AY 2019/20

Dianne Loh Wen Hui (SOC), Evelyn Quek (FOE), Lim Wei Quan Ernest (SOC), Sean Lee Xian Yu (FOS), Tang Ying Teng Brenda (BIZ)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin

The lack of natural resources makes sustainable living a priority in Singapore. However, youths remain ignorant and unmotivated towards sustainable living. Given that youths spend a significant amount of time on online platforms, our objective is to tap on their interest in games and social media to promote sustainable lifestyle through raising awareness, cultivating interest and providing incentives. We designed a competitive pet-raising game application that tracked the sustainability actions of 52 players and rewarded the players according to the reduction in their carbon footprint. We found that on average, 65% of players continued to play the game after 28 days, and that players showed greatest improvement in plastic bag refusal, with the tracking of electricity and water habits being the most popular. Hence, an engaging game application acting as a habit tracking device could encourage youths to lead sustainable lifestyles.

Ambrose Liew Cheng Yuan (SOC), Joshua Luke Ramakrishna (FASS), Long Ji Zhi Brayden (SOC), Tang Zhe (FOS)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin

Recycling reduces the waste sent to landfills and conserves the natural resources as well as the environment. However, there is a lack of recycling habits in Singapore, where household recycling rates have hovered around 20 percent since 2005. Our objective is to promote recycling habits through bringing the idea of recycling closer to our target audience, the RVRC residents. We designed compartments to be placed into the room bins of residents, as well as a poster to educate residents on the correct recycling methods, so as to prevent recycling contamination. Before the project, 15.8% of the 19 participants recycle at least once a week. With the presence of the compartmentalization in the bins, 78.9% of them recycle at least once a week. As such, the presence of the compartmentalization of the bins, along with the educational poster on recycling contamination, has been effective in promoting the right recycling habits.

Donavan Lim Jia Hui (SOC), Ng Shi Xuan Aerin (SOC), Rachel Tan Xinyue (FASS), Tan Wan Yun (FOS)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin

Infographics broadly use appeal to pathos (the guilty conscience), logos (use of statistics) and herd mentality (social comparison), to communicate and persuade the readers. Although used extensively by agencies such as the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle, the effectiveness of these infographic is yet to be determined. Given the excessive use of disposable cups by patrons in NUS food and beverage outlets, which contributes to the 473 million disposable plastic items used yearly by Singapore, our project compared the effectiveness of pathos, logos and herd mentality appeal to raise awareness and promote patrons of Li-HO at YIH to bring their own cups (BYO), thereby reducing plastic wastage. We found that although the pathos appeal poster attracted more attention, the number of BYO patrons did not increase. This indicates the ineffectiveness of infographic to promote more environmentally sustainable behavior.

Grace Li Xiang (SOC), Kwek Chu Han (SOC), Lim Zi Yuan Cheryl (FASS), Rebecca Carissa Prajogo (FOS)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Florence Ng

Proper electronic waste (e-waste) management is one of Singapore’s main priorities, given the rising generation of e-waste and its harmful effects on the environment. Teenagers aged 13-17 lack knowledge on proper e-waste management but are highly exposed to electronic devices. Our objective is to develop a game kit to educate teenagers on managing e-waste responsibly in fun yet effective way. We designed a game kit consisting of a card game and a lesson plan. The gameplay is followed by a facilitated discussion guided by the lesson plan, which aims to further increase understanding of responsible e-waste management. To determine the effectiveness of our card game, we conducted pre-game and post-game surveys on a sample of teenagers. A 40% increase in correct answers was observed in the post-game survey. Therefore, the combination of the card game and lesson plan proved effective in educating teenagers to manage e-waste responsibly.

