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How eBay is Encouraging Refurbished Tech to Reduce E-waste

Posted on by dishanth
How eBay is Encouraging Refurbished Tech to Reduce E-waste

Here’s a weird fact. There are currently a little over 8 billion people on the planet, yet there are about 16 billion mobile phones. Convenient maths shows us that means every single person on the planet has on average two phones.

Even more startling is the fact that, according to the international Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum, more than 5 billion of those will be thrown away this year and head to e-waste.

That is despite the fact that these devices contain valuable resources including gold, silver, copper, and palladium. Estimates put the value of these precious metals dumped each year at more than US$10 billion.

It’s not just mobile phones that are the issue, all electronic waste – from laptops to smart TVs – is a pressing issue that needs addressing.

In the UK alone, two million tonnes of e-waste is discarded each year. That’s according to Mark Monte-Colombo, Head of Refurbished Technology for eBay UK, who says refurbished technology can support a circular economy and enhance accessibility.

“Globally, a significant surge in electronic waste is expected to reach 74.7 million tonnes by the end of the decade,” Monte-Colombo tells Sustainability.

“However, the good news is that increased interest in refurbished technology can help to drastically reduce waste. For example, on eBay UK, through the sale of refurbished products, we avoided over 2.8 million kg of waste in 2022, which is equivalent to over 23.5 million phones being spared from landfills.”

 

Growing Demand for Refurbished to Reduce Costs and Waste

Refurbished technology refers to any tech product that has been used and returned, either to the original business or an approved reseller, for repairs or vetting before being resold.

People return technology for various reasons: perhaps the item is pristine but the customer had a change of mind within the returns window, sometimes items are returned due to marks or wear, many returns fall under what eBay calls ‘open box’ – meaning the item is pristine but not in its original packaging. On top of that, retailers offer trade-in schemes to help people upgrade their tech.

Monte-Colombo says momentum is growing for refurbished technology. More and more brands are seeing the value in refurbished products, and eBay now features over 150 leading brands in its refurbished category, such as Dyson, Samsung, and Apple.

“We understand how crucial it is to partner with major companies to extend the lifespan of electronic devices, reduce waste, and promote a circular economy,” he says.

“Looking ahead to 2024, I’m anticipating continued momentum for refurbished products.
Despite challenging times, consumers still genuinely care about the environment. Nearly a third (32%) of UK consumers we surveyed confirmed they’d purchase pre-loved or refurbished items because it’s better for the environment.”

 

 

Switching to Refurbished Drives Circular Economy

Refurbished technology is clearly resonating with consumers, with price being an important factor. Any stigma associated with ‘refurbished’, ‘second hand’, or ‘used’ is also being dispelled, largely thanks to mobile phones providing a “gateway” into the market.

Monte-Colombo says the frequent turnover of devices with contract upgrades has seen a constant influx of relatively new mobile devices becoming available as refurbished.

“The resale of pre-loved and refurbished goods on our global platform conserves resources and reduces waste,” says Monte-Colombo. “In 2022, we avoided 73,000 metric tons of waste globally through buying and reselling on the platform.

“Refurbishing requires significantly less energy compared to manufacturing new products. Our Refurbished category extends the lifecycle of electronic products and diverts them from landfills, helping shoppers reduce their environmental impact.

“With these environmental benefits, more consumers and businesses switching to refurbished vs new will enable a circular economy model.”

 

How Businesses can Benefit From Choosing Refurbished

There is still work to do to shift consumer attitudes from considering refurbished products as an afterthought to a first thought. To shift this perception, promoting the value and quality of refurbished tech products and their reduced environmental impact is essential.

Monte-Colombo says another significant challenge is educating consumers about electronic recycling and reducing barriers to recycling electronics that no longer function and cannot be repurposed.

“There’s also a real opportunity for businesses to invest in refurbished technology vs new, a trend we’ve already observed gaining traction,” he says.

