daily lives such as reducing food wastage and the use of disposables.

2         Wasting food and using disposables excessively not only adds to the cost of incinerating waste sent to Semakau Landfill, which is projected to be full by 2035, but also incurs personal cost. For example, a family of four could spend close to $2,200 on takeaway containers a year [1], and unfinished side dishes could cost more than $1,000 a year [2]. Making sustainable choices in our daily lives saves the environment and benefits our pockets. In the coming weeks, the SYTWL campaign messages will be shared through multiple touchpoints in and around homes as well as on digital and social media platforms, complemented by on-ground engagements with the community, schools, and other partners. 

3         A few simple habits can help to reduce food wastage and the excessive consumption of disposables — bring your own bag, bottle and container when heading out, and buy and order just enough food.

Reducing waste with technology and collaboration

4          Besides individuals and households, businesses and organisations of all sizes are also tapping on technology and collaboration to generate less waste. The full list of partners and their solutions supporting this year’s campaign can be found in the Annex. 

• D2L.sg collects all types of food surplus and food waste to achieve zero food waste. Using proprietary AI smart matching technology, the social enterprise has diverted more than 600 tonnes of surplus food, helped partners save $7.1 million, and prevented 3,114 tonnes of carbon emissions since it was founded in 2021.
  
• ION Orchard is the first shopping mall in Singapore to introduce a pilot programme aiming to reduce single-use waste through a closed-loop reusable system. Sustainable Takeaway will run from 1 April to 30 September 2024 in partnership with Muuse. Brands on the pilot programme include Common Man Coffee Roasters, Food Opera, Plain Vanilla, Starbucks, Toast Box and The 1872 Clipper Tea Co.
  
• Pan Pacific Hotels Group creatively repurposes excess food ingredients into new dishes. All its hotels in Singapore have food waste digesters which convert food waste into greywater, and used coffee grounds into compost. In-room filtered water dispensers reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles.
• Mr Bean upcycles okara (soy pulp) generated from its soymilk production. Okara is rich in nutrients which contain non-soluble and soluble fiber, protein, and other minerals. Okara is a raw ingredient in their soy granola bar and is planned for use in many more new products.
  
• Decathlon Singapore has removed all plastic from their e-commerce operations and single-use plastic bags from stores.
  
• SaladStop!’s net zero outlets are BYO ONLY every last Friday of the month. Orders are only accepted orders if customers bring their own reusable container.
  
• Mono Foods diverts food items that are near the best-before date from the bin. It redistributes these food items and educate the public about best-before dates at Yue Hwa @ Chinatown and pop-up booths. These items are also donated to residents at rental flats and community centres.
  
• The Pass-It-On online portal (www.passiton.org.sg) is an initiative by Central Singapore Community Development Council to encourage a “Reuse” culture. The portal matches the donation of pre-loved items and/or new items such as home appliances, furniture, mobility aids, and learning aids, to meet the needs of beneficiaries from Social Services Agencies. This is done in partnership with The Helping Hand.
• Zhenghua Food Rescue Started in September 2022, Zhenghua Food Rescue runs regularly from the 1st to the 4th Saturday of each month at various locations across Zhenghua to raise awareness about the importance of reducing food wastage. Residents will be able to take surplus or “ugly” food items from these distribution points.   
• The North East Community Development Council has been conducting North East Green Adventure workshops since 2018 for pre-schools and primary schools, incorporating waste reduction messaging to inspire a zero-waste lifestyle among its young participants.

5          These initiatives illustrate how organisations of any size, from any industry and sector, can contribute to a sustainable Singapore. NEA would like to thank all partners for their support towards Singapore’s zero waste efforts. We also welcome everyone to come on board and Say YES to Waste Less, support the Singapore Green Plan, and continue to build a Clean & Green Singapore.

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Annex - SYTWL Partners Initiatives