1.
Background
This proposal has been developed in response to
a call for a proposal made by the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to
recommend solutions to improve the new campus, SIT Punggol. The team decided to
work on plastic waste management in SIT Punggol, focusing on the beverages’
packaging waste.
According to the World
Economic Forum (WEF) (2019), plastic production around the world saw a dramatic
increase from 15 million tonnes in 1964 to 311 million tonnes in 2014. The
article also mentioned that the number is expected to double again over the
next 20 years. As these statistics demonstrate, single-use plastics are a
popular choice amongst consumers. As plastic
production keeps increasing,
the possibility of plastic
waste will also increase.
As 8 billion metric ton
of plastic waste is being produced in the world (Parker, 2018), it is crucial
on how effectively it can be managed as plastic is a type of material that is
difficult to biodegrade, which will result in it lasting a long time in this
world. According to Wright (2018), plastics can take up to 450 years to
degrade, depending on the exact type that was used to make it. As such, if the
plastic waste is not properly disposed of will cause a variety of problems. One
of such problems would be water pollution. When plastics break down into
microplastic, it enters the food cycle of sea creatures causing harm to the
marine biodiversity. Also, when plastics breakdown, it releases toxic chemicals
into the environment and can make their way into our food and water resources
(Grabowski, 2018).
Sriring (2018) published
an article about a pilot whale that died due to 80 pieces of rubbish pieces
found in its stomach has garnered global attention. According to the UN
Environment Programme (2017), every year about 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of
plastic are dumped in the ocean. Singapore contributes to plastic pollution in
the ocean through its high usage of plastics in the country. According to
a study by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) (2018), Singaporeans use at
least 1.76 billion plastics such as bottles, bags and other disposable items
yearly, in which only less than 20% are recycled. Also, SEC mentioned that the
plastic waste is discarded, burnt or transported to landfills.
This is an issue to a city like Singapore as the
majority of Singapore’s non-recyclable waste is incinerated and shipped to a
man-made island nearby, called Semakau island. Geddie (2018) reported that
Semakau Island, Singapore’s only landfill, is expected to be filled up by 2035.
Originally, Semakau island was expected to last till 2045. However, due to the
amount of waste generated that has increased over the years, the projected
lifespan of the landfill was shortened. Thus, we should play a part and
contribute more to protect the environment. Initiatives must be taken to reduce
plastic production and consumption to provide a better future for the next
generation.
Developed cities such as South Korea had imposed
certain types of disposable plastic ban (Armstrong, 2019). One such example, from
the same article, is plastics that are only used for “wet” items such as fish
and meat. Singapore can similarly protect the environment by reducing
unnecessary plastic consumption in the form of bottles and beverage packaging.
The role of preventing more plastics from being
produced also lies in the daily activities of a person. One of the main
culprits for the extensive amount of plastic used can be attributed to F&B
businesses. To address the issue of plastic waste in Singapore, SIT can play a
part by ensuring that F&B operators will take measures to reduce plastic
packaging.
As SIT Punggol is designed to be an integrated
campus where it “integrates applied research and innovation”, the team has
decided to use the upcoming SIT Punggol as a testbed before recommending this
proposal to other beverages stalls in Singapore. As it is surrounded by the
Punggol community and business park, this will allow for integration which
would generate opportunities for students and industry professionals to work on
projects together that can contribute back to the community (SIT, 2019).
1.1 Current situations in Singapore
Incineration of trash was introduced to
Singapore in 1978 in the form of Waste-to-energy (WTE) plants. Currently,
incineration helps prolong the lifespan of the landfill by reducing the amount
of volume of waste. According to the Ministry of the Environment and Water
Resources (MEWR), incineration of plastic can reduce the total volume from 100%
to 10%. But it is not a viable long term solution as the burning of plastic
will release fumes that are hazardous to the environment. Without incineration
of this non-biodegradable material, it would stay around for generations.
In 2007, the National Environment Agency (NEA)
had started the Singapore Packing Agreement (SPA). In this voluntary agreement,
NEA and operators worked together to reduce “packaging wastage” from innovative
design, efficient manufacturing and encouraged “reuse or recycling of packaging
materials”. According to NEA (2019), under the second SPA’s duration,
businesses have reduced the total amount of 54,000 tonnes of packaging waste.
