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ACJC General Paper DepartmentJC2 Preliminary Exam 2019 Paper 2 Answer Scheme
1. Using your own words as far as possible, explain the author’s use of the phrase ‘anonymity in ubiquity’ (line 2).[2m]
From Passage ParaphrasedPlastic is everywhere… (line 1)
Plastic enjoyed a sort of anonymity in ubiquity: …(line 2)
we were so thoroughly surrounded… (line 2)
Plastic is so widely used/ pervasive in our everyday lives
Plastic enjoyed a sort of anonymity in ubiquity: …(line 2)
…that we hardly noticed it. (lines 2-3)
that we never paid much attention to it/ take it for granted.
Question type: Literal Examiners’ notes: Some students mistakenly thought that ‘hardly noticed’ means that plastic is ‘not seen’.
2. What is the author’s purpose in describing plastic as a ‘colourful yet banal’ background material to modern life?(lines 6-7). [2m]
From Passage Inferred (author’s intention/ function) The author is offering a contrast/ utilising a paradox/ stating a
contradiction
It is the colourful (line 6) to show how plastic allows us to live a rich/ vibrant/ exciting/ varied modern life,
ORto show how the use of plastic allows us to create a variety/ an array/ a range of products,
…yet banal background material of modern life.(lines 6-7)
despite being a material that is commonplace/ mundane/ ordinary.
1-2pts=1m, 3pts=2mQuestion type: Use of language / Inference Examiners’ notes: Most students did not pick out the author’s purpose and the function of the phrase as intended with the word ‘yet’. Some students mistakenly thought that the word ‘banal’ is derived from ‘bane’ and means ‘detrimental’ and ‘harmful’.
2
3. Explain what the author means when he describes the revolt against plastic as ‘worldwide’ (line 11)? Use yourown words as far as possible. [2m]
From Passage ParaphrasedThe result is a worldwide revolt against plastic, one that transcends both borders… … (line 11)
The revolt against plastic extends over/ crosses/ goes beyond physical boundaries/ geographical territories/ countries/ nations and(2-part answer)
OR The revolt against plastic is global in nature and
and (transcends) political divides. (lines 11-12) extends over/ crosses/ goes beyonddifferent/ polarising/ dissimilar
political beliefs/ ideologies/ allegiances/ convictions. (allow lift for ‘political’)
(2-part answer)
Question type: Literal Examiners’ notes: Some students did not accurately paraphrase ‘political divides’ and did not capture the idea of ‘divides’ as differences.
4. What does the author mean by ‘to take on plastic is in some way to take on consumerism itself’ (line 30-31) andwhy is this so? Use your own words as far as possible. [2m]
From Passage ParaphrasedTo take on plastic is in some way to take onconsumerism itself. (lines 30-31)
Tackling/ Confronting/ Battling the problem of plastic is thereby/ therefore battling the problem of consumerism. (idea of causation)
OR Tackling/ Confronting/ Battling the problem of plastic is akin to/ like/ equivalent to/ partially tackling/ confronting/ battling the problem of consumerism.(idea of similarity)
In the same way steel enabled new frontiers in building, plastic made possible the throwaway culture that we have come to take for granted. (lines 29-30)
OR
It requires us to recognise just how radically our way of life has reshaped the planet in the span of a single lifetime, and ask whether it is too much. (lines 31-32)
This is because plastic made possible habits/ a lifestyle which are/ is wasteful/ that involves thoughtless/ mindless/ careless disposal/ discarding of waste.
OR
This is because tackling the problem of plastic requires us to acknowledge how drastically/ severely our habits have/ culture has changed/ transformed our planet. OR (Inferred) This is because tackling the problem of plastic requires us to confront the severity/ magnitude of both the problems of consumerism and plastic.
Question type: Literal Examiners’ notes: Some students did not capture the idea of causation or similarity and merely copied the structure of the phrase. Some students also inaccurately paraphrased ‘throwaway culture’ to be merely ‘consumerist lifestyle’, a description which is not sufficiently specific. The extent/degree suggested by the word ‘radically’ was often not captured.
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3
5. Explain the author’s use of the word ‘even’ in the phrase ‘To travel back even to 2015’ (lines 33-34). Use your own words as far as possible. [2m]
From Passage ParaphrasedThe most astounding thing about the anti-plastic movement is just how fast it has grown. To travel back even to 2015 is to enter to a world in which almost all of the things we currently know about plastic are already known, but people are not very angry about it. (lines 33-35)
Function The author uses the word ‘even’ to emphasise how…
as recent as 2015/ only a few years ago/ not too long ago(idea of recentness)
ORin just a few years/ in a matter of a few years/ in such a short time(idea of short duration)
ORsurprisingly/unexpectedly quick/ swift(idea of speed or rate of change)
Context people were aware/ cognisant of the problem of plastic yet not upset/ indifferent about it.(focus on change in people’s attitude)
ORthe anti-plastic movement has progressed/ advanced/ gained traction/ become more significant. (focus on growth of anti-plastic movement)
Question type: Use of language Examiners’ notes: Some students did not capture the function of the word ‘even’. Many students who chose to focus on the change in people’s attitude did not reflect the idea that people were already aware of the problem.
6. Why is framing litter as a personal failing described as being ‘remarkably convenient’ (line 66)? Use your own words as far as possible. [1m]
From Passage Paraphrased/Inferred “This is not the fault of the government,” she told reporters. “It is the fault of the people who knowingly and thoughtlessly throw it down.” Noticeably absent from her indictment was anyone who manufactured or sold plastic in the first place. (lines 68-70)
Framing litter as a personal failing is described as remarkably convenient as it absolves the government and companies from any blame/ accountability/ responsibility for the problem.
ORFraming litter as a personal failing is described as remarkably convenient as it allows the government and companies to make consumers the scapegoats.
Question type: Literal/ Inference Examiners’ notes: Some students mistakenly thought that ‘remarkably convenient’ merely means it is easy and practical to blame consumers.
7. In paragraph 8, what does the author imply by using the words ‘grand’ (line 72) and ‘rosy’ (line 73) to describe the claims made by the plastic industry? [1m]
From Passage InferredThe plastic industry made grand claims about the potential for recycling their products. The problem with these rosy claims was that plastic is one of the worst materials for recycling. (lines 71-73)
These claims are exaggerated/ distorted/ false/ misleading/ overly optimistic.
Question type: Inference/ Vocabulary (Use of Language)Examiners’ notes: This question was quite well done.
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4
8. How does the author illustrate his assertion that the plastic industry has ‘made grand claims about the potential for recycling their products’ (line 72)? Use your own words as far as possible. [3m]
From Passage Paraphrased The problem with these rosy claims was that plastic is one of the worst materials for recycling. (lines 72-73)
The author illustrates this by stating the fact that plastic is actually one of the most difficult/ challenging materials for recycling.
ORThe author illustrates this by stating the fact that plastic is in reality one of the least suitable materials for recycling.
Glass, steel and aluminium can be melted and reformed a nearly infinite number of times to make new products of the same quality as the first.Plastic, by contrast, significantly degrades each time it is recycled. (lines 75-76)
A plastic bottle cannot be recycled to make a plastic bottle of the same quality. (line 76)
(In comparison to other materials,) plastic breaks down/deteriorates considerably/ to a large extent each time it is recycled.(Note: extent/ degree word needed)
OR(In comparison to other materials,) recycled plastic productsare unable to maintain/ retain the standard/ grade/ condition of the original items. (allow lift for ‘cannot be’)
OR(In comparison to other materials), recycled plastic products will not be of similar/ equal standard/ grade/ condition as the original. (allow lift for ‘cannot be’)
Instead, recycled plastic becomes clothing fibres, or slats for furniture, which then might go on to be road filler, or plastic insulation, neither of which are further recyclable. Each stage is essentially aone-way ratchet towards landfill or the ocean.(lines 77-79)
Eventually, some plastic can no longer be reused/ cannot be repurposed anymore (and end up as waste). (allow lift for ‘recyclable’)
ORThe process is irreversible/ cannot be undone.
