Ho Xin Ying Andrea, John Cuthbert Khoo Teng Fong, Jonah Huang Zi Chao, Mccoy Lim Wei, Teo Kai Pun
Academic Advisor: Prof. Adekunle Adeyeye
Paper wastage is a perennial issue in Singapore. 1,144,800 tonnes of paper and cardboard waste were generated in 2017, of which only 50% was recycled (National Environmental Agency [NEA], 2018). Despite Singapore’s efforts, the paper recycling rate has remained around 50% since 2005 (NEA, 2016), indicating a chronic problem with paper recycling. As the flagship university in Southeast Asia and a major consumer of paper, the National University of Singapore (NUS) offers a promising testbed for sustainability solutions addressing the paper wastage problem. Our project explores the circular economy approach in ameliorating paper wastage among students in NUS. Based on our analysis of the data gathered by AY16/17 G03-A, we conclude that there is potential demand for an online peer-to-peer marketplace where students can monetise their used notes and contribute to environmental sustainability at the same time. Capitalising on the popularity of the smartphone application Telegram, a chatbot was developed to serve as a decentralised peer-to-peer marketplace for students to buy and sell academic resources. In addition, a pilot test and an end-user survey were conducted to gauge students’ reception of our project. Through drawing upon the data we obtained, we understood that we must be cognizant of consumer preferences, product differentiation, and the idea that addressing the awareness-behaviour gap is crucial in promoting tangible improvements for campus sustainability. We hope that our project would be useful for further exploration in the implementation of efforts towards achieving campus sustainability.
Keywords: Culture and Lifestyle Trends, Responsible Consumption, Paper Wastage, Paper Recycling, Chatbot, Telegram