Darrion Ong Wei Zhi (BIZ), Li Xiaoyue (FOE), Tang Yu Xuan (FOS), Woo Jian Zhe (SOC)

Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari

The rising trend in bubble-tea consumption has contributed to increased use of single-use plastic cups. The Singapore Environment Council found that Singapore uses 473 million kg of single-use plastics (2018). Our survey of RVRC students (n = 135) indicated that 62% drink at least one cup of bubble-tea daily, and 7% drink more than 3 cups a day. Our project piloted a possible solution to reduce this plastic waste, with 12 volunteers from a sample of high-frequency bubble-tea drinkers. We provided them re-usable tumblers, tracked their use over 4 weeks, and collected qualitative feedback. Participants gave largely positive feedback about adopting a reusable tumbler, and data indicated a drop in their average weekly bubble-tea consumption by 28%. Both these results support our project objective, and indicate the need for an extensive study to determine if reusable tumblers can be adopted on a larger scale to limit the use of single-use plastics.

Aritejh KR Goil (FOE), Deng Xueqi (SOC), Jaspal Singh (FOE), Phua Suet Cheng (FASS), Ryan Goh Shi Jun (FASS)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Florence Ng

Singaporeans use 1.76 billion plastic items yearly, recycling only about 6% of it. This results in emission rates of over 100milllion kg of CO2. Hence, our project aims to reduce plastic consumption by providing a sustainable alternative to plastic detergent bottles and encourage the recycling of plastic bottles. We implemented i) a communal detergent dispenser in RVRC tower block laundry room; ii) a plastic bottle recycling programme allowing users to exchange plastic bottles for detergent from the dispenser; and iii) a campaign that educates RVRC residents about the issue of plastic waste and the carbon footprint from plastic production. With our dispenser, we save approximately 162 detergent bottles every semester, which adds up to 106kg of co2 savings a year, whilst incentivizing students to recycle and reduce plastic consumption usage. Hence, the combination of our detergent dispenser and recycling program effectively reduces RVRC’s carbon footprint and boosts recycling rates.

Co Ziying Kelly (SOC), Tan Wee Han (FASS), Xu Ruiqing (FOS), Yeo Zhi Min (FASS), Yu Jiaxiang (SOC)

Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari

Fast fashion is one of the most polluting industrial sectors (Anguelov, 2015). Yet, 25% Singaporeans throw away more than ten items of clothing and awareness of sustainable fashion brands is low (YouGov, 2017). Our survey results for NUS students indicated that 80% respondents (n=73) were willing to switch to more sustainable fashion brands, but 75% lacked knowledge. Our project had two aims – to identify the critical metrics for measuring fashion sustainability, and to bridge the knowledge gap about sustainable alternatives among university students using Instagram. Fabrics and dye were identified as the two strongest markers of fashion sustainability. Using t-tests and multiple linear regression to analyse data, our results indicate that we successfully raised the awareness of fast fashion alternatives. More specifically, knowledge of fabrics and dye emerged as key predictors for increased awareness. Moving forward, we aim to further build the Instagram channel for NUS, and use it to start a sustainable fashion interest group in RVRC.

Jonathan Suherman (FOE), Ooi Wei En, Bryan (SOC), Sze Xin Yu, Brandeline (FOS), Xu Fangzhou (SOC)

Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari

Singapore generated 949,300 tonnes of plastic in 2019, of which only 4% was recycled (NEA, 2019). Given the significantly low percentage of recycling, our project tackled the root of the problem – use of single-use plastics. The objective was to test receptiveness to a weekly ‘plastics-free day’ at the RVRC Dining Hall, that otherwise uses 200 plastic-pieces daily on average at the Grab-and-Go counters. We collaborated with the caterers to publicise and implement the project across four weeks, to reduce the use of plastics in the Breakfast service for items such as sandwich boxes, juice cups and plastic bags. Results from our field research and survey responses showed that most respondents were supportive towards, and even wanted the initiative to happen more frequently. Hence, we can conclude that the project serves as a successful feasibility study and provides a good start to implementing similar initiatives in future.