Question type: Literal Examiners’ notes: Many students did not accurately paraphrase the degree/extent of words and phrases like ‘worst’ and ‘significantly degrades’. The words ‘same’ and ‘quality’ were often lifted.
9. Why are the problems of plastic and climate change ‘more closely connected than most people realise’ (lines 81-82)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2m]
From Passage Paraphrased Although the public’s enthusiasm for anti-plastic campaigns is partly motivated by the feeling that it is a simpler and more solvable problem than climate change, the two issues are more closely connected than most people realise. (lines 81-83)
Although most people think that the problem of plastic is less challenging to overcome,
OR Although most people think that the problem of plastic is easier to deal with/ overcome,
…seem just as boundless and intractable as all the other environmental problems we have failed to solve. (lines 85-86)
the truth is that it is just as widespread/ limitless and hard to manage/ control, (2-part answer)
And it brings us up against the same obstacles: unregulatable business, the globalised world, and our own unsustainable way of life. (lines 86-87)
and poses similar/ identical challenges/ difficulties.
OR(Accept if students paraphrase all 3 obstacles, instead of paraphrasing ‘same obstacles’)
1-2pts=1m, 3pts=2mQuestion type: Literal Examiners’ notes: Most students focused on how the problems of plastic and climate change are similar and did not answer the question of why they are ‘more closely connected than most people realise’.
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5
10. Using material from paragraphs 5-7 (lines 40-64) only, summarise how and why people’s attitude towards plastic has changed. Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible. “People’s attitude towards plastic has changed. They...”
From the passage Paraphrased1 We used to see it (line 43) 1 (People’s attitude towards plastic has changed. They…)
previously/ formerly perceived/ viewed/ understood2 as litter – a nuisance (line 43-44) 2 it to be annoying/ bothersome/ inconvenient3 but not a menace (line 44) 3 but not harmful/ dangerous/ hazardous.4 That idea has been undermined by the recent
widespread acknowledgment (lines 44-45) 4 That idea has been challenged/ weakened/ discounted by the
recent common/ extensive understanding/ recognition 5 that plastic is far more pervasive (lines 45) 5 that plastic is so much more/ even more ubiquitous/prevalent
(allow lift for ‘more’) *must have the comparative element6 and sinister... (lines 45) 6 and insidious/ threatening7 than most people had ever imagined. (lines 45-46) 7 than we had ever thought/ perceived it to be.8 The shift in thinking started with the public outcry over
microbeads (line 47) 8 The shift in thinking started with the mass/ popular uproar/
commotion over microbeads. 9 Scientists began raising the alarm about potential
dangers posed to sea life in 2010, (line 49)
After scientists started showing how microscopic fibres from our laundry ended up lodged in the guts of fish (lines 52-53)
9 Scientists started to highlight/ draw attention to possibleharms/ threats to sea life
10 and people were shocked to learn… (line 50) 10 and people were surprised/ stunned to realise/ find out 11 that microbeads were in thousands of products, from
Johnson & Johnson’s spot-clearing face scrubs…(lines 50-51)
People now realise that plastic is in our household products, coffee cups, teabags and clothing… (lines 58-59)
11 that microbeads (plastic) are (is) found in many/ numerous items/ goods, OR(inferred) that microbeads (plastic) are (is) found in everyday items, OR (inferred) microbeads (plastic) are (is) ubiquitous/ everywhere in our lives/ found in everything,
12 to supposedly eco-friendly brands like the Body Shop. Microbeads were only the beginning. (lines 50-51)
12 including in products apparently/ seemingly /ostensibly less detrimental/ harmful to the environment.
13 newspapers ran articles with headlines such as “Yoga pants are destroying the Earth”. (lines 53-54)
13 The media began to report/ publicise the harmful effects of microscopic fibres (plastic).
14 Then tyres, which are about 60% plastic, were revealed to shed plastic fibres while in motion, potentially more harmful than microbeads and clothing combined. (lines 54-55)
14 Plastic fibres were then shown to be possibly more detrimental/ worse than microbeads.
15 People now realise that plastic is in our household products, coffee cups, teabags and clothing – but it seems to have escaped our ability to catch it. It slips through our fingers and our water filters and sloshes into rivers and oceans like effluent from a sinister industrial factory. (lines 56-58)
15 The hidden/ invisible/ evasive nature of plastic prevents people from managing the problem/ tackling the issue.
16 It is no longer embodied by a Big Mac container on the side of the road. It has come to seem more like a previously unnoticed chemical listed halfway listed down the small print on a hairspray bottle, ready to mutate fish or punch a hole in the ozone layer. (lines 58-61)
16 (Inferred) The severity/ magnitude of the problem is highlighted.
17 The appeal of the fight against plastic... (line 61) 17 The movement/ campaign/ effort against plastic is attractive/ draws people
18 is that there is the sense that you have joined an insurgent political campaign (line 62)
18 because people feel/ think that they have participated in a revolt/ revolution/ rebellion
19 and organisations benefit from a chance atopportunism. (lines 62-63)
19 and organisations gain from being able to take advantage of/ exploit on the situation.
*must have negative connotation 20 We have entered a phase where every brand,
organisation and politician strains to be seen to be doing something. (lines 63-64)
20 In the fight against plastic, we have reached a stage where everyone strives/ endeavours to be visible/ noticed (in their efforts).
Mark allocation: No. of Points 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9 10-11 12-13 14 & above
Marks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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6
11. Stephen Buranyi discusses the motivations behind the anti-plastic movement and the issues that come with it. How far would you agree with his observations, relating your arguments to your own experience and that of your society?
Requirement Students should…
a) explain the motivations behind the anti-plastic movement and the accompanying issues b) describe the underlying motivations and the issues of the anti-plastic movementc) show understanding and engage with the ideas and views raised in the passaged) support their views with relevant examples from their own society
ExplanationStudents should discuss some of the following in relation to their own society:
a) the motivations behind the anti-plastic movement and the prevalent problemsb) the various political, economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of the anti-plastic movementc) how people participate in the anti-plastic movement and the positive and negative outcomes of it
EvaluationStudents should…
a) question/show reasons to explain if the author’s ideas are applicable or not applicable to their own societyb) provide insightful analysis of the anti-plastic movement in their own society and raise relevant issues that
have emerged/are emergingc) critically evaluate the underlying motivations of various stakeholders and the issues of the anti-plastic
movementd) provide cogent development of arguments e) give examples from their own society to support their views
Coherence Students should…
a) adopt a consistent viewpointb) argue logicallyc) organise answers into cohesive, themed paragraphsd) link paragraphs to show continuity and direction of argumente) maintain relevance to the task in everything they writef) end with a summative or concluding paragraph/ sentence
Examiners’ notes:- Some students did not choose appropriate references. They chose references that were not claims and
offered examples, facts about plastic or context instead. - Some students were often not explicit in indicating whether they were talking about a motivation, an issue, or
both when providing references. - Some students were often only talking about waste or recycling in general, without linking their discussion to
the motivations of the anti-plastic movement, specific issues brought about by the use of plastic in their society, or the obstacles faced in getting various stakeholders to reduce the production of an array of plastic products and disposal of plastic waste.
- Some students merely gave observations and descriptions of Singapore society without considering specific underlying reasons, motivations and implications.
7
11.S
teph
en B
uran
yidi
scus
ses
the
mot
ivat
ions
beh
ind
the
anti-
plas
tic m
ovem
ent a
nd th
e is
sues
that
com
e w
ith it
. How
far w
ould
you
agr
ee w
ith h
is o
bser
vatio
ns,
rela
ting
your
arg
umen
ts to
you
r ow
n ex
perie
nce
and
that
of y
our s
ocie
ty?
