500 Singapore companies sign pact to cut waste

F&B sector will kick off eco-friendly drive

About 500 Singapore companies have agreed to work with the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a voluntary drive to cut waste from product packaging. The eco-friendly initiative known as the Singapore Packaging Agreement will kick off in July 2007.

It will run for five years stating with the food and beverage (F&B) industry which has one of the lowest recycling rates.

A governing board comprising members from state agencies and local industries will be formed to develop a packaging code of practice as well as create programmes to educate the public on the need to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste materials.

Singaporeans discarded nearly 7,000 tonnes of solid waste daily last year, which is about a six-fold increase from the amount 30 years ago. The code of practice will set guidelines for companies to create create eco-friendly packaging.

Sources:

• “Major push to cut waste from packaging” The Straits Times, 6 June, 2007
• “New Packaging Agreement aims to reduce waste”, Channel NewsAsia, 5 June 2007