“Nearly 60% of UK businesses actively opt for refurbished hardware over a new device. With many businesses setting sustainability goals, transitioning to refurbished technology can effectively help achieve these objectives.

“For me, the future is refurbished. In 2024, we’ll see sustained consumer demand for refurbished tech. I’m excited to see the continued shift to a more sustainable future.”

 

 

 

 

Source  Sustainability

Upcycled soap: Discarded bars given new lease of life and donated to the less fortunate

Posted on by dishanth
Upcycled soap: Discarded bars given new lease of life and donated to the less fortunate

SINGAPORE: Handwashing with soap is something many of us take for granted.

Although it is one of the most cost-effective ways to curb the spread of disease and illness, not all have equal access to this daily necessity. And very often, this hygiene essential is thrown away before it is completely used.

To reduce wastage and ensure all communities have access to soap, some social enterprises and businesses have partnered with organisations to process these discarded scraps – helping to make a difference one upcycled bar at a time.

One such initiative is Soap for Hope, started by hygiene company Diversey in 2013.

The social enterprise told CNA that it has diverted about 3,800 tonnes of soap from landfills across the globe and converted these into 31.6 million bars.

It first collects discarded bars from hotels before scraping them to remove impurities such as hair and debris.

The soap is then cut into smaller pieces and then sanitised using Diversey’s proprietary food-grade sanitiser, said Soap for Hope founder, Mr Stefan Phang.

The sanitised soap pieces are next pressed into bricks, dried and then cut into individual bars ready for distribution.

When asked about the cleanliness of upcycled soap, Mr Phang said: “Soap, by itself, is self-cleaning. No microbes can grow on the soap surface. After scraping, the soap is 99.99 per cent sterile and when required by local authorities we have done tests to demonstrate that the reprocessed soaps are clean and hygienic.”

In Singapore, the organisation has collaborated with 19 hotel partners.

Since participating in the initiative, Hotel Conrad Centennial has recycled all used guest soap bars. This year alone, more than 229kg of soap was saved from the trash.

 

 

“In a world where many die due to lack of access to basic sanitation, we are happy that we are able to turn guest room waste into life-saving treasures,” Mr Mike Williamson, General Manager of Hotel Conrad Centennial told CNA.

Over at Hotel Jen Singapore Orchardgateway by Shangri-La, the housekeeping department collects the used bars and hands them over to Soap for Hope for upcycling a few times a year, depending on the collection quantity.

With about 500 guest rooms, the hotel averaged about 1,500kg of used soap bars yearly prior to the COVID-19 shutdowns.

This translates to about 7,000 to 10,000 new soap bars for distribution, going to recipients like migrant workers, low-income families and nursing homes.

“This initiative shows me that the community cares. It also highlighted the importance of keeping ourselves and our families safe during COVID-19 by washing our hands frequently and regularly,” said Neo Hock Ann, a resident at Tung Ling Community Service.

“PERFECTLY GOOD FOR USE”
It is not only hotels that are on board. Organisations have also been working with major fragrance manufacturers to distribute soap to those in need.

Besides recycling used soap bars, Soap Cycling Singapore also collects sample bars that are about to be discarded by major fragrance manufacturers and artisanal soap makers.

“These samples are untouched and perfectly good for use. We help to divert these fit-for-use bars away from the landfills or incinerators and put them in the hands of those who need it,” said Jacqueline Tan, partnerships manager of Soap Cycling Singapore.

“Bar soap is generally self-preserving, and cleans by physically washing away dirt and microorganisms. Compounds called surfactants in bar soap work to remove germs and dirt as soon as it comes into contact with water,” she added.

At Takasago International, soap trial samples are usually thrown away at the end of each project. To reduce waste, the company started sending soap trial samples every one to two months.

About 10kg to 15kg of soap bars have been donated each month, said Priscilla Fun, Evaluator of Takasago International.

The soap bars are then delivered to communities in need with the help of non-governmental organisations (NGO).

Local charities and community groups that distribute the bars to rental flats and low-income groups said the soap comes in useful as it is a basic necessity.