Ref
eren
ces
Gui
ding
Que
stio
ns /
Dis
cuss
ion
Issu
es
App
licab
le
Less
/ N
ot a
pplic
able
Mot
ivat
ion
1:Th
e ur
genc
y of
the
prob
lem
is
rais
ed a
s no
tabl
e ce
lebr
ities
, go
vern
men
ts
and
inte
rnat
iona
l or
gani
satio
ns
are
crea
ting
awar
enes
s.
‘Prin
ce
Cha
rles
has
give
n sp
eech
es a
bout
the
dan
gers
of
plas
tic,
whi
le
Kim
Ka
rdas
hian
ha
s po
sted
on
Inst
agra
m a
bout
th
e “p
last
ic c
risis
”, an
d cl
aim
s to
ha
ve g
iven
up
stra
ws.
At
the
high
est l
evel
s of
gov
ernm
ent t
he
plas
tic
pani
c ca
n re
sem
ble
a sc
ram
bled
resp
onse
to a
nat
ural
di
sast
er, o
r a p
ublic
hea
lth c
risis
. Th
e U
nite
d N
atio
ns h
as d
ecla
red
a “w
ar”
on s
ingl
e-us
e pl
astic
. In
Brita
in, T
here
sa M
ay h
as c
alle
d it
a “s
cour
ge”,
and
com
mitt
ed th
e go
vern
men
t to
a 2
5-ye
ar p
lan
that
wou
ld p
hase
out
dis
posa
ble
pack
agin
g by
20
42.
Indi
a cl
aim
ed it
wou
ld d
o th
e sa
me,
but
by
202
2.’ (
lines
15-
21)
Do
we
have
loca
l ce
lebr
ities
or
gove
rnm
ent o
ffici
als
rally
ing
us to
sup
port
the
anti-
plas
tic
mov
emen
t?
Do
we
reac
t pos
itive
ly
to th
em o
r are
we
unm
oved
by
them
?
Are
we
resp
ondi
ng to
th
e in
tern
atio
nal c
all t
o re
duce
and
to c
urb
the
use
of p
last
ic a
nd
ackn
owle
dgin
g th
e ha
rm it
has
on
the
envi
ronm
ent?
Ther
e is
a g
row
ing
reco
gniti
on th
at re
cycl
ing
is a
sec
tor f
or
grow
th a
nd in
vest
men
t, w
ith th
e po
tent
ial f
or im
prov
ing
city
in
frast
ruct
ure,
offe
ring
man
y em
ploy
men
t op
portu
nitie
s,
and
crea
ting
a w
ay l
ess
toxi
c an
d w
ay m
ore
livea
ble
envi
ronm
ent f
or e
very
one.
Th
e W
orld
Wid
e Fu
nd f
or N
atur
e (W
WF)
is
brin
ging
bu
sine
sses
in S
inga
pore
toge
ther
und
er P
ACT
– a
Plas
tic
ACTi
onco
mm
itmen
t to
sto
p ex
cess
ive
and
unne
cess
ary
plas
tic p
rodu
ctio
n an
d en
sure
exi
stin
g pl
astic
is e
ffect
ivel
y re
cove
red
and
recy
cled
, su
ppor
ted
by
the
Nat
iona
l En
viro
nmen
t Ag
ency
and
Zer
o W
aste
SG
. PA
CT
pool
s to
geth
er t
he k
now
ledg
e an
d ex
perie
nce
of c
ompa
nies
, co
mpl
emen
ting
thei
r w
ill to
ch
ange
, re
thin
k bu
sine
ss
mod
els,
and
inno
vate
, suc
h th
at th
e ex
istin
g lin
ear s
yste
m
of e
xces
sive
and
was
tefu
l con
sum
ptio
n is
dis
rupt
ed a
nd
repl
aced
by
a ci
rcul
ar e
cono
my
that
is r
egen
erat
ive
and
rest
orat
ive
by d
esig
n.M
embe
rof P
arlia
men
t, Lo
uis
Ng
calle
d on
the
gove
rnm
ent
to d
o m
ore
to ta
ckle
the
city
-sta
te’s
chr
onic
pla
stic
ove
r-us
e pr
oble
m a
nd m
ove
“tow
ards
a p
last
ic-li
te S
inga
pore
” by
ban
ning
sin
gle-
use
plas
tic in
the
publ
ic s
ecto
r and
to p
ut
a ch
arge
on
plas
tic c
arrie
r bag
s.
Seve
ral p
olic
ies
have
bee
n pu
t in
pla
ce t
o ta
ckle
pla
stic
w
aste
, e.
g. t
he S
inga
pore
Pac
kagi
ng A
gree
men
t, Pu
blic
Se
ctor
Sus
tain
abilit
y Pl
an 2
017-
2020
to c
all o
n th
e pu
blic
se
ctor
to
elim
inat
e si
ngle
-use
pla
stic
fro
m c
ater
ing
and
even
ts.
Rat
her
than
cel
ebrit
ies
and
high
ran
king
gov
ernm
enta
l of
ficia
ls,
the
rais
ing
of a
war
enes
s of
the
pla
stic
cris
is
seem
s to
be
mor
e of
a g
roun
d up
mov
emen
t, fro
m t
he
com
mun
ity.
Sing
apor
eans
tak
ing
part
in t
he a
nti-p
last
ic
mov
emen
t m
ay n
ot n
eces
saril
y be
not
able
fig
ures
of
soci
ety.
17
yea
r-old
Ang
Zyn
Yee
is a
n ad
voca
te o
f a s
traw
-free
en
viro
nmen
t, th
roug
h he
r in
itiat
ive,
‘S
traw
-Fre
e Si
ngap
ore’
. To
da
te,
she
has
man
aged
to
co
nvin
ce
corp
orat
ions
suc
h as
Wild
life
Res
erve
s Si
ngap
ore
to g
o st
raw
-free
an
d m
ore
than
20
F&
Bes
tabl
ishm
ents
in
C
hang
i Airp
ort t
o go
stra
w-li
te.
Plas
tic-L
ite S
inga
pore
, aco
mm
unity
and
vol
unte
er-b
ased
pl
atfo
rm s
tarte
d in
ear
ly S
epte
mbe
r 20
16 t
o in
spire
and
en
cour
age
Sing
apor
eans
tow
ards
a l
ifest
yle
whe
re t
he
usag
e of
pla
stic
s, p
artic
ular
ly s
ingl
e-us
e pl
astic
s, c
an b
e m
inim
ised
, with
sim
ple
prog
ram
mes
and
initi
ativ
es.
a SeSSSSSv
was
teSe
ctccccccor
sesesesesesectctctctct
orev
8
Ref
eren
ces
Gui
ding
Que
stio
ns /
Dis
cuss
ion
Issu
es
App
licab
le
Less
/ N
ot a
pplic
able
Mot
ivat
ion
2:W
e no
w
wan
t to
ta
ckle
‘in
cons
ider
ate’
w
aste
m
anag
emen
t and
dis
cour
age
a th
row
away
cul
ture
‘Cus
tom
ers
foun
d th
is
conv
enie
nt, a
nd b
usin
esse
s w
ere
happ
y to
sel
l the
m a
new
pla
stic
co
ntai
ner
for
ever
y so
da
or
sand
wic
h th
ey
boug
ht.
In
the
sam
e w
ay
stee
l en
able
d ne
w
front
iers
in b
uild
ing,
pla
stic
mad
e po
ssib
le t
he t
hrow
away
cul
ture
th
at w
e ha
ve c
ome
to t
ake
for
gran
ted.
To t
ake
on p
last
ic is
in
som
e w
ay
to
take
on
co
nsum
eris
m it
self.