ZeroWaste SG (2018) has also published a guide
to encourage food and beverage (F&B) operators to reduce plastic usage. In
this guide, auditors issued a rating for popular F&B operators based on
efforts in reducing plastic usage, persuade consumers to adopt a Bring Your Own
(BYO) culture and suggest other things for them to contribute more. The results
published in this guide show that the majority of F&B operators are open to
the concept of a BYO culture.
The ideal situation would be for stores selling
beverages under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), should not use plastic cups
for their drinks. The SFA should include regulations for the shops to omit
plastic for their cups, straws, and carriers.
1.2 Problem statement
The amount of plastic waste contributed by
beverages consumption is high due to the extensive amount of usage of
single-use plastics. This poses plastic pollution threat to the ocean which
would, in turn, contribute to climate change.
1.3 Purpose statement
The purpose of this proposal is to provide
feasible solutions to reduce plastic usage from beverage stalls in Singapore.
This is to ensure that Singapore’s plastic waste situation can be alleviated.
In addition, the upcoming Punggol campus can adopt this system to test for the
feasibility of the idea island-wide.
2.
Proposed solutions
The team took reference from the data generated
from the survey (Refer to Appendix C) and researched the current
happenings in other countries and found that some of the solutions can also be
applied in the context of Singapore, making use of the upcoming SIT Punggol as
a trial before recommending to implement the solution islandwide. With the help
of SFA to administer guidelines, this solution could be executed to encourage
the reduced use of plastic packaging for beverages.
2.1 Dispenser-Type Beverages
PepsiCo (2019) has launched a new “hydration platform” in the form
of a smart dispenser. (Refer to Appendix A) The consumer will bring
their own bottle/container to the smart dispenser, then the dispenser will scan
the consumer’s unique QR code and dispense according to the consumer’s choice.
As the smart dispenser system uses QR code, it will remember the consumer’s
preferences. It will also automatically track the daily consumption of fluids
by the number of refills and the reduced “environmental impacts” by using the
system.
Unlike PepsiCo where they adopt a smart system for dispensing
drinks, there is another type of dispenser in the market that utilizes a similar
idea as PepsiCo but it is more applicable for traditional hand made drinks. In
one of NUS’s canteens, there are dispensers for common drinks like hot coffee
and tea. (Refer to Appendix B) The drinks operator will make the drink
in bulk, then they will put it in the dispenser and consumers will fill their
cups with their preferred drinks after paying for it. The use of such
dispensers for beverages in stores can help to reduce stress on Singapore’s
plastic problem by encouraging consumers to use their own containers and reduce
the need for unnecessary packaging.
2.2 Rental cups
Currently, beverage stalls normally provide a plastic cup when a
consumer makes a purchase. This ‘rental cups’ method is a new service
introduced in Singapore by a company ‘Revolv’ with the aim to cut out
single-use plastics for takeaways. How this system works is when a customer
buys a cup of coffee to go, he/she will pay a deposit amount on top of the
price of the beverage. Customers will get their deposit back when they return
the cup at another participating outlet, and no washing is required.
Mahmud (2019) stated that “A new service recently launched in
Singapore wants to replace single-use plastic in takeaways with reusable cups
and containers that customers can rent technically for free.” With such service
availability, consumers do not need to bring their own cup and are still
reducing the use of plastic.
2.3 Using sustainable material as alternative
2.3.1 Glass (for bottles)
Glass bottles could be an alternative material for bottled
drinks.
Based on one of the group member’s experience, the restaurant she
worked at previously reused all the chilli bottles instead of throwing them
away and replacing them with new ones. Every night, there will be a staff
assigned to wash the chilli bottles that were almost empty and would then
refill with a new batch of chilli from the can.
2.3.2 Stainless steel (for straws)
F&B businesses have started to phase out plastic straws in the
effort to reduce plastic waste. Fast food companies such as Burger King and KFC
have stopped providing customers with plastic straws unless there is a request
for it. The usefulness of the straw would only last as long as the drink, after
which it will be treated as trash. Hence, reusable straws will ensure that
people are able to consume their drinks without causing pollution. One such
material that can be used to make these reusable straws are stainless
steel.
3. Benefits proposed solutions
3.1 Dispenser for Beverages
The use of dispensers allows people to store their preferred
choice of beverage in their own bottles or cups. This reduces the need for
plastic bottles to be manufactured which will eliminate the additional cost and
in turn, increase the savings for businesses.