SG Accident Help Centre, a non-profit that provides care for injured Singaporeans and migrant workers, also shared that such donations help their beneficiaries save on expenses.

Soap Cycling Singapore partnered with migrant worker NGOs to distribute the upcycled soap at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“No one really pays attention to something simple like soap in a rich country like Singapore but just imagine if you were stuck in the workers’ dormitories or somewhere without proper access to soap, and all the health problems that will bring,” a migrant worker told CNA via a Soap Cycling Singapore representative.

Since its launch in 2017, Soap Cycling Singapore has distributed about 138,000 bars.

 

 

 

 

Source cna

 

23 Green Business Ideas for Eco-Minded Entrepreneurs

Posted on by dishanth
23 Green Business Ideas for Eco-Minded Entrepreneurs

Today, consumers are just as interested in corporate social responsibility (CSR) as they are in a company’s products and services. This is especially good news for eco-minded entrepreneurs.

We’ve outlined 23 eco-friendly business ideas for making money and saving the planet at the same time, that can set you apart form larger companies practicing greenwashing tactics.

 

What is a green industry business?

A green industry business is one that uses sustainable materials to make its products. Green industry businesses aim to use as little water, energy and raw materials as possible while cutting carbon emissions, or it finds ways to utilize these materials in renewable and eco-friendly ways. This business approach minimizes the company’s strain on natural resources and contributions to climate change. In some cases, if waste is generated, it is reused as energy or raw material.

 

What is a green business model?

With a traditional business model, a company outlines raw material budgets, design processes, and service delivery or product distribution methods. A green business model, while ensuring ample revenue, prioritizes minimizing the company’s environmental impact instead of maximizing its profit. It may involve the restricted use of fossil fuels while emphasizing power supplied by solar panels and other approaches to drastically reduce energy consumption.

 

How do I start a green business?

As consumers have come to care about CSR, a greater number of green businesses have emerged, but the problems that climate change poses require many solutions. Thus, to start a green business, first identify an eco-friendly service that nobody in your market currently offers. Then think of similarly eco-minded people you know whom you could ask to join your team. Read our guide on how to start a business.

As you launch your green business, change your lifestyle to reflect the values and services of your business.

 

What companies are eco-friendly?

Eco-friendly companies may include outdoor apparel brands, businesses that make reusable plastic bottles, eco-friendly cleaning companies, businesses that install solar panels, a local recycling business, and many other potential ventures. If you’re looking to start your own eco-friendly, green industry business, consider any of the 23 ideas below.

1. Ink refill business

Starting an ink-refill business can not only be a highly profitable decision, it can be an environmentally conscious one, too. You might question whether refilling ink cartridges truly helps the environment considering the amount of paper that is wasted each year. However, by reusing old ink cartridges, there is less nonbiodegradable waste accumulating in landfills. Paper is still necessary in the business world, but empty ink containers are not.

2. Environmental publications

If you love to write, start your own environmentally minded publication. Your actions can make a big difference in the world. By debunking popular myths and sharing the truth about the world we live in, you can help consumers rethink how their actions affect the planet.

3. Green finance

Green finance focuses on supporting local, community-level projects with an emphasis on sustainable, ecologically friendly agriculture. Green finance is also typically concerned with providing educational opportunities, funding for artistic endeavors and projects that support local ecology.

Green finance is preoccupied with social profitability. While monetary profit remains important, the goal of green finance is to support beneficial projects that provide value to the local community and ecology.

4. Eco-friendly retail

Consumer rewards programs are popular among retailers, and e-commerce site EcoPlum is no exception. With every purchase, customers earn EcoChipz, which are redeemable for either rewards or a donation to various environmental causes. Each product sold also carries a third-party green certification or an equivalent eco-label.

Besides selling sustainably sourced products, EcoPlum produces educational content, including monthly columns by industry experts, local green business listings, recycling information, eco tips, and book and video recommendations. If you’re considering opening a retail store, consider partnering with a company that has similar values as you and your customers.