It re
quire
s us
to
reco
gnis
e ju
st h
ow ra
dica
lly o
ur
way
of
lif
e ha
s re
shap
ed
the
plan
et i
n th
e sp
an o
f a
sing
le
lifet
ime,
and
ask
whe
ther
it is
too
muc
h.’
(line
s 27
-32)
a
Are
cons
umer
s to
o re
liant
on
con
veni
ence
suc
h th
at
they
pay
no
atte
ntio
n to
th
e en
viro
nmen
tal
dam
age
caus
ed b
y th
eir
use
of p
last
ic, o
r are
they
w
illing
to in
conv
enie
nce
them
selv
es in
exc
hang
e fo
r a g
reen
er
envi
ronm
ent?
Are
busi
ness
es fe
edin
g ou
r des
ire fo
r con
veni
ence
an
d ke
epin
g us
lazy
and
in
diffe
rent
tow
ards
ch
angi
ng o
ur c
onsu
mpt
ion
habi
tsnu
rture
d by
our
ex
cess
ivel
y co
nsum
eris
t cu
lture
?
The
Sing
apor
e so
ciet
y is
wel
l aw
are
of th
e im
pact
of
the
thro
waw
ay
cultu
re
and
the
envi
ronm
enta
list
mov
emen
t he
re i
s gr
owin
g. B
usin
esse
s ar
e al
so
conc
erne
d ab
out
thei
r co
nsum
ers’
co
nsum
ptio
n ha
bits
esp
ecia
lly w
ith re
gard
to th
e us
e of
pla
stic
s, in
ta
keaw
ay c
onta
iner
s an
d pa
ckag
ing.
Fo
ur
maj
or
supe
rmar
ket
chai
ns,
nam
ely
NTU
C
FairP
rice,
She
ng S
iong
, Dai
ry F
arm
Sin
gapo
re G
roup
an
d Pr
ime
Gro
up,
have
te
amed
up
w
ith
the
Sing
apor
e En
viro
nmen
t C
ounc
il (S
EC)
and
DBS
Ba
nk to
eng
age
cust
omer
s to
take
few
er s
ingl
e-us
e ba
gs a
nd o
pt f
or r
eusa
ble
bags
inst
ead.
The
“O
ne
Less
Pla
stic
” cam
paig
n, la
unch
ed in
Dec
embe
r 201
8 ai
ms
to re
duce
the
cons
umpt
ion
of d
ispo
sabl
e pl
astic
ba
gs b
y 25
% o
ver
2019
, w
ith h
opes
of
spur
ring
perm
anen
t cha
nge
in c
onsu
mer
s’ u
se o
f pla
stic
bag
s.
Con
sum
ers
assu
me
that
sup
erm
arke
ts t
hat
sell
reus
able
ba
gs m
ight
be
tryin
g to
pro
fit fr
om th
e sa
le o
f the
se b
ags.
Thi
s ac
t un
derm
ines
the
int
entio
n of
enc
oura
ging
red
uced
use
pl
astic
an
d lim
its
the
thro
waw
ay
cultu
re
and
min
dset
pr
iorit
ises
con
veni
ence
abo
ve a
ll.
With
Sin
gapo
re’s
fas
t-pac
ed s
ocie
ty,
plas
tic is
fav
oure
d as
w
e cr
ave
conv
enie
nce
at a
low
cos
t. Th
is c
an b
e se
en
thro
ugh
the
perv
asiv
e us
e of
pl
astic
(h
awke
r ce
ntre
s,
shop
ping
mal
ls, w
et m
arke
ts, c
onve
nien
t sto
res)
. The
cos
t for
pl
astic
pac
kagi
ng,
or e
ven
plas
tic t
akea
way
con
tain
ers
is
usua
lly v
ery
nom
inal
. Th
e ad
ditio
nal 1
0 ce
nts
or 2
0 ce
nts
does
not
hav
e th
at g
reat
an
impa
ct o
n th
e co
nsum
er,
and
mos
t w
ould
be
happ
y to
pay
for
the
con
veni
ence
pla
stic
br
ings
.
Mot
ivat
ion
3:Pe
ople
now
kno
w t
hat
plas
tic
has
far
mor
e ha
rmfu
l co
nseq
uenc
es
than
ea
rlier
be
lieve
d.
‘Tha
t ide
a ha
s be
en u
nder
min
ed
by
the
rece
nt
wid
espr
ead
ackn
owle
dgm
ent t
hat p
last
ic is
far
mor
e pe
rvas
ive
and
sini
ster
than
m
ost p
eopl
e ha
d ev
er im
agin
ed.’
(line
s 44
-46)
How
aw
are
are
we
of th
e ex
tent
of t
he p
last
ic
prob
lem
and
its
effe
cts
on
us a
nd o
ur e
nviro
nmen
t?
Do
we
thin
k of
pla
stic
as
bein
g da
nger
ous
to o
ur
heal
th o
r wel
l-bei
ng?
Sing
apor
eans
are
edu
cate
d an
d w
ell
awar
e of
the
di
re e
ffect
s of
pla
stic
use
. Th
e yo
unge
r ge
nera
tion
has
long
gro
wn
up in
a c
limat
e of
env
ironm
enta
lism
, an
d pu
blic
edu
catio
n on
the
3 R
s: re
use,
redu
ce, a
nd
recy
cle.
Rec
ent s
tudi
es s
how
that
in S
inga
pore
, an
aver
age
pers
on u
ses
146
bags
fro
m s
uper
mar
kets
al
one.
With
our
was
tefu
l mod
el o
f con
sum
ptio
n, w
e ar
e ra
pidl
y pr
oduc
ing
and
cons
umin
g pl
astic
at a
rate
th
at w
ill le
ave
a to
xic
plas
tic l
egac
y on
Ear
th.
As
plas
tic d
oes
not d
ecom
pose
, it w
ill co
ntin
ue to
be
in
our l
and,
wat
er a
nd a
ir fo
r the
nex
t 400
yea
rs, o
r 16
gene
ratio
ns. A
s su
ch, t
here
are
now
con
certe
d ef
forts
to
cha
nge
our
lifes
tyle
s, w
heth
er i
t is
usi
ng m
etal
st
raw
s or
car
ryin
g ou
r ow
n ba
gs a
nd c
onta
iner
s fo
r ta
keou
t in
a bi
d to
cut
dow
n on
sin
gle-
use
plas
tic.
The
Sing
apor
e En
viro
nmen
t C
ounc
il Sc
hool
Gre
en
Awar
dsis
a v
olun
tary
env
ironm
enta
l pr
ogra
mm
e w
hich
ser
ves
as a
pla
tform
for
stu
dent
s to
dev
elop
an
d sh
owca
se t
heir
envi
ronm
enta
l ef
forts
, th
roug
h cu
stom
ised
act
iviti
es w
hich
will
help
them
gai
n be
tter
unde
rsta
ndin
g of
the
envi
ronm
ent.
Even
tho
ugh
ther
e ha
s be
engr
owin
g aw
aren
ess
of t
he
issu
es s
urro
undi
ng p
last
ic,
the
maj
ority
of
Sing
apor
eans
ei
ther
cho
ose
to b
e ig
nora
nt, o
r ha
ve n
o se
nse
of u
rgen
cy
with
rega
rd to
the
plas
tic c
risis
.Th
e Si
ngap
ore
Food
Age
ncy
(SFA
) ha
s to
ld T
he S
traits
Ti
mes
tha
t w
hile
mic
ropl
astic
s is
an
emer
ging
are
a of
co
ncer
n, th
e W
orld
Hea
lth O
rgan
isat
ion
(WH
O) h
as in
dica
ted
ther
e is
no
evid
ence
cur
rent
ly th
at it
has
an
impa
ct o
n hu
man
he
alth
. Th
is m
ight
im
ply
that
Sin
gapo
re a
genc
ies
do n
ot
unde
rsta
nd th
e or
igin
of t
his
issu
e an
d do
not
pla
cesu
ffici
ent
emph
asis
on
plas
tic u
se a
nd it
s im
pact
s.