Chan Yong Soon, Kendrew (SOC), Lin Xuan Ying (FASS), Lim Yi He (FOS), Zhou Yurou (SOC)

Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari

In 2018, Singapore generated almost 950,000 tonnes of plastic waste (NEA, 2019). Pulau Semakau landfill is projected to be filled up by 2035 (MEWR, 2020) at this rate, and reducing single-use plastic waste is therefore crucial. Our project objective was to test the receptivity to providing dine-in customers the option of reusable cups, at NUS foodcourts. We collaborated with the Fine Food drink stall vendor in UTown, for conducting a two-week pilot. Reusable cup uptake numbers were tracked from the vendor’s billing. Data was also collected from consumers using surveys before and after implementation. The calculated break-even point was achieved within 2 weeks of the pilot; the environmental impact of 75 reusable cups was balanced by the disposable cups saved. We have shared our findings with NUS OES, that clearly demonstrate that providing reusable cups for dine-in customers at food courts can be adopted as a sustainable solution to reduce single-use plastic waste.

Khoo Kai Jun, Marcus (FASS), Lim Wen Hao, Lionel (SOC), Timothy Timuari Li Zhi (FASS), Wang Chun Min (BIZ)

Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari

Single-use plastics, justified by the industry due to perceived effectiveness in extending the shelf-life of food (Schweitzer, 2018), cause global environmental problems due to wasteful and small-format packaging, and low recycling rates (IEEP, 2019), and in Singapore too (Hwee Min, 2019). To address this concern, we operated a Zero-Waste Store in NUS. Our project serves as a feasibility study and pilot test for a store to be implemented in collaboration with NUS SAVE. Prior to execution, a sensing survey (n=150) was conducted to gauge receptiveness and identify popular packaged food items. Sourced from zero-waste suppliers, our store operated for a week at a campus location with high foot traffic, implemented zero-waste packaging, and charged wholesale pricing. In a post-purchase survey (n=110), 97% customers indicated willingness to buy from zero-waste stores on campus, and 91% mentioned that the store increased their awareness of food packaging waste. These findings, and high volume of sales, indicate high receptiveness towards the implementation of zero-waste stores in NUS.

Chua Yi Wei (FOE), Bethany Choo Hui En (FASS), Jed Lee Woon Kiat (SOC), Chelsea Cheng Wei Teng (BIZ), Jesslyn Suandi (FOE)

Academic Advisor: Mr. Lim Cheng Puay

The textile industry is one of the top three contributors to carbon emission in the world. Based on our survey done on 31 undergraduates, 64.5 % of our respondents wear fast fashion items and own at least 3 pieces shirts from NUS events. Most of these were disposed of after being worn a few times. Our project seeks to raise awareness of textile wastage in undergraduates through workshops and social media. We conducted interactive upcycling workshops for 31 undergraduates and launched a social media campaign on Instagram encouraging undergraduates to upcycle their worn clothing and reduce disposal. After attending our workshops, 92.3% of our participants will continue to upcycle clothes and 90.3% of our Instagram followers state that they know two ways to upcycle. This suggests that the combination of workshop and social media is effective in educating undergraduates on upcycling.

Chio Jia Li Jillene (FASS), David Natan (FOE), Ge Siqi (SOC), Li Zhuoran (FOS), Tan Song Jun (FOE)

Academic Advisor: Mr. Lim Cheng Puay

Despite an abundance of green spaces locally, there is a growing disconnect between youths and Mother Nature. To enhance their attitudes towards nature and wildlife, it is critical to educate youths with knowledge that will pique their interest and appreciation for the environment. This objective was achieved by directly immersing youths amidst Nature with the implementation of experiential learning. Our group designed a birdwatching tour comprising of pre- and post-tour surveys, a digital e-book containing unique features of birds and plants, and a Kahoot quiz. After the tour, Instagram and YouTube were utilised to sustain participants’ interest. Data analysis of our survey results have shown a general improvement in comfort, attitudes and knowledge level for the participants post-tour. Therefore, by conducting a guided tour which placed emphasis on experiential learning and through supplementation with social media platforms, our project achieved success in increasing participants’ interest for nature and wildlife.