5. Sustainable construction materials

You might not think of construction as sustainable, but some companies now provide recycled materials for use in projects like infrastructure repair.

Axion, for example, with its eco-friendly products, hopes to change the way companies think about rebuilding America’s infrastructure. The company’s railroad ties and pilings are made from recycled plastic from consumer and industrial uses rather than non-sustainable materials like steel and concrete. Axion is currently working with major partners like Long Island Rail Road to improve infrastructure safely and sustainably in the United States.

6. Organic catering

A great way for eco-friendly foodies to share their passion for food and the environment is to start an organic catering company. By catering local events and business luncheons with foods containing organic and locally grown ingredients, free-range meats, and vegan, gluten-free, and paleo meal options, you’ll appeal to nature lovers and health and wellness enthusiasts alike.

Be sure, though, to minimize the impact on the environment by avoiding plastic and paper goods as much as possible and composting food waste.

7. Eco-friendly beauty salon

If cosmetology is your passion, start a beauty business that’s Mother Nature-approved. Organic and vegan hair and beauty products are popping up everywhere. A way to make this trend work for you is to open an eco-friendly beauty salon. You can open a hair salon that uses all-natural shampoos and conditioners or a nail salon that uses environmentally friendly and vegan polishes and spa treatments.

8. Eco-friendly landscaping

Professional landscaping may make your lawn and garden look nice, but all of that maintenance isn’t necessarily great for the environment. With some eco-friendly advice and know-how, you can help homeowners make their yards literally and figuratively greener. SheKnows recommends synthetic turf, drought-resistant plants and strategically placed trees for a lawn that saves water, energy, and money.

9. Sustainable event planning

Whether they’re big or small, meetings and events can generate large amounts of waste and consume valuable resources. Green event planners use their expertise and event-planning skills to find eco-friendly venues, materials, and accommodations.

Sustainable event management benefits more than just the planet. There are financial advantages, plus it generates a positive image for event organizers, vendors and stakeholders while raising awareness, and inspiring change in the community.

10. Bicycle repair and refurbishing

Biking short distances instead of driving is better for the environment and your health. Like most modes of transportation, bicycles occasionally need a tune-up.

You could be the expert cyclists come to when their bikes need repairing or maintenance. If you have some extra space, you could purchase inexpensive older bikes, fix them up and sell them for a profit.

11. Handmade all-natural/organic products

Soaps, cosmetics and cleaning products are just a few of the household products that can be made using common organic materials.

Sure, anyone can find a recipe for a sugar scrub or vinegar-based cleaning solution and do it themselves, but if you package and sell them in sets, your customers conveniently have those all-natural products at their fingertips. Local markets and events are a good place to sell, or you could start an online store.

12. Eco-consulting

Are you an expert on green living? Start an eco-consulting service. Consultants evaluate homes and offices, and offer solutions to make them more environmentally friendly.

You could advise clients on switching their home appliances to more energy-efficient machines or implement a recycling program. To further boost your credibility, become a certified eco-consultant.

13. Farmers market vendor

Thanks to the organic movement, those with a green thumb have a golden opportunity to earn money by selling non-GMO, pesticide-free produce at their local farmers market.

Selling naturally grown fruits and vegetables gives you a distinct advantage over competing growers who use conventional farming methods, including pesticides. You may have to be approved and/or get certified by your local board of health first before you can begin selling.

14. Green housekeeping services

For working parents, cleaning the house can be at the bottom of the to-do list. Market yourself as the green solution to their housekeeping woes by offering services that range from light dusting to heavy-duty chores like cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, using only approved all-natural and eco-friendly cleaning products.

Charge an hourly rate or create your own service packages for a flat fee. Remember, your clients are giving you access to their homes. Build a trustworthy reputation with people you know first before advertising to strangers.