Sing
apor
e’s
Seni
or M
inis
ter
of S
tate
for
Envi
ronm
ent
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
, Dr A
my
Khor
, has
sta
ted
that
unl
ike
othe
r co
untri
es w
ith m
anda
tory
pla
stic
bag
cha
rges
, Si
ngap
ore
inci
nera
tes
plas
tic w
aste
bef
ore
putti
ng i
t in
lan
dfills
and
he
nce
does
not
face
the
land
and
wat
er p
ollu
tion
issu
es th
at
plag
ueth
ose
coun
tries
. Th
e M
inis
try’s
sta
nd is
tha
t pl
astic
ba
gs w
ere
“nec
essa
ry fo
r res
pons
ible
and
hyg
ieni
c ba
ggin
g of
was
te” i
n Si
ngap
ore’
s ho
t and
hum
id c
limat
e. T
hese
poi
nts
play
on
the
conc
erns
tha
t th
e ev
erym
an h
as in
Sin
gapo
re,
whe
ther
it is
indu
strie
s or
con
sum
ers.
We
do n
ot e
ven
see
that
pla
stic
is h
arm
ful.
d sp
readadadadddadadadadadddadad
tic
cccccccccccc isisisisisisiss
ffffffffffaaaraaaaaaa
er ththhhthhhththth
ananananaanaanannaannan
neeeeeed.dd.dd.d.dd.d.ddd.d.dddd
’
he
c ts
effe
ctctctctctcts s ss ss
onononononon
uren
vnvvnvnvvvvnvviro
nononononononnnonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnononnnm
em
em
em
em
em
em
emmm
em
em
em
eem
em
em
em
em
em
emm
em
em
em
em
em
em
em
emm
em
em
emm
em
em
em
em
em
em
eem
eeeeeeeentnntntntnnntntntnntnnntnntntntnttntnnttnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn???? ??
Do
wwwwwwee ee eeeeeeee
thhththhthhhthhththhhhhtininininnninnnnin
k kkk kkkkkkkkofooofofofofooofoofoofofoff
pppppppppppppppppppplllalllllllllst
icaaaaaas
s ssssbebebebebebebebebebeebeebebeb
inninininnnninninnigggggggggggggg
dadadadadadaadadaaaadngngngngngngngggngngnggngnggggg
eereeeeeeeeeeeouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
s ssssssssss sssssssstototototototoototoot
ourrrrrr
heeeeeeeeeeeeee
alalalalalalalaaaathhthhththththhthhhhh
oooooooooooooorrrrrr r rrrrw
ew
ew
ew
ew
ew
ew
eew
ew
ew
ew
ew
eeww
eww
ew
eeew
llllllllllllllll----bebebebebebebebebebebebbebeeb
innininininiining?g?g?g?g?g??
a rec
ave
9
Ref
eren
ces
Gui
ding
Que
stio
ns /
Dis
cuss
ion
Issu
es
App
licab
le
Less
/ N
ot a
pplic
able
Mot
ivat
ion
4:In
divi
dual
s ar
e dr
awn
to
the
caus
e of
figh
ting
agai
nst p
last
ic
use.
Cor
pora
tions
and
org
aniz
atio
ns
use
the
oppo
rtuni
ties
pres
ente
d to
figh
t for
the
envi
ronm
ent.
As
a co
nseq
uenc
e,
thei
r br
and
imag
e m
ay b
ecom
e m
ore
visi
ble
in s
ocie
ty.
‘The
appe
al o
f th
e fig
ht a
gain
st
plas
tic i
s th
at t
here
is
the
sens
e th
at y
ou h
ave
join
ed a
n in
surg
ent
polit
ical
ca
mpa
ign
and
even
pr
esen
ted
oppo
rtuni
sm
for
any
orga
nisa
tion.
’ (lin
es 6
2-64
)
Do
Sing
apor
e co
mpa
nies
an
d or
gani
satio
ns c
ome
toge
ther
in a
con
certe
d ef
fort
to fi
ght a
gain
st
plas
tic?
Do
orga
nisa
tions
see
the
anti-
plas
tic m
ovem
ent a
s br
ingi
ng th
em
oppo
rtuni
ties
– to
redu
ce
cost
, to
chan
ge th
eir
proc
esse
s, to
boo
st th
eir
imag
e, e
tc.?
Are
orga
nisa
tions
ge
nuin
ely
conc
erne
d ab
out t
he e
nviro
nmen
t or
is th
is ju
st c
orpo
rate
so
cial
resp
onsi
bilit
y th
at
has
beco
me
oblig
ator
y?
The
Wor
ld W
ide
Fund
for N
atur
e (W
WF)
ann
ounc
ed
on 3
Jun
e 20
19 th
at m
ore
than
270
F&B
out
lets
in
Sing
apor
e w
ill re
mov
e st
raw
s co
mpl
etel
y fro
m th
eir
prem
ises
or p
rovi
de th
em o
nly
on re
ques
t fro
m J
uly
1 on
war
ds.
Con
scie
ntio
us
busi
ness
es
and
early
ad
opte
rs
such
as
Pl
ain
Vani
lla
Bake
ry,
KFC
, D
eliv
eroo
, Mille
nniu
m H
otel
s an
d IK
EA h
ave
redu
ced
sing
le-u
se p
last
ic w
aste
as
they
shi
ft th
eir b
usin
esse
s to
war
ds s
usta
inab
le p
ract
ices
. Th
is c
ould
als
o be
se
en a
s op
portu
nist
ic i
n fu
rther
ing
thei
r co
rpor
ate
imag
e as
th
ey
jum
p on
th
e ba
ndw
agon
of
en
viro
nmen
talis
m.
15 b
usin
esse
s ha
ve a
lso
pled
ged
to l
onge
r-ter
m
goal
s to
red
uce
thei
r pl
astic
pro
duct
ion
and
use
by
2030
. For
exa
mpl
e, th
e Lo
and
Beh
old
Gro
up (
with
13
res
taur
ants
and
bus
ines
ses)
is
now
loo
king
at
biod
egra
dabl
e al
tern
ativ
es fo
r del
iver
y an
d ta
keaw
ay
pack
agin
g.
This
cal
l fo
r ac
tion
has
mos
tly f
alle
n on
dea
f ea
rs i
n Si
ngap
ore,
as
cons
umer
s m
ay n
ot b
e as
con
vinc
ed b
y th
e fig
ht a
gain
st p
last
ic. S
ince
ther
e is
no
rubb
ish
pilin
g up
in th
est
reet
s, S
inga
pore
ans
do n
ot p
erce
ive
a w
aste
pro
blem
or
feel
pe
rson
ally
re
spon
sibl
eto
re
duce
w
aste
. So
me
cons
umer
s ha
ve a
lso
rais
ed t
he c
once
rn t
hat
goin
g st
raw
-fre
e is
insu
ffici
ent a
nd m
ay ju
st b
e ‘c
orpo
rate
gre
en w
ashi
ng’.
Busi
ness
es in
Sin
gapo
re h
ave
conf
lictin
g in
tere
sts,
as
they
ar
e m
ostly
stil
l pro
fit-d
riven
and
cou
ld b
e co
ncer
ned
with
the
high
co
sts
or
inco
nven
ienc
e of
go
ing
plas
tic-fr
ee.
Supe
rmar
kets
, co
nven
ienc
e st
ores
, an
d m
ost
food
&
beve
rage
com
pani
es s
till
rely
on
plas
tic,
not
to m
entio
n fa
ctor
ies
and
heav
y in
dust
ries.
Jo
inin
g th
e pl
astic
-free
m
ovem
ent i
s no
t eve
n a
cons
ider
atio
n at
all.
