#ssreduceplastic

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What’s in my bag? ZERO WASTE EDITION (cont.)

Almost 8 million tonnes of waste is produced in Singapore annually, with only 61% of it being recycled. This puts a lot of stress on our resources which could be better diverted to other social and environmental issues.

Though the issue may seem huge, we’re firm believers in the power of collective effort - everyone has a part to play in alleviating the negative impact on our environment. 

Our earlier what’s in my bag (part 1) article highlighted the simple ways we can switch up our habitual usage patterns - reusable tote bags instead of single-use bags, reusable bottles instead of single-use cups. 

Today, we’re back to share with you more eco-friendly items you could consider part of your daily bag essentials - to become an active contributor to a zero waste society! 

Reusable straws

You may think: ‘Hey, I always throw them in the recycling bin!’. Unfortunately, because plastic straws are so small and lightweight, they often slip through sorting machines at the recycling facility and end up in landfills or the sea.

Straws have become one of the most commonly found pollutants in the ocean that’s killing marine life: fish, turtles, dolphins, whales, seals and even seabirds. There’s also a high chance that these plastics have entered the food chain, when unintentionally consumed by sea animals, and later by us in the form of microplastics. Who’d have thought a small plastic tube could have such a deadly environmental impact.

That’s why it’s important to always have an eco-friendly straw on hand. Choose from stainless steel or bamboo straw options which are light and take up almost negligible space in your bag. Most sellers would also include a handy brush cleaner so you can clean on-the-go!

Reusable lunch box & utensils

Perhaps the most bulky of them all, but great for reducing the usage of single-use styrofoam boxes, plastic containers and plastic utensils when taking away food.

Using a reusable plastic container is fine - the key here is to eliminate single-use - but make sure to look for those that are labelled ‘BPA-free’. Ever heard of the old wives tale that heating food up in the microwave kills its nutrients? Studies have shown, however, that it’s actually a myth! What we should be worried about is microwaving food in plastic containers that are not Bisphenol A (BPA) free, as this can cause reproductive issues in men and women and affect the development of a babies.

Alternatively, look for containers and utensils made from glass, steel or bamboo. If it’s too heavy to keep in your bag 100% of the time, try to at least keep it in the office or have one in the home so that you are always prepared.

Menstrual Cup

Ladies have we piqued your interest? For those who’ve never heard of the menstrual or period cup, this might be a game changer for you. This is the eco-friendly alternative to tampons or pads.

Menstrual cups, which are usually made from medical-grade silicone or latex, can be inserted for up to 12 hours and can be reused throughout your period. These can last you for about 10 years and would actually save you money in the long-term as it’s relatively inexpensive at SGD $30 to $40.

Think about how many pads or tampons you use per cycle and multiply that by a year, and then the lifetime of your period. In addition to that enormous amount of waste produced, cotton production is also a water intensive process, and, non-organic versions probably contain questionable chemicals and pesticides that you don’t want anywhere near your lady parts!

A menstrual cup is thus better for the body and can prevent abrasion and irritation usually caused by pads or tampons. We’re also glad to know that it degrades back to its original state at the end of its lifespan, making it less hazardous to the environment.

What’s your next step? Where can you find these products? 

As part of SaladStop!’s Bring Your Own (BYO) campaign and mission to eliminate single-use plastics, we’ve made available stainless steel straws, collapsible food containers and portable cups for purchase at our outlets. What’s more, we’ve put in place little incentives everytime you bring in anyone of these reusable items!

But we’re not alone in this journey toward sustainability. We’re happy to share a list of other F&B outlets and businesses that also offer incentives for the eco-friendly customer as part of Zero Waste SG’s Bring Your Own (BYO) Singapore movement.

We officially challenge YOU to give 1 or 2 reusable products a try and see how it works out for you.

Come on, what have you got to lose?

[saladstop]

What’s in my bag? ZERO WASTE EDITION

With the popular YouTube tag ‘What’s In My Bag?’ receiving thousands of views a day, we thought we’d join the club and do our own version for the sustainable consumer!