Kor Ming Soon (SOC / FOS), Nai Jia En Justin (BIZ),  Christopher Samuel Sinaga (FOS), Wu Junyi (SDE),  Jocelyn Tan Pei Xuan (SOC)

Academic Advisor: Mr. N. Sivasothi

Plastic wastage is a perennial problem throughout the world. In Singapore, of the 1.76 billion of plastic items used, only 6% are recycled. As students staying on campus, we wanted to understand the extend of plastic wastage coming from our soap bottles and packaging, as well as find out the feasibility of implementing a refillery system in RVRC. We executed our plan in two phases i) voluntary survey and ii) a series of soap distribution trials. Our voluntary survey found that 68% of RVRC students bought new soap bottles upon finishing, and that 500ml of soap lasted 1.5 months on average. Furthermore, our series of trials saw a total number of 112 RVRC students collecting from our distribution. Therefore, we find that our execution had achieved adequate results in proving RVRC students’ susceptibility to a soap refillery.

Alison Lee (FASS), Chelsea Wong (FASS), Cheung Jun Xi Edwin (FOE), Lee Yong Keng (BIZ), Shi Yinglei (FOE)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Florence Ng

Plastic waste is a pressing issue in Singapore due to a shortage of landfill space, with disposable plastic packaging of cosmetic samples being a significant contributor to plastic waste. Thus, we aimed to develop a sustainable alternative to the packaging of sample products to reduce plastic waste, measured through stakeholders’ receptivity of the sustainable alternative and consumer satisfaction and product feasibility. We used a preliminary survey to collect insights and consumer preferences, conducted two rounds of focus group discussions and multiple interviews with stakeholders to measure receptiveness and satisfaction. The high overall receptiveness of our prototype was 82.3% in the FGD and our prototype had potential development as feedback from all five of our industry interviewees. Given the estimated reduction in carbon emission as well as high consumer receptivity, these prove that SAMpills will be effective in reducing plastic waste if used by the cosmetic industry.

Benny Winata Hartanto (FOE), Cindy Evangeline (SDE), Huang Chengyu (SOC), Kacine Wee Wan Si (FASS), Lew Yu Heng (FOE)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Florence Ng

Most local universities emphasize sustainability education, but students may not be inclined to voice their ideas or discuss sustainability during lessons. Collaborative game-based learning can supplement the current education model to prompt students to have sustainability-related discussions in a fun and engaging manner. We conducted our research by surveying university sustainability educators to collate professional feedback on collaborative game-based learning and playing our sustainability card game, 99 Problems, with university students who had enrolled in sustainability modules. Pre- and post-surveys were conducted to collate students’ opinions on the game and current sustainability education. 73% of students shared that they would prefer playing our game both in and out of the classroom as they felt more inclined to engage in sustainability discussion after gameplay. Hence, an interactive card game that promotes discussions and sharing of ideas proved to be effective in enhancing the students’ experience in learning about sustainability.

Alden Choo Jun Teck (FASS), Nah Yi Xin (FASS), Nguyen (FOE), Toh Ding Yuan (FOE), Wu Yueze (BIZ)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Florence Ng

Environmental initiatives are centered around younger populations, and the elderly are marginalized. They are an equally important sub-population, with lifestyles involving numerous interactions with others. Our project addresses the lack of environmental stewardship provided to the elderly by organizing workshops to raise awareness of sustainability and promoting ways to improve their lifestyles. We researched elderly pedagogy to create an effective lesson plan. To evaluate our project, we created pre/post surveys to understand the conceptions of environmental sustainability, ensuring the elderly can contextualize our lessons to their daily lives. The project is carried on a pilot sample, and we sought advice from teachers at elderly centers about the efficacy of our lesson content. Comparing the surveys, that the elderly reported a greater understanding of environmental sustainability, and were able to contextualize our lesson to our lives. Feedback from the surveys highlighted that our lesson content was engaging. Our lessons can be implemented on a broader scale, where various elderly educators can apply our ‘textbook’ material to conduct lessons, using it as an independent model.