Mot
ivat
ion
5:Th
e ac
know
ledg
men
t th
at t
he
prob
lem
of
pl
astic
is
cl
osel
y lin
ked
to th
e pr
oble
m o
f clim
ate
chan
ge
has
prom
pted
ur
gent
an
d im
med
iate
act
ion.
‘Alth
ough
the
pub
lic’s
ent
husi
asm
fo
r ant
i-pla
stic
cam
paig
ns is
par
tly
mot
ivat
ed b
y th
e fe
elin
g th
at it
is a
si
mpl
er
and
mor
e so
lvab
le
prob
lem
than
clim
ate
chan
ge, t
he
two
issu
es
are
mor
e cl
osel
y co
nnec
ted
than
m
ost
peop
le
real
ise.
’ (lin
es 8
1-83
)
Do
Sing
apor
eans
see
an
y lin
k be
twee
n th
e tw
o is
sues
?
Will
tack
ling
the
prob
lem
of
pla
stic
aid
our
effo
rts
agai
nst c
limat
e ch
ange
?
Can
we
mak
e a
diffe
renc
e to
en
viro
nmen
tal i
ssue
s by
ta
king
on
plas
tic?
Do
we
thin
k th
at th
e an
ti-pl
astic
mov
emen
t is
mor
e lik
ely
to s
ucce
ed
than
atte
mpt
s at
dea
ling
with
clim
ate
chan
ge?
Sing
apor
eans
are
not
blin
d to
the
fact
that
pla
stic
use
im
pact
s ou
r en
viro
nmen
t. As
a t
iny
isla
nd s
tate
si
tuat
ed n
ear t
he e
quat
or, w
e w
ill m
ost l
ikel
y fa
ce th
e br
unt o
f clim
ate
chan
ge. T
his
is n
ot fa
r fro
m th
e pu
blic
co
nsci
ousn
ess,
and
man
y Si
ngap
orea
ns a
re n
ow
taki
ng a
ctio
n to
add
ress
pla
stic
use
.Th
e Si
ngap
ore
soci
ety
is b
egin
ning
to u
nder
stan
d th
e ur
genc
y of
the
iss
ue o
f us
ing
plas
tic a
nd h
ow i
t im
pact
s cl
imat
e ch
ange
as
cafe
s no
w s
ee m
ore
cons
umer
s pu
rcha
sing
“kee
pcup
s” fo
r the
ir ta
keaw
ay
drin
ks. S
ome
reta
ilers
, suc
h as
Sta
rbuc
ks a
nd D
utch
C
olon
y, a
lso
give
ince
ntiv
es w
hen
cons
umer
s br
ing
thei
r ow
n cu
ps.
Bein
ga
rath
er c
autio
us s
ocie
ty, S
inga
pore
ans
are
scep
tical
ab
out w
heth
er th
ey c
an m
eani
ngfu
lly m
ake
a di
ffere
nce
as
indi
vidu
als.
At
the
sam
e tim
e, s
ome
peop
le t
hink
pla
stic
is
bette
r for
the
envi
ronm
ent a
s no
wat
er (a
sca
rce
reso
urce
in
Sing
apor
e) is
requ
ired
to w
ash
it. O
ther
s th
ink
ever
ythi
ng c
an
be r
ecyc
led
so i
t do
es n
ot h
arm
the
env
ironm
ent.
Thes
e ig
nora
nt p
ersp
ectiv
es a
re s
till
prev
alen
t in
the
Sin
gapo
re
soci
ety,
esp
ecia
lly s
ince
dis
posa
ble
plas
tic is
now
par
t of t
he
cultu
re a
nd c
onve
nien
ce w
ins
in o
ur s
ocie
ty.
Thou
gh s
ome
pock
ets
of c
orpo
ratio
ns a
re e
ncou
ragi
ng th
eir
cons
umer
s to
brin
g th
eir
own
cups
, co
ntai
ners
and
din
ing
uten
sils
for
tak
eaw
ay,
som
e la
rge
F&B
reta
ilers
are
stil
l op
pose
d to
the
ide
a, h
arpi
ng o
n th
e no
tion
that
it
mig
ht
com
prom
ise
clea
nlin
ess
–a
big
deal
in s
potle
ss S
inga
pore
, w
here
pla
stic
bag
s ar
e se
en a
s ne
cess
ary
to h
ygie
nica
lly
disp
ose
wet
was
te.
Non
e of
the
maj
or r
etai
lers
, ho
wev
er,
seem
wor
ried
by th
e re
puta
tiona
l ris
k of
bei
ng a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith
plas
tic w
aste
fuln
ess,
as
the
maj
ority
of t
heir
cust
omer
s ar
e st
ill no
ncha
lant
abo
ut th
e pl
astic
issu
e an
d ho
w it
is re
late
d to
en
viro
nmen
tal d
egra
datio
n an
d cl
imat
e ch
ange
.
usia
sassasssasasasassassssasassammmmmmmmm
isssssssssssssppppppppa
raararararaarararaaaaratly
at
ittitititittitiiiiiiis
ssssssssssaaaaaaaaaaaaa
lvaaaaaaaaaaaaabbb
lblbblblblblbbblblbbblleeeeeeeeeeee
tttttthehehehehehehehehehehehe
ely yy y yy e
the
two
wo
wo
wo
wo
wo
Will
ttacacacacccaccacacacacacacccaaaklklkllklklklkkkkkkkk
inninnininninininnggggggg
thhhhheee eeeeeeeeee
prprrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroboboboboobobobobobooboooo
leeeeeemmmmmm
ofooooo p
lllllllllllasaasasasasasasasasaasasatititiitiititittttttccccccccccc
aiaaiaaiaiaiaaaaiaiaiddddd dddddddddd
ouououuououuouououooouuoououur e
ffortrtrtrtrtrtssssss
agagagagagagagagaagaaggagaagaggaiaiaaiaaaaiaaiaiaai
nssssssssssttt ttttttttc
lcclcllclcllcllllclclccccimimmimmmimimmmmmi
ate e eeeeeee e eeeeeee eeee
chchcchcchchchhchchchchcccan
gegegegegege??????
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCanananannnnannnanananaaa
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwweee eeeeee
mak
ekekekekekekaaaaaa
diddidididididididddddididididddffffffffffffffffffffffffffe
rererererereerereererreeeeenen
cecececececetttttto
oooooeeeeneneeeee
vivivivivivrorororororo
nmnnnnne
tatatatatatakkkikkk
ng
br coccccn
taki
10
Ref
eren
ces
Gui
ding
Que
stio
ns /
Dis
cuss
ion
Issu
es
App
licab
le
Less
/ N
ot a
pplic
able
Issu
e 1:
Th
e pr
oble
m o
f pl
astic
is
muc
h la
rger
tha
n w
e pe
rcei
ve i
t to
be
beca
use:
-
It st
ems
from
our
per
vasi
ve
cons
umer
ist c
ultu
re
-It
is to
o bi
g fo
r us
to h
andl
e -
It is
inte
rtw
ined
with
sev
eral
ot
her
issu
es w
hich
are
as
chal
leng
ing
to d
eal w
ith.
‘To
take
on
plas
tic is
in s
ome
way
to
take
on
cons
umer
ism
its
elf.’
(lin
es
30-3
1)
‘Peo
ple
now
real
ise
that
pla
stic
is in
ou
r ho
useh
old
prod
ucts
, co
ffee
cups
, tea
bags
and
clo
thin
g –
but i
t se
ems
to h
ave
esca
ped
our
abilit
y to
ca
tch
it.
It sl
ips
thro
ugh
our
finge
rs a
nd o
ur w
ater
filt
ers
and
slos
hes
into
riv
ers
and
ocea
ns li
ke
efflu
ent
from
a
sini
ster
in
dust
rial
fact
ory.
