Jocelyn’s Reflection

Building on what has been mentioned by Eliza, we started this blog with the aim to raise awareness about environmental pollution, and how our consumerist lifestyle is the culprit for all these environmental problems we see (or may not) today. We centred our discussion on various themes – from food, fashion and beauty products to domestic cleaning agents and then e-wastes. Of course, there are other modes of consumption that results in environmental pollution – and here is where you come in. Do let the end of our weekly updates stop you from knowing more about environment pollution. It is now your turn to find out more about environmental pollution! Do send us a link if you decide to blog on it too.

I mentioned at the start of our blog that I was not an environment-conscious individual, and I aim to go on a journey of discovery through this blog. Let me tell you, I TOTALLY DID. Through blogging, it got me to realise that consumerism is the bane of the environment. And I, as a consumerist, has been building my joys upon the pain of Mother Earth. This may sound a bit serious but it seems like almost every action of the present-day human being brings harm to the environment. We pollute the environment, even without knowing that we did!

Well, I am not saying we need to overthrow consumerism or capitalism, my point is that people need to start realising the costs of their actions and build up a collective resolve to save our very sick Mother Earth. We can start by changing our habits – just like how Eliza suggested. Let’s take baby steps together and start making a change!

And as we come to the very last post of our blog, I would like to thank you for being a constant reader to what we have got the share. I hope that we have ignited the eco-consciousness in you, just as it has for me. I would also like to thank Eliza for being an amazing blogging partner, and for being so passionate about making the environment better. You are sure the favourite child of Mama Earth.

Eliza’s Reflection

__________________________
C o n s u p o l l u t i o n
[kon – su – puh – lew – shun]
(n.pollution from the
active consumption of humans
of products in the economy
___________________________

At the beginning of the blogging journey, I asked the readers to join us (Eliza and Jocelyn) on a journey to transform ourselves from Consupollutants to Mindful Consumers. We started by discussing environmental pollution and consumption issues in food, then fashion, beauty products, domestic cleaning agents and then e-wastes.

The term consupollutants, a term we coined, is what we felt we should call ourselves because of how we contribute massively to environmental pollution because of our consumption patterns and active choices when we’re consuming. And as I personally researched into the topics and issues, I have been more exposed to the plight of the environment and us humans faces because of our decision-making process. Hence, Jocelyn and I wanted to create bite-sized blog posts to highlight the issue of a topic and then suggest ways or alternatives for us to be a more mindful consumer.

I have always been into sustainability and the eco-lifestyle, especially in the realm of fashion. However, researching these topics really broadened my knowledge. Yes, it is hard to be a mindful and rational consumer overnight, but I believe that it is important for us to know why we have to change our lifestyle and consumption behaviour. As individuals, we can always start small. If every one of us does our part, this can influence a whole bunch of others to also do the same.

For food, we should start by being less wasteful. Eat what you can eat, and do not be a glutton (A personal problem as I am a foodie…)! Being a busy undergrad student, takeouts are my best friend, and I’m sure she is yours too. Hence, remember to BYO! Bring your own tupperware and bottle everywhere you go so as to minimise plastic packaging wastes. Also start small by exposing yourself to vegan options (A very hard thing for me seeing as I love my KBBQ and Samgyupsal and beef shortplate…). Moreover, Support Local produce! These produce produced locally have a minimal carbon footprint.

For fashion, buy what you need and not want! Try not to succumb to the latest trends! Additionally, explore other alternatives like thrift-shopping, swapping and upcycling clothes. I personally love fashion, but I fell in love with conscious fashion. The thrill of finding gems while you thrift-shop and swap clothes is a rush I’ve grown accustomed to. My next personal mission is to learn how to sew so that I can upcycle and rework some of my clothes!

For beauty products, it is important for us to support brands that are environmentally conscious, brands that make the effort to eliminate plastic packaging as well as use materials that are not harmful to the environment.

All these are the small things that we can do, that I personally would (or have already done).

We only have one Earth, and ultimately one chance to do it right. We should try our best to protect the Earth for future generations.

Thank you for joining me in this journey!

~ Eliza Dawn

Towards a Better Future: Zero Waste

Welcome back to our blog! As we come towards the end of our blogging semester, I hope that you have managed to gain insights on how our consumerist lifestyle has contributed to environmental pollution and found our various mitigation ideas useful. Today, I would like to share about a movement that you can be apart of to stay away from aggravating environment woes. That is to be: Zero Waste.

 

According to Zero Waste SG, Zero Waste is a concept that challenges the old way of thinking about waste as something that has no value and to be thrown away. This is in accordance with the Zero Waste Alliance which states:

“Zero Waste: The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”

Here, the Zero Waste concept is in line with our goal to reduce our carbon footprint and to mitigate the issue of environmental pollution. This has been taken up by the Singapore government who has responded with its commitment towards a zero-waste nation. See Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan here. Alternatively, a summary of the Masterplan can be seen here.

While the Zero Waste Masterplan delineates nationwide targets and efforts, there are things we could do as individuals in support of the nationwide Zero Waste movement. To start our zero waste, we can do so by supporting and making purchases at Zero Waste stores, rather than plastic packaging filled retailers. The scope of Zero Waste stores has been expanding rapidly to cover the sale of different necessities given the rise in environmental consciousness, and positive responses towards the movement.

In case you are unaware of the range of items available in stores, here are some Zero Waste stores in Singapore that provides a range of necessities:

  • Scoop Wholefoods: nuts, butters
  • Unpackt: dried foods, superfoods, natural washing and cleaning liquids
  • Reprovisions: dried foods
  • Vom FASS: oils, vinegars, wines, whisky
  • Eco.Le: grains, snacks, soap bars, scented candle refills
  • The Castile Soap Shop: eco-friendly soaps
  • The Social Space: shampoos, cleaning & washing agents

In addition to Zero Waste stores, do also engage in the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle! Together, we can all be environmental-friendly individuals by leading eco-friendly lifestyles. Not all is lost! There are ways and things we can do save the environment, as long as we are committed to doing so as one humankind.