15. ‘Upcycled’ furniture

Don’t throw out your old, broken furniture. With basic templates and access to power tools, you can break down and reassemble chairs, tables and dressers into new pieces that you can paint and sell. Shelving and storage units are easy to make from wood scraps, and depending on the item, you might even be able to fully restore a unique and valuable piece of furniture.

Alternatively, you could reupholster old chairs and couches, giving them new life. Buying secondhand doesn’t just save money, it also helps the environment.

16. Green franchises

Want to run a business with a solid brand and customer base already in place? Investing in a franchise might be the answer. While franchising might call to mind fast-food joints and hotel chains, there are many eco-friendly franchise businesses.

17. Secondhand store

New things are typically expensive, and pretty soon, those costs add up. For example, a new book could cost $15 to $30, while a used book usually costs only a couple of dollars.

Opening a secondhand store not only saves your customers money, it’s better for the environment. Instead of tossing a perfectly good item into the trash, encourage consumers to donate their used items to you so another person can get value out of that item. You can sell used clothes, coats, books, kitchen appliances and furniture.

18. Green consulting

Whether it’s cutting energy costs or reducing their carbon footprint, the pressure for businesses to adopt green practices is high, and it’s only going to grow.

Business sustainability consultant Barbara Englehart said there are numerous benefits for companies that go green, including reduced costs, risks and liabilities, and increased employee retention and productivity.

“This is all quite new in the business world, and companies need help,” Englehart told Business News Daily. “They weren’t teaching sustainability in business schools five or 10 years ago.”

19. Solar panel installation

Many green-minded homeowners have installed solar panels on their homes, and many more would like. If you know how to do this, offer this service in your area.

20. Eco-friendly cleaning

Common cleaning products contain chemicals that contribute to pollution, and harm people and pets that come in contact with them. Starting an eco-friendly cleaning business counters this problem. Your eco-friendly cleaning business can exclusively use nontoxic products or use brands that minimize their use of single-use plastics. You can further decrease your company’s environmental impact by reusing greywater whenever possible.

21. Reusable plastic bottles

Single-use plastics are indisputably a leading cause for concern among environmentalists. Offer people a way to drink water on the go without contributing to plastic pollution by launching a green industry business that designs, produces and sells reusable plastic bottles. Explore using alternative materials such as metal or glass, bottles made from recycled plastic, or renewable plastics from materials like corn starch or sawdust.

22. Environmental impact and carbon emissions lessons

Many people aren’t aware of just how much carbon emissions their daily activities produce and the impact those activities have on the environment. Offer classes to educate the public about how driving, using air conditioning in the summer, leaving lights on unnecessarily, flying and other activities contribute to carbon emissions. You can also teach people how to reduce the environmental impact of these activities.

23. Local eco-friendly recycling business

Chances are that your town’s department of public works oversees a public recycling program, but many experts say that what you put in your recycling bin doesn’t always get recycled. Some municipalities don’t accept all types of recyclable containers, while others may not thoroughly sort the collected recycling. Open an eco-friendly local recycling business to guarantee your community that their goods are recycled.

 

 

Source Business News Daily

Scientists from A*Star, NTU find way to upcycle old solar panels

Posted on by dishanth
Scientists from A*Star, NTU find way to upcycle old solar panels

Recycling old solar panels is challenging, but scientists from Singapore have found a way to upcycle the silicon inside and turn them into materials that can convert heat into electricity.

The team comprising researchers from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) turned old solar panels into thermoelectric materials.

Such materials convert heat into electricity, and work in a similar way to how hydropower generation plants use water movement to drive turbines to generate electricity.

The joint study was published in the scientific journal Advanced Materials in March.

Dr Ady Suwardi, the deputy head of the soft materials research department at A*Star’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering said that by moving heat from one side to another, thermoelectric materials generate electricity.

This can then be used for applications like cooling, added Dr Ady, who co-led the study.

The team found that impurities and defects in the silicon used to make solar cells actually enhance the performance of thermoelectric materials.

A solar panel is made up of many solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells.

Separating the materials used to make solar panels and recycling each of them is a complex and costly process, said Associate Professor Nripan Mathews.

