Welcome to my last post everyone! Hope everyone had a great rest 😮

What can we do to strive towards a more eco-friendly way of life? Well, as mentioned in my previous post, instead of buying expensive one-time use sustainable products, we can buy durable products that will last longer! Not only would it be more cost-efficient in the long-run, it would also directly decrease one’s amount of waste. However, purchasing these durable products will not solve everything! We should constantly remind ourselves to use more eco-friendly products whenever possible. As seen from my survey results, despite owning several durable products such as reusable bags and containers, many tend not to use them as often. Be it saving reminders on our phones or writing it down on our to-do list, we can all strive to be more environmentally friendly if we remember to practice these eco-friendly methods whenever we can. 

Not only should we purchase durable products but also do research on cheap, yet environmentally friendly products! Remember our trusty bamboo toothbrush from Watsons? It is a more eco-friendly product which is much cheaper than its plastic alternative! What a steal :O 

After weeks of blogging on this topic, is a sustainable lifestyle really affordable in Singapore? 

I would define sustainable living in Singapore quite affordable if we do our part in buying more durable and less one-time use products! However, in terms of switching most of our daily products to more eco-friendly substitutes, it might be more challenging. It would take a large toll on our wallets but we need not replace every item we own. Every small step will lead to larger outcomes in the long-run. Therefore, we should try our best to slowly switch the things we use to more environmentally sustainable substitutes if we can afford them. In conclusion, we should all strive to live a more sustainable lifestyle within our means especially in Singapore whereby these eco-friendly substitutes are readily available. 

Let us all play our part for the environment!

Thank you and goodbye everyone 🙂

Welcome back everyone! Hope everyone had a good rest 😮

What is unique about living a sustainable lifestyle here in Singapore?

Cultural identity

Singapore is known for being a cosmopolitan city, where people of different races and cultures live together in harmony. Cultural practices and events are still a common sight and many engage actively in their religious and traditional beliefs. Therefore, in my opinion, the strong influence of culture and religion greatly affects one’s ability and willingness to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. 

Not only limited to religion, but everyday practices that have been ingrained in our daily lifestyles. For example, many locals drink coffee every morning. However, since many are busy rushing to work or school, many prefer the traditional take-away style of coffee – in the iconic plastic bag. Since this long-established method has been mutually accepted as the norm, it would take a significantly longer time to switch to a more eco-friendly version of take-away coffee. Some might even condemn this action as it takes away the authentic experience of a traditional Singaporean morning. Should environmental concerns take higher priority than traditional practices? 

High Cost of Living

Singapore is without doubt one of the most expensive cities to live in. With the high costs of everyday goods and necessities, should Singaporeans bear the extra burden of trying to live a more expensive and sustainable lifestyle? Considering eco-friendly products are generally higher than mass-produced substitutes, should we take up an added responsibility and spend more in order to live more sustainably? What do you think?

Should those who have the means and financial ability to live a more sustainable lifestyle carry a larger portion of this responsibility? Having higher disposable income results in increased purchasing power, thus, a large majority of those who are financially stable and abundant tend to purchase more goods and services. This in turns increases one’s carbon footprint and has larger negative impacts on the environment. However, those who are not as financially capable should not completely disregard their responsibility for the environment. Everyone should try to strive towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle within their means. 

Urban city life

To add on, Singaporeans have the luxury of access to both online and physical sustainable stores. There are multiple online eco-friendly stores such as Your Sustainable Store and The Sustainability Project as well as physical sustainable stores such as Scoop Wholefoods. These amenities are not readily available and accessible in other countries, but Singapore is an exception especially in Southeast Asia. Taking into consideration these factors, should Singaporeans be more eco-friendly due to the increased ease of transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle? Are Singaporeans taking it for granted that these eco-friendly stores are able to set up and serve our local population?

More about the answers in next week’s blog! See you ~