Chai Pin Xuan (BIZ), Christian Drake Martin (SOC), Florencia Martina (SOC), Girija Shenoy (FOS), Zhang Yunjie (SOC)

Academic Advisor: Mr. Lim Cheng Puay

There is a necessity to tackle clothing wastage generated by fast fashion in Singapore due to low recycling rates and our inability to accommodate future textile waste. Our objectives were to engage, educate and encourage youths to purchase second-hand clothing instead of first-hand, such that unwanted clothes will not end up as excess clothing wastage.

Following the AMO (Ability, Motivation, Opportunity) framework of changing behavior, we designed a 3-step approach comprising i) an interactive face-to-face survey; ii) using Instagram as an educational platform; and iii) a second-hand clothes bazaar. After the bazaar, our 61 participants displayed a 46.4% increase in willingness to incorporate second-hand clothing into their wardrobe.Hence, our 3-step approach of motivating youths through our interactive survey, giving them the ability to access second-hand clothing and an opportunity to purchase, proved effective in changing the purchasing behavior of youths.

Peng Mei Xuan Alicia (SDE), Kim Yoo Kyung (SDE), Kee Xiang Hao Matthew (FOE), Fu Haoye (FASS), Ng Zu Yang Edwin (FASS)

Academic Advisor: Mr. Lim Cheng Puay

A woman typically produces 200kg of plastic waste, due to the usage of disposable menstrual products, in her lifetime (London Assembly, 2018). However, this issue was rarely discussed due to stigma. Our project aims to increase awareness and inform young women on sustainable menstrual products, and hope to nudge more into using them. We adopted a two-pronged approach to engage our audience. In the direct approach, we hosted focus groups to provide an avenue to share information and for women to clarify their concerns. We also launched an Instagram campaign to generate interest and engage a wider audience. In both approaches, we work to inform the audience and provide information on sustainable alternatives.

Our results show that our focus group participants gained a 60% increase in knowledge of menstrual products. There were also 25 purchases of sustainable products among our 184  Instagram followers. These suggest that our approach is effective.

Erin May Gunawan (SOC), Liang Shiqi (SDE), Putri Darmawan (SOC), Song Qifeng (SOC), Zhou Yi Kelvin (BIZ)

Academic Advisor: Mr. Lim Cheng Puay

Ethical consumerism refers to the purchase of products that are ethically produced and are not harmful to the environment and society. Unethical products such as fast fashion and palm oil products make their consumer part of the environmental impact. Our survey showed that youth are significant consumers. We hope to design an educational game which teaches the consequences of unethical consumerism. This is a 30-minute interactive game that immerses the players/students in a storyline where they will make decisions that will directly impact the survival of our Earth, as well as educating them on affairs related to sustainability issues. Upon comparison with our control group (Lecture), the participants of the game gave more positive responses on how our game increased their awareness and knowledge about the given topic, as well as how the gameplay, storyline and immediate feedback were effective in their learning, which indicates that this project is effective.

Chen Jiashu (SCI), Cheong Wan Ting, Fiona (SOC), Irwin Chin De Tao (FOE), Tang Wai Mun, Jody Lorah (SOC), Varshana Kumanan (SOC)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin

In the Zero Waste Masterplan introduced by MEWR, electronic waste (e-waste) was identified as one of 3 high-volume waste streams, with only 6% of e-waste generated in Singapore recycled and the rest improperly discarded. As e-waste is not generated regularly, we investigated if a once-off collection drive in NUS would be more effective than bins placed at certain locations permanently. We also assessed the outreach effectiveness of various targeted publicity method for the collection drive. We held two collection drives and surveyed participants on the reach of different publicity method. We found that emails were the most effective, with 85.7% of donors indicating that they came down due to the emails sent. After two days of collection, we amassed 287kg of e-waste, more than the annual average amount collected by one RENEW bin. This shows that once-off collection drives is more effective than the regular e-waste recycling bins on campus.

