News

Forum: Fliers fly against green ambitions

There has been a lot said about Singapore’s Green Plan, including many ministerial speeches on the subject. Corporations are also touting their support for sustainability.

There has been a lot said about Singapore’s Green Plan, including many ministerial speeches on the subject. Corporations are also touting their support for sustainability. But despite these proclamations, it is disappointing to see a lack of progress in things that would be relatively simple to change. One such example is the huge amount of paper fliers that are being put into mailboxes or pushed into the hands of pedestrians each day. In fact, there is a company that sends out fliers to solicit business in flier distribution. Another company has sent out fliers titled “A Greener Tomorrow” to advertise “eco deals” at its mall, in a practice that reeks of greenwashing. Each day, thousands of fliers are thrown away, even as we aim to reduce the amount of waste we send to the landfill. Every year, companies also send out huge volumes of annual shareholder reports, even to those who own only a few shares. Of course, there are also firms that minimise the amount of paper used by sending a simple letter and advising shareholders to access reports online. Kudos to them. Mindset change starts with the smallest act. We have a long way to go before the Green Plan’s goals gain traction here.

News Clusters