Beverages that are normally bottled can be replaced by the
dispenser. This will not only cut down the plastic bottle usage but also to
help the consumer to pick up a habit of bringing their own cup or bottle all
the time. Such dispensers allow better efficiency because customers will no
longer require another person to get the drinks for them.
3.2 Rental Cups/containers
Rental cups/containers allow customers to patronize stores that
only provide disposables takeaway without producing packaging wastage. This is
good as the savings on the packaging can be utilized elsewhere. Also, the
reduced hassle for consumers to bring their own cups/containers will encourage
consumers to participate.
3.3 Using sustainable material
Glass bottles can be reused and recycled, this creates an
ecosystem where glass can be used multiple times and provide convenience to
users at the same time. Opting for glass as a replacement would be feasible as
there are many benefits it brings. According to the Glass Packaging Institute
(GPI) (2015), glass bottles and containers are 100% recyclable and can be
continuously reused without the loss of purity or value and for each ton of
recycled glass, over a ton of natural resources are saved. GPI also mentioned
that up to 95% of the raw materials are replaced with recycled glass and
manufactures will be able to benefit from recycling such as decreases raw
material emissions and use, extends the life of plant equipment, such as
furnaces, and saves energy.
Steel is a metal that can be used to make cups and straws
respectively. The material is known to be durable and can last a long time in
terms of wear and tear. Thus, the use of steel straws can reduce the need for
manufacturing plastic for beverages in the long term.
4. Limitations of proposed solutions
Apart from benefits, the solutions we provided
has drawbacks as well. This way, our stakeholders will be able to weigh the
pros and cons of each solution and decide which solution to put into
practice.
4.1 Dispenser for Beverages
It is only limited to homemade drinks such as milo and coffee.
This might also lead to an uneven mixture over a period of time and
difficulties in maintaining the temperature. A consumer might abuse it by
taking more than what they paid for. The last challenge that will be faced is
what will occur when the dispenser is empty.
As compared to noncarbonated drinks, carbonated drinks require a
carbon dioxide tank (CO2 tank) to produce the carbonated effect. Additional human resources will then be required
to replace the CO2 tank.
4.2 Rental Cups
The system of having cups and containers for rent requires huge
logistic work. Furthermore, it relies heavily on users to follow the practices.
Customers might not be able to return the item on time and in good condition.
As this system is currently not implemented widely, users might not be able to
have access to the system. This makes it inconvenient for visitors to make a
trip to return the item. Also, the system might be prone to abuse as people
might not treat the items with care and will result in problems such as damaged
cups and not returning the cups on time.
4.3 Sustainable material as an alternative
While glass is superior in terms of its carbon footprint, there
are some disadvantages that make plastic more preferable than glass. Weight and
fragility are some drawbacks. Glass generally weighs heavier than plastic which
means more trips are required when transporting packaged goods which would lead
to a great impact on the environment. Also, glass has the tendency of breaking
easily. This means if a glass bottle is knocked over, it would leave a mess
behind and it would be dangerous due to the small fragments.
Given that stainless steel is a good conductor of heat, the straws
made from stainless steel cannot be used for hot drinks. Since straws are long
in nature, when washing, it will be hard to reach the inner side of the middle
straw segment thus leading to hygiene issues.
5. Evaluation
After much deliberation on the benefits and
limitations of all three solutions, the team has decided that having a system
where consumers can use their personal bottle to collect their drinks from the
dispenser will be the most suitable option to counter the high use of plastic
packaging.
With the implementation of this system, the
amount of plastic packaging required for pre-packed drinks and instant takeaway
beverages will be reduced as consumers will have to use their own bottles. This
system, compared to the use of alternate materials, will be more suitable because
it does not require a huge amount of investment and the campus can be set up as
an ideal testbed for this system.
The system, however, has its limitations.
Customers who do not have a bottle in hand might not be able to proceed in
making their purchase. Hence, we have thought of the integration of a rental
cup system, similar to Revolv’s, which will allow people to have a choice of
renting a cup. This would allow people to enjoy their drinks while eliminating
the need for businesses to supply disposable cups in the event if the consumers
do not have their bottles with them and reusable cups are also not
available.
6. Methodology
This section illustrates the methods used by the
team to gather information for the report.
6.1 Primary Research
The team conducted a survey to find out what are people’s thoughts
of owning a reusable straw or cup.
