The data says it all and people are finally aware that we can’t keep consuming the earth’s resources at our current pace. Cue the buzzwords: sustainable seafood, farm-to table, urban farming, eco-friendly, plastic-free, zero-waste, and more.
From standalone cafes like Plain Vanilla and Nylon Coffee Roasters to big players like KFC ceasing the use of plastic straws; green energy providers like Sunseap and ES Power opening up shop; the fashion scene switching it up with clothes-swapping becoming more of a thing and eco-friendly brands like Matter and Source Collections creating a buzz, sustainable efforts are becoming more apparent in Singapore.
While the major grocery stores still freely dole out plastic bags – we highly recommend bringing your own reusable bags – there have been more packaging-free and bulk store alternatives popping up around the city like Unpackt at OUE Downtown and Jalan Kuras in Ang Mo Kio. “It’s an interesting way to shop for sure, but it really puts things into perspective — the fact that you are buying only what you need,” says Nafeesa Saini, a recent convert to the zero waste grocery shopping movement.
Florence Tay, the store’s co-owner, finds it to be a more practical and frugal way of living life. “[There are] cost savings as shoppers do not need to pay for packaging,” she explains. Good for the environment and positive for our wallets, what’s not to love?