 

The team comprising researchers from A*Star and NTU turned old solar panels into thermoelectric materials. PHOTO: A*STAR

 

Prof Mathews, who is the cluster director of renewables and low-carbon generation (solar) at the Energy Research Institute @NTU (ERI@N), added that current recycling methods are able to recover only the glass and metallic support structures from solar panels.

Solar cells contain a complex mix of materials such as aluminium, copper, silver, lead, plastic and silicon.

Silicon, which is extremely pure, makes up 90 per cent of solar cells. However, this normally ends up in landfills.

This is because silicon has to be chemically treated and remelted to be recycled into pure silicon, said Prof Mathews.

He added that it is challenging, energy-intensive and expensive to recover the silicon to create new, functional solar cells.

“While silicon holds very little weight in the entire solar panel, it is the most valuable part of it, which explains why it is important for us to try and upcycle it,” said Prof Mathews.

 

Upcycling of solar panels (bottom) into valuable heat-harvesting electricity materials such as thermoelectric modules (top). PHOTO: A*STAR

 

The team is currently looking to pilot the technology for large-scale upcycling of waste silicon to create silicon-based thermoelectrics.

This can be used for high-temperature energy harvesting applications such as converting heat generated from industrial waste processes into electricity.

There are a number of research efforts ongoing in Singapore to see how solar panels can be recycled.

The NTU project, for example, is one of two currently supported by the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) Closing the Waste Loop funding initiative.

The $45 million initiative was launched in 2017 to boost research and development in areas such as the recovery of materials from waste streams.

The other project, a recycling programme led by Singapore Polytechnic (SP), aims to recycle solar panels on a commercial scale and recover more than 90 per cent by weight of the materials from the solar panels, said NEA.

In 2019, The Straits Times reported that Sembcorp and SP will also work together to develop a pilot recycling plant for solar panels.

However, the institutions declined to comment when asked for updates on the effort.

Another research effort by NTU spin-off EtaVolt, a solar tech firm, is working with the university on various other solar recycling projects, said its co-founder and chief executive Stanley Wang.

The project is not funded by NEA’s Closing the Waste Loop initiative.

Dr Wang said that the upcoming projects aim to recover materials from decommissioned solar panels so they can be recycled and reutilised as raw materials for battery, solar panel manufacturing and other industrial applications.

“This would allow us to recover the end-of-life value of these raw materials, which can potentially be given back to companies in the form of rebates to incentivise them to recycle their solar panels sustainably,” he added.

 

 

Source The Straits Times

Sustainable shopping: How this mall wants to help save the planet with you

Posted on by dishanth
Sustainable shopping: How this mall wants to help save the planet with you

In recent years, terms like “fast fashion” and “overconsumption” have seeped into modern society’s consciousness, giving shopping a bad rap. Raffles City is changing that, one eco step at a time.

Through the Project Green campaign–a series of sustainability initiatives involving retail, hospitality and corporate stakeholders–Raffles City Singapore is revolutionising its retail experience for the better.

“By providing our retailers, office tenants and hotels a suitable platform via Project Green to expand on their green offerings, Raffles City aspires to make a bigger impact to inculcate sustainable living in the daily lives of our shoppers and stakeholders, and to adopt an eco-conscious attitude to make a positive impact on our planet together,” says general manager of Raffles City Singapore, Steve Ng.

 

Raffles City’s Project Green showcase is held at Level 3 Atrium and features activities you can take part in. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

From July 8 to Sept 25, there will be a slew of activities lined up for shoppers at the mall. Discover your inner eco-warrior when you take part in workshops that teach you how to incorporate recycling into your everyday life, through ordinary activities like dining and shopping. Here are three easy ways to get involved.

 

Learning to go green

Held at Raffles City Level 3 Atrium, the Project Green showcase features brands within the mall and their sustainability efforts.