Grace Guan Yaxin (FOS), Tan Etai Adam (FOS), Seah Jia Yin (FASS), Shi Peiyun (FASS), Johanes Rafael Sudardji (CEG)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin

With publicity in mind and college reputation at stake, the environmental impact generated by one-off events such as NUS open-day is often neglected by stakeholders, causing unnecessary use of resources and waste. We aim to reduce this waste in future open-days by implementing an electronic platform alongside physical open day, giving the audience a choice on the medium they wish to engage with. We analysed the effectiveness of RVRC e-open day 2020 and implemented a live chat in addition to other measures taken by the official e-open day team. By analysing quantitative and qualitative data, the e-open day measures were found to be successful in conveying information that our target audience wanted. This is supported by 20 interviewees. However, due to limited outreach and publicity, e-open day was less known to the public as compared to physical open day. Therefore e-open day cannot completely substitute physical open day.

Terence Wong (FASS), Su Ching Ting (FOS), Franceline Benetta (FOS), Li Jiahe (FOS), Kok Yi Ling (SOC)

Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari

Fast fashion is a global problem; clothes are being purchased and discarded in record quantities, resulting in a build-up of textile waste and encouraging unethical garment production practices (Morgan & Birtwistle, 2009). Our project aimed to use digital technology to raise awareness on the environmental consequences of fast fashion, and to create a platform for our target audience to take action. We created a Telegram channel where we posted curated information regarding environmental and social impacts of fast fashion. In parallel, we also coded and launched a Telegram bot as a platform for people to sell their unwanted clothes. Results from pre – and post-surveys indicate that channel subscribers benefited from increased awareness. Transaction data from the Telegram Bot indicated successful translation of this awareness into action for trading used clothes. Together, our two-pronged approach was effective in making generation Z Singaporeans more aware of environmental consequences of fast fashion and take action.

Chang Fui Ann Vivian (FASS), Dong Baoyan (FOE), Tan Yi Jie Denise (SOC), Tricia Chin Shan Min (FOS), Valen Tai Joo Ze (FOE)

Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari

Despite the fashion industry contributing 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, one-third Singaporeans dispose clothing only worn once (YouGov, 2017). Our project targeted NUS students who belong to the age group that is the leading contributor to this problem. An initial survey (n=102) found that 95.5% respondents are unaware of the negative impacts of fast fashion. Our project has two aims, to increase awareness of the negative impacts of fast fashion, and to make known local sustainable alternatives. To achieve these, we produced and disseminated two videos to our target audience. Data was collected using pre and post-video surveys, to measure the effectiveness of our videos. Results indicated an increase in the perceived level of awareness by 30% about the negative consequences and alternatives of fast fashion. Our findings confirm that educational videos are an effective solution to disseminate information to teh youth and heighten their awareness of the consequences of fast fashion.

Alanna Chan Xin Tong (FASS), Koh Ci En (BIZ), Loong Xin Yee (FASS), Michelle Mulamootil Mathew (SOC), Poh Yong Yi (SDE)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Florence Ng

Plastics are amongst the top ten common pollutants in the world. Singapore uses an alarming 473 million disposable plastics annually, the majority being takeaway food containers (SEC, 2018). Within RVRC, our preliminary survey (n=63) showed that 90% of respondents frequently take-away food in single-use plastic bags. Hence, our project objective is to develop an alternative for plastic food packaging using biodegradable gelatine to reduce plastic consumption and, thus plastic waste. We conducted a focus group discussion with students and an interview with the caterer to gather feedback on how to improve the flexibility of our gelatin plastic and understand their receptivity towards our prototype. If implemented in the Dining Hall, it could potentially replace 150 plastic packagings a day, 900 packagings a week and 31,500 packagings a year. In this way, we could help reduce plastic packaging and the reliance on disposable plastics in RVRC.

Jovan Lee Zheming (FOS), Lim Jae Yin Lynette (FASS), Lin Bing Han (SDE), Michelle (SDE), Vikram Kasi Kannappan (SDE)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Florence Ng

Laundry dryers in RVRC and other residential colleges generate significant amounts of lint that end up being disposed of. To reduce the amount of lint being disposed of,our project aims to upcycle lint into a useful product (cardholders) that is frequently used by many RVRC residents. Additionally, we want to improve the user-friendliness and durability of our lint cardholders, which would ensure the sustainability of our product. We conducted two Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and post-discussion surveys to gather feedback from our users. The first FGD was to gather input on ways we could improve our lint cardholder prototype. The second FGD was to collect data on whether the previously-raised issues had been resolved. Almost all respondents have indicated a significant improvement since the first prototype. Hence, our project  shows that it is possible to reduce lint waste by upcycling it into a useful and sustainable everyday product.