’ (lin
es 5
7-59
)
‘Thi
s is
the
para
dox
of p
last
ic, o
r at
leas
t ou
r cu
rrent
obs
essi
on w
ith it
: le
arni
ng
abou
t th
e sc
ale
of
the
prob
lem
mov
ed u
s to
act
, bu
t th
e m
ore
we
push
aga
inst
it, t
he m
ore
it be
gins
to
seem
jus
t as
bou
ndle
ss
and
intra
ctab
le
as
all
the
othe
r en
viro
nmen
tal
prob
lem
s w
e ha
ve
faile
d to
sol
ve.’
(line
s 83
-86)
‘And
it
brin
gs u
s up
aga
inst
the
sa
me
obst
acle
s:
unre
gula
tabl
e bu
sine
ss, t
he g
loba
lised
wor
ld, a
nd
our
own
unsu
stai
nabl
e w
ay o
f lif
e.
We
need
to
reco
gnis
e th
at p
last
ic
isn’
t jus
t an
isol
ated
pro
blem
that
we
can
bani
sh fr
om o
ur liv
es, b
ut s
impl
y th
e m
ost v
isib
le p
rodu
ct o
f our
pas
t ha
lf-ce
ntur
y of
ra
mpa
nt
cons
umpt
ion.
’ (lin
es 8
6-89
)
Are
Sing
apor
eans
m
otiv
ated
to a
ct in
the
inte
rest
of t
he
envi
ronm
ent,
or a
re
they
def
eate
d by
the
enor
mity
of t
he ta
sk?
Doe
s co
nsum
eris
m
fuel
pla
stic
use
in
Sing
apor
e?
Are
Sing
apor
eans
ab
le to
tack
le o
ur
lifes
tyle
s an
d ou
r co
nsum
ptiv
e be
havi
our a
long
side
th
e pr
oble
m o
f pl
astic
?
D
o Si
ngap
orea
ns s
ee
any
link
betw
een
the
two
issu
es?
Is th
e pe
rvas
iven
ess
of p
last
ic re
cogn
ised
an
d ad
dres
sed
as a
pr
oble
m in
Si
ngap
ore?
Are
we
able
to c
ontro
l th
e pr
oble
m?
Is it
w
ithin
our
mea
ns?
Doe
s Si
ngap
ore’
s po
sitio
n in
the
glob
alis
ed w
orld
co
ntrib
ute
to th
is
prob
lem
?
Wha
t con
ditio
ns a
re
Sing
apor
e fa
cing
that
m
ight
lim
it th
e su
cces
s of
tack
ling
the
plas
tic p
robl
em?
Ret
aile
rs a
nd c
ompa
nies
are
set
up
to fe
ed S
inga
pore
’s
obse
ssio
n w
ith c
onve
nien
ce,
effic
ienc
y, a
nd c
ost-c
uttin
g as
pla
stic
s ar
e ch
eap
and
easy
to u
se. T
his
habi
t of u
sing
pl
astic
s fo
r m
any
deca
des
now
has
ingr
aine
d a
certa
in
psyc
he in
mos
t of u
s. T
he a
vera
ge S
inga
pore
an u
ses
an
unco
nsci
onab
le 1
3 pl
astic
bag
s a
day,
and
thi
s ha
s be
com
e a
big
part
of o
ur c
onve
nien
ce c
ultu
re w
here
de
liver
ies
and
take
-out
mea
ls a
re b
ecom
ing
incr
easi
ngly
co
mm
on.
It is
als
o un
deni
able
tha
t Si
ngap
ore,
bei
ng a
hig
hly
glob
alis
ed c
ity, i
s al
so e
ngag
ed in
glo
bal c
apita
lism
and
co
nsum
eris
t beh
avio
ur. I
n an
inte
rnat
iona
l eco
nom
y th
at
prio
ritis
es
econ
omic
gr
owth
an
d de
velo
pmen
t, th
e un
sust
aina
bilit
y of
the
plas
tic p
robl
em is
far l
arge
r tha
n ju
st
wha
t Sin
gapo
rean
s al
one
cons
ume.
As m
uch
asSi
ngap
orea
ns a
re u
sual
ly c
once
rned
abo
ut
cost
-sav
ings
, ec
onom
ic d
isin
cent
ives
fai
l to
wor
k on
the
ge
nera
l po
pula
ce.
It is
unl
ikel
y th
at c
harg
ing
or t
axin
g si
ngle
-use
pla
stic
s w
ill w
ork
in th
e lo
ng ru
n if
peop
le la
ck
soci
al c
onvi
ctio
n an
d po
litic
al w
ill fo
r cha
nge.
As
a d
evel
oped
cou
ntry
in th
e re
lativ
ely
poor
er r
egio
n of
So
uthe
ast A
sian
nat
ions
, Sin
gapo
re is
gui
lty o
f dum
ping
its
pl
astic
w
aste
in
de
velo
ping
co
untri
es.
Sing
apor
e ex
porte
d al
mos
t 42
,000
to
nnes
of
pl
astic
w
aste
to
co
untri
es i
nclu
ding
Mal
aysi
a, V
ietn
am a
nd I
ndon
esia
in
2016
, ac
cord
ing
to t
he la
test
Uni
ted
Nat
ions
tra
de d
ata.
Th
is e
ssen
tially
puts
the
prob
lem
‘out
of s
ight
and
out
of
min
d’. J
ust a
s qu
ickl
y as
pla
stic
tras
h is
thro
wn
away
and
re
mov
ed
by
Sing
apor
e’s
effic
ient
cl
eani
ng
syst
em,
it va
nish
es
from
th
e co
nsum
er
cons
ciou
snes
s on
ce
Sing
apor
eans
hav
e en
gage
d in
exc
essi
ve c
onsu
mpt
ion
of
plas
tics.
Sing
apor
e re
cogn
ises
the
pro
blem
and
has
ple
dged
to
take
ste
ps a
gain
st p
last
ic w
aste
. It s
ays
it ai
ms
to b
ecom
e a
"zer
o w
aste
" nat
ion,
mea
ning
it w
ill ev
entu
ally
not
sen
d an
y w
aste
to la
ndfil
l, an
d th
is is
mos
tly s
uppo
rted
by n
on-
gove
rnm
enta
l org
anis
atio
ns in
Sin
gapo
re.
The
NEA
has
al
so s
aid
that
it w
ill be
impl
emen
ting
initi
ativ
es a
imed
at
incr
easi
ng r
ecyc
ling
rate
s an
d re
duci
ng w
aste
at
the
sour
ce.
Som
e co
mpa
nies
are
in fa
ct e
xerc
isin
g se
lf-re
gula
tion
and
have
tak
en c
oncr
ete
mea
sure
s to
red
uce
thei
r pl
astic
fo
otpr
int,
at th
e sa
me
time
serv
ing
thei
r eco
nom
ic in
tere
sts
and
garn
erin
g so
cial
goo
dwill.
KFC
bec
ame
the
first
fast
fo
od c
hain
in S
inga
pore
to re
mov
e pl
astic
stra
ws
and
lids
from
its
res
taur
ants
, a
mov
e th
at w
ill sa
ve 1
7.8
met
ric
tonn
es o
f sin
gle-
use
plas
tic a
yea
r. G
over
nmen
t ag
enci
es a
re c
olla
bora
ting
to g
et t
he b
est
poss
ible
ou
tcom
e.
Let’s
R
ecyc
le
Toge
ther
is
a
new
ca
mpa
ign
by Z
ero
Was
te S
G w
hich
aim
s to
enc
oura
ge
mor
e H
DB
resi
dent
s to
rec
ycle
usi
ng t
he e
xist
ing
blue
re
cycl
ing
bins
in
thei
r es
tate
s, a
nd t
o ed
ucat
e th
em o
n re
cycl
ing
corre
ctly
. Th
is
grou
nd-u
p ca
mpa
ign
com
plem
ents
the
Nat
iona
l Rec
yclin
g Pr
ogra
mm
e by
the
N
atio
nal E
nviro
nmen
t Age
ncy
(NEA
).Th
is is
par
t of a
long
-te
rm a
ppro
ach
whi
ch re
quire
s tim
e fo
r res
ults
to s
how
, but
w
ould
be
hi
ghly
ef
fect
ive
in
miti
gatin
g en
viro
nmen
tal
impa
ct if
suc
cess
ful.
