Chen Xinyu (FoS/SCI1), Kaung Mon Thu (FoE/MLE1), Liew Bin Han (FoE/EEE2), Muhammad Idris B Abrahim (FASS/ARS1), Wee Shu Min Florence (SDE/RST1)
Academic Advisor: Sadaf Ansari | Student Fellow: Huang Jianyi
The convenience and availability of plastic bags in Singapore has resulted in serious environmental issues such as the release of harmful greenhouse gases and threat to marine life. In this project, we carried out a “Free from Plastic Bags Day” to assess its possibility as a long term implementation in NUS. A survey was conducted from 11am to 7pm (on 16 March 2016) at Utown NTUC and UTown Guardian to gauge customer response towards the initiative. The results indicate that 95% and 70% of customers from Guardian and NTUC respectively are willing to support the initiative. With these data, the “Free from Plastic Bags Day” was executed (on 31 March 2016). Towards the end of the event day, short interviews were conducted with the respective store retailers to assess possible difficulties faced should a long term implementation be effectuated. All data collected was then consolidated and analysed to conclude possibility of banning single-use plastic bags and the continuity of such initiatives in NUS.
Keywords: Culture and Lifestyle Trends, Responsible Consumption, Plastic Bags, Plastic Waste, Single Use Plastic