Choy Jie Hui (FOS), Lee Heng Yi Amos (FASS), Liu Haoran (SOC), Teo Rui Juan (BIZ), Timothy Wong Hoey Pheen (FOS)

Academic Advisor: Mr. Lim Cheng Puay

Singapore produces around 60,000 tonnes of e-waste a year (NEA 2018), making e-waste disposal a significant issue. Our survey also found that most youths are unaware of what constitutes e-waste and its proper disposal procedures. Our project aims to use an educational board game to educate youths about e-waste and proposal disposal habits. The game was tested with 32 youths and compared their knowledge retention with a control group. Both pre-surveys and post-surveys were organized to quantify the increased knowledge on E-waste of our target audience. We found that youths who played the game scored an average of 71.7% for knowledge retention compared to the control group which scored 50%. This demonstrate the effectiveness of using board games to impart knowledge on sustainability issues such as e-waste usage and disposal.

Jin Yuze (SOC), John Elijah Gan (SDE), Ng Shuo Qi Constance (SOC), Tan Yu Ying Ericia (FASS)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin

Proper recycling is essential to reduce resource use, but improper disposal of items such as disposable plastic cutlery, soiled food packaging and plastic packaging with foil into the local recycling bins has resulted in a staggering low 4% recycling rates of plastics (NEA,2018). Our project aims to increase awareness of proper recycling among Ridge View Residential College residents, and introduce the concept that recyclables are not trash, but have a purpose and afterlife. We replaced the plastic recycling bin with our self-designed transparent shelving system, which improved the visibility of what can be recycled and deter disposal of soiled items. We quantified the amount of plastic recycled pre and post implementation and surveyed the residents. Our results showed that although the total amount of plastics collected had decreased, the contamination had also reduced significantly, which would ultimately result in more clean plastic items being recycled.

Isaiah Koh Ming Yew (SOC), Lee Ying Qi, Natasha (FASS), Nguyen Tuan Dung (FOE), Soong Wei Geng Javier (BIZ)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin

Product life cycle thinking (LCT) by consumers could promote recycling of used products to minimise resource use, but the lack of awareness of LCT by Singapore consumers hinders policies to effect a circular economy. Our objective is to increase awareness of product LCT through engaging hands-on activities. We created a card game to educate players on the life-cycle of consumer goods, which can be used in workshops, classes or at home in a fun and enjoyable way. We held several workshops to play test our game with university students, and included a pre- and post- gameplay survey to evaluate game’s effectiveness. In our pre-gameplay survey, 62.5% of participants indicated little to no knowledge of the life-cycle of consumer waste products. Post game, 83.4% of participants indicated an increase in their knowledge of product LCT. Therefore, the use of an engaging game is effective in promoting awareness of product LCT.

Abhishek Yamdagni (FOE), Cindy Aurelia Ursia (FOE), Siti Nurul Syasya Bte Azman (SOC), Soh Bryan (FASS and FOS), Terry Koh Shao Jun (SDE)

Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin

The textile industry is a major contributor to environmental pollution and the youth of today contributes to textile wastage in Singapore through uninformed and poorly thought out fashion decisions. Since game-based learning is highly effective in instilling knowledge, our objective is to develop an interactive and educational game highlighting the different areas of textile waste and to promote conscious clothing consumerism, where youths learn to make environmentally-friendly decisions throughout the purchasing process. We designed a 30-45 minutes board game of choices and deception, TexStyle, for 3-5 players, who completed pre-, game and post-survey. From the post survey, 91.9% of respondents found the game effective in giving them a better understanding of conscious clothing consumerism and 65.9% were willing to practice it. Hence, the educational board game not only instils information about textile wastage, but also persuaded players to consider upcycling, hence proving the effectiveness of our strategy.