Leading by example, Raffles City has created part of the display using upcycled materials from the mall’s past Christmas decorations. It includes a prominent tree centrepiece with two bicycles that shoppers can pedal to power up the lights.

 

Part of the Project Green showcase lets you light up the tree centrepiece by pedalling on the two bicycles. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

In addition, an Adopt-A-Tree initiative by local cafe, The Providore, gives shoppers another avenue to practise sustainability efforts. Participants can help repopulate forests in Sumatra and Borneo, while helping to lower carbon emissions at the same time.

The main Project Green showcase is divided into four zones that feature different tenants from F&B, beauty, and fashion, along with an exhibition area that displays the initiatives by Swissotel the Stamford and Fairmont Singapore, as well as the CapitaLand Master Plan 2030.

 

Play a part in weaving the Pledge for Sustainability mural with recycled cotton and fabric. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

Meanwhile, you can also help weave the Pledge for Sustainability art mural at the exhibition area using recycled cotton and fabric, and possibly end up contributing to bid for the largest textile yarn installation in the Singapore Book of Records!

 

L’Occitane’s Recycling Program lets you drop off empty packaging from any beauty brand. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

At the F&B and beauty zones are Nespresso and L’Occitane, which will hold masterclasses and upcycling workshops. Learn how Nespresso recycles their used capsules, turning them into new aluminium objects, while L’Occitane unveils its Recycling Program – the first in Singapore to accept empty packing from any beauty brand. And while you’re at it, why not pop by their first and only eco store in Singapore on Level 1?

 

Nespresso’s recycling efforts include turning used coffee pods and capsules into aluminium daily objects. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

The fashion zone, on the other hand, will include brands like the socially conscious Little Match Girl and Lush cosmetics, as well as Furla, with its Bloom bag made from a special paper-like fabric and recycled acrylic chain strap.

 

View examples of upcycling at the fashion zone. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

Social enterprise Terra SG, known for its engaging eco-education programmes, will be running weekend public workshops. Featured mall tenants will also take turns to run workshops that help educate shoppers on other ways to go green.

 

Recycling as a lifelong journey

Going green is not just in fashion these days – it’s essential to help reduce our carbon footprint and preserve the Earth for the generations to come.

Unsure how to start? Head to the Green Corner at Lobby A on Basement 2 for inspiration.

A permanent set-up, the space has been reimagined and decked out with preserved moss, recycled wood and steel frames, with low-energy lighting and interactive elements.

 

Located at Basement 2, Lobby A, the Green Corner is a great place to learn about adopting recycling habits. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

To be refreshed every quarter, the Green Corner is designed to educate the public about sustainability and how to adopt good recycling habits.

Featuring interactive educational displays, vending machines which take in recyclable items, as well as recycling and e-waste bins, the Green Corner also has a Bag Sharing Station for shoppers to, well, share the love by depositing their unused paper bags for other shoppers to take and use.

 

Making a difference with your shopping

With beautifully designed reusable bags becoming commonplace in Singapore, make ‘Bagless Fridays’ your new shopping habit as you wind down for the weekend.

 

Drop off your unused paper bags at the Bag Sharing Station for other shoppers to pick up and use. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

A new initiative by Raffles City, ‘Bagless Fridays’ will take place throughout the Project Green campaign. Shoppers are encouraged to BYOR (Bring Your Own Reusables), with participating tenants not offering shopping bags in order to reduce plastic bag use and wastage.

As a bonus, shoppers who use their own recyclable bags at participating stores at Raffles City can earn double STAR$ on the CapitaStar app.

For a minimum spend of $450, shoppers will receive a Raffles City x Tiong Bahru Bakery limited edition reusable Sttoke cup specially designed in celebration of the bakery’s 10th anniversary.

 

Redeem a special edition Sttoke cup with every $450 spent. PHOTO: RAFFLES CITY

 

With Project Green, Raffles City is leading the way in encouraging a sustainable lifestyle, while showing us how simple it can be. So the next time you head out to the mall, how about taking that reusable bag with you?

 

 

Source The Straits Times