Through this survey, the team was able to get first-hand data on
the percentage of people who own reusable straw or cup and the reasons why they
do not own them. Also, we were able to find out the reasons behind people’s
unwillingness to bring out their own reusable straw or cup although they do own
one.
The data collected is useful for us to come up with a solution
that would cater to the opinions provided.
6.2 Secondary Research
Each of the team members did research to retrieve statistics of
the amount of plastic waste over the past few years, benefits, and solutions to
limitations. The majority of the research was extracted from trustable news
articles or journals. Through the research process, the team has also gained an
initial insight into the research problem.
7. Conclusion
The team believes that with a dispenser
integrated with the rental cup system, the need for plastic for packaging will
decrease. This is because it removes the unnecessary packaging step from the
traditional manufacturing chain in beverage production. With the Punggol campus
built by 2021, it can be used as a testbed in line with the goals of the Zero
waste master plan.
After which, SFA could implement this protocol
for beverage stalls at other educational institutes. In the long run, perhaps
SFA can introduce it across the beverage industry to combat the plastic waste
issue in Singapore.
8. References
Ang, J. (2019, September 10) SIT’s new
Punggol campus to have cutting-edge tech, be connected to community and
industry. Straits Times.
Retrieved November 4, 2019 from
Armstrong, K. (2019, July 10) 14 unexpected
countries that have banned single-use plastics. Ladders.
Retrieved November 3, 2019, from
Channel News Asia. (2019, June 3) More than
270 F&B outlets to stop providing plastic straws by Jul 1.
Retrieved November 3, 2019, from
Geddie, J. (2018, June 08) In Singapore,
where trash becomes ash, plastics are still a problem.
Retrieved October 28, 2019, from
Glass Packaging Institute. (n.d.). Glass
recycling facts.
Retrieved November 3, 2019, from
Grabowski, M. (2018, August 1) Greenhouse
gases linked to degrading plastic. University of Hawaiʻi News.
Retrieved November 3, 2019, from
Koh,D. (n.d) Lorong Halus. Singapore
Infopedia.
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Lacy, P., Spindler, W., McAndrew, C.(2019,
January 25) Plastic is a global problem. It’s also a global opportunity. World
Economic Forum.
Retrieved October 28, 2019, from
Mahmud, A.h. (2019, January 23). New service
aims to cut out single-use plastic from takeaways, rent out containers for
free. Channel News Asia.
Retrieved October 31, 2019, from
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
(MEWR). (n.d.). Incineration.
Retrieved October 28, 2019, from
National Environment Agency. (n.d.) Singapore
Packaging Agreement.
Retrieved October 28, 2019, from
Parker, L. (2018, December 20) Here’s how
much plastic trash is littering the earth. National Geographic.
Retrieved November 3, 2019, from
PepsiCo. (2019, April 24). PepsiCo Goes
Beyond the Bottle with New, Mobile-Enabled Hydration Platform.
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Singapore Environment Council. (2018, August). Consumer
Plastic and Plastic Resource Ecosystem in Singapore.
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Sriring, O. (2018, June 3) Plastic bags jam
stomach of dead pilot whale in Thailand.
Retrieved October 28, 2019, from
United Nations Environment Programme (2017,
September). Towards a Pollution-Free Planet Background Report. United
Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.
Retrieved October 28, 2019, from
Wright, M. (2018, January 10) The stark truth
about how long your plastic footprint will last on the planet. The
Telegraph.
Retrieved November 3, 2019, from
Yalcinkaya, G. (2019, April 20). Evian to
launch collapsible “bubble” to combat plastic waste. Dezeen.
Retrieved October 31, 2019, from
ZeroWaste SG. (2018, October 22) Singapore’s
First Guide For Rating F&B Retailers On Their Efforts To Reduce Plastic
Disposables.
Retrieved October 28, 2019, from
9. Appendices
Appendix A
Pepsico ‘Hydration Platform’
It is a new way to provide beverages with the choices of
customizing without introducing single-use plastics. This is the latest step
for Pepsico in its quest in reducing single-use plastic. Previously, Pepsico
has introduced “SodaStream”, a home sparkling water brand, and
“Drinkfinity”, a customised vessel for suited for all kinds of beverages.
Appendix B
Drink dispenser in NUS canteen
This style of the drink dispenser is not commonly seen in Singapore.
This is also a good way to customize the drink and reduce diabetes among
Singaporeans.
Appendix C
Survey statistics obtained from the survey
*ADD: Automated drinks dispenser