We humans have an uncountable number of products that we use and go through everyday. But we seldom stop to think about where waste goes ‘to die’ after we are done with it. Most of us are happy to assume that it just disappears and is taken care of by the ‘waste fairies’.

The reality is that almost 8 million tonnes of waste is produced in Singapore annually, with only 61% of it being recycled. This puts a lot of stress on our resources which could be better diverted to other social and environmental issues.

So, how can we help? It all starts from changing our habitual usage patterns, and where better to begin than diving right into our bags!

Consider including these eco-friendly items as part of your daily bag essentials, and become an active contributor to a zero waste society:

Tote bag / Reusable bag

This is a pretty easy one to start with. There are many lightweight, durable, reusable (and fashionable!) shopper bags or tote bags available in the market that you can easily keep in your bag. Does anyone else get that undeniably satisfying feeling from whipping out your reusable bag and rejecting that piece of plastic? Maybe it’s just us.

And, you might not even have to buy it yourself! Stores often give out tote bags for free during promotional giveaways, or in the form of a goodie bag from events, conferences and fairs. These come in super handy when grocery shopping or shopping in general.

The amount of plastic bags given out in Singapore is truly excessive, with shops or stores readily giving out plastic bags whenever an item is purchased. Plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to degrade, and in that time, countless wildlife and marine life are harmed, and unhealthy toxins released into the air. It’s time to make a change!

Reusable bottles / Coffee cups

If each of us buys 1 beverage every single day for a year, we would be throwing away 365 disposable cups/bottles in a year. Multiple this by the whole country, and you would get more than 2 billion cups sitting in a landfill!

Just think of how much waste you could reduce if you had a reusable bottle or cup. In response to a call for more sustainable products, manufactures have started to produce light, portable and even collapsible models which can easily be tucked inside your bag.

There’s absolutely no excuse for buying bottled water or beverages in plastic cups anymore. What’s more, tap water in Singapore is perfectly drinkable!

Now you may ask, where can I get these eco-friendly products?

As part of SaladStop!’s Bring Your Own (BYO) campaign and mission to eliminate single-use plastics, we’ve made available collapsible cups and drawstring bags for purchase at our outlets. What’s more, we’ve put in place little incentives everytime you bring in anyone of these reusable items!

But we’re not alone in this journey toward sustainability. We’re happy to share a list of other F&B outlets and businesses that also offer incentives for the eco-friendly customer as part of Zero Waste SG’s Bring Your Own (BYO) Singapore movement.

We officially challenge YOU to give 1 or 2 reusable products a try and see how it works out for you.

Come on, what have you got to lose?

[saladstop]

Plastic waste is the most common form of waste found at Singapore’s incineration plants. It’s in the surrounding oceans and has even made its way into our food chain. We are committed to doing our part to change this. But reducing plastic waste is a bottom-up effort, and we’re going to need all the help we can get! 

Although our current salad bowls are made of 80% recycled plastic, we know that no plastic is better than even conscious-plastic. SaladStop! are therefore jumping on the BYO train, in one of many efforts to guide us all down a more environmentally-friendly track. 

As of Monday, 9th July, all of our stores will operate a ‘Bring-Your-Own-Bowl’ policy. Rewarding you with 1 free topping as thanks for your environmental stewardship. No need to worry about the shape of your container, as our team will still make your salad in our big porcelain bowls. Just make sure there’s enough space in your container to fit it all in at the end! 

To save the environment, the animals, and ourselves, join us in the effort to reduce single-use-plastic consumption.

[saladstop]

Repackaging our degradable bags as vehicles of positive change

All proceeds from the sale of our degradable bags goes to ACRES, an environmental welfare organisation in Singapore that rescues and rehabilitates animals confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade in Singapore. A charge of 10 cents for the bags would raise awareness, deter consumption of plastic bags and help to reduce environmental costs. 

We hope that this one small change can bring about a significant positive impact - by possibly reducing the number of plastic bags that are taken in our stores, by getting our customers to be more conscious about their use of plastic, and hopefully by encouraging customers to start carrying their own reusable bags. So, help us make a positive change by refusing our degradable plastic bags or by bringing your own reusable bag.