Se
vera
l in
itiat
ives
w
hich
ha
ve
been
pr
opos
ed
may
al
levi
ate
the
prob
lem
or
buy
the
auth
oriti
es m
ore
time
to
wor
k ou
t m
ore
com
preh
ensi
ve r
espo
nses
. Fo
r ex
ampl
e,
Red
Mar
t, on
e of
th
e la
rges
t on
line
supe
rmar
kets
in
Si
ngap
ore,
sw
itche
d to
oxo
-bio
degr
adab
le b
ags
whi
ch a
re
desi
gned
to
harm
less
ly b
iode
grad
e in
the
pre
senc
e of
ox
ygen
. Thi
s al
low
s pe
ople
to s
tick
with
thei
r con
sum
ptio
n ha
bits
whi
le b
eing
mor
e en
viro
nmen
tally
-frie
ndly
.
ess
eooooooooot
hththththththhthththttttttterererererereereerereeeer
wwwwwwwwwwwww
eeeeeeeeeeeeehahhhhhhhhhh
veeeeeeee
6)
ttttttttth
eheheheheheheheheheheehehe
ablllllle
ee e e e nd
e w
eaaaaaaaaaaab
le eeetototototototooo
cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccoonononoonononononononononononoooooonnonononononoooonnnononononononnonoooonoonnnnnnonoonoonnoonnonnonoonnnonnononoonoonnooooootrtrtrtttrttrttrttrtrtrttrtrtrtttttrttrtrtrtrttrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrroo
lolololoooloooooooo
the e eee eeeeeee
prprprprprprpprprprprpppoboboboboboboboboobobbob
leleleeleelelelem
?m
?m
????mm
?m
?mm
IIIIIIIIIIIs it
w
iwwwwwwwwwwwww
thhhhhhhhhhhhhhininnininnnininin
ooooooooooooooururururururururrururururrr
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeaeaeaeaeaeeaeeaeeaeaaaaa
nsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnnssnsssnssnnsnns?
DDDDo
DDDDDDDDDessssssssssssssssss
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSinninininnnininninininninininnngagagagagagagaggagagaggaggggggagg
pppopppppppppppporererererere
’s’s’s’s’s’s
popopopoooopopopoopooopopoposisisisisississisisiisisssssss
ttttttttttioioiooiooioioiooioooon
innnnnnttttttth
ehehehehehe
glgglglglggggglgglggglglgggoboobobobobobobobooboobobbb
alalalalalaisisisisisis
ededededededw
cocococoocontntntntntnt
riiiiibut
prpppppob
2 Th min
drereeeee
mo
mmmmmmv
vavvavavavani
sS
11
Ref
eren
ces
Gui
ding
Que
stio
ns /
Dis
cuss
ion
Issu
es
App
licab
le
Less
/ N
ot a
pplic
able
Issu
e 2:
In
divi
dual
s,
corp
orat
ions
an
d po
litic
ians
are
jum
ping
ont
o th
e ba
ndw
agon
to
de
al
with
th
e pr
oble
m
of
plas
tic,
with
no
ge
nuin
e co
ncer
n, ra
ther
focu
sing
on
bei
ng v
isib
le.
‘We
have
ent
ered
a p
hase
whe
re
whe
re
ever
y br
and,
or
gani
satio
n an
d po
litic
ian
stra
ins
to b
e se
en to
be
doi
ng s
omet
hing
.’ (li
nes
64-6
5)
Are
the
resp
onse
s of
in
divi
dual
s,
orga
nisa
tions
and
the
gove
rnm
ent m
erel
y a
form
of l
ip s
ervi
ce to
th
e se
verit
y of
the
prob
lem
?
Are
the
diffe
rent
st
akeh
olde
rs in
Si
ngap
ore
genu
inel
y co
ncer
ned
abou
t and
do
ing
som
ethi
ng
abou
t the
pla
stic
pr
oble
m?
Whi
le m
any
agre
ew
ith th
e co
mm
on-s
ense
arg
umen
t to
redu
ce p
last
ic u
se, a
ttem
pts
to b
ring
resu
lts a
re n
ot
alw
ays
wel
l tho
ught
-out
or r
ecei
ved.
Som
e gr
oups
and
or
gani
satio
ns fa
ced
maj
or b
ackl
ash
as th
eir e
fforts
cam
e ac
ross
as
oppo
rtuni
stic
or u
nrea
listic
. Nat
iona
l Uni
vers
ity
of S
inga
pore
(NU
S) la
unch
ed s
traw
-ban
cam
paig
n iR
ejec
t in
Oct
ober
201
8 at
cer
tain
food
and
bev
erag
e ou
tlets
on
cam
pus.
Stu
dent
s w
ere
not u
pset
ove
r the
m
essa
ge o
f bei
ng e
nviro
nmen
tally
con
scio
us, b
ut ra
ther
th
e ab
rupt
ness
of t
he b
an a
nd h
ow it
was
exe
cute
d as
th
e ca
mpa
ign
felt
like
a ha
lf-he
arte
d at
tem
pt to
car
e. In
th
is c
ase,
the
univ
ersi
ty o
nly
notif
ied
stud
ents
via
em
ail
abou
t the
cam
paig
n on
e da
y be
fore
it w
as im
plem
ente
d.Th
is to
p-do
wn
ban
did
not g
o w
ell a
s m
ore
feel
that
ed
ucat
ion
and
choi
ce s
houl
d go
han
d in
han
d. O
ther
sfe
el th
at m
ore
focu
s sh
ould
be
on c
hang
ing
stud
ents
’ co
nsum
ptio
n ha
bits
.Ap
plyi
ng q
uick
sol
utio
ns l
ike
bann
ing
or c
harg
ing
for
plas
tic b
ags
with
out f
ully
und
erst
andi
ng it
s en
viro
nmen
tal
effe
ct c
an b
e a
was
te o
f res
ourc
es, i
n te
rms
of m
anpo
wer
, tim
e an
d ta
xpay
ers’
mon
ey, e
spec
ially
whe
n go
vern
men
t re
sour
ces
are
limite
d. A
mor
e ra
tiona
l app
roac
h ar
gues
th
at f
ocus
ing
sim
ply
on b
anni
ng o
r ch
argi
ng f
or p
last
ic
bags
can
be
a di
stra
ctio
n fro
m th
e re
al p
robl
em, g
ivin
g a
fals
e se
nse
of a
chie
vem
ent
in t
hink
ing
that
we
have
re
duce
d ou
r en
viro
nmen
tal i
mpa
ct w
hen
in fa
ct w
e ha
ve
not.
Besi
des,
Sin
gapo
re s
houl
d in
vest
in in
nova
tive
plas
tic
was
te t
reat
men
t te
chno
logi
es t
o m
inim
ise
use
of p
last
ic
pack
agin
g an
d in
crea
se p
last
ic w
aste
recy
clin
g ra
te. T
he
Clo
sing
the
Was
te L
oop
rese
arch
gra
nt b
y N
EA a
nd
Nat
iona
l Res
earc
h Fo
unda
tion
aim
s to
do
just
tha
t. W
e sh
ould
be
striv
ing
tow
ards
zer
o w
aste
ins
tead
of
zero
pl
astic
bag
s
Ther
e ar
e ev
iden
t ef
forts
to
enco
urag
e re
cycl
ing
in
Sing
apor
e,
with
bl
ue
bins
co
nven
ient
ly
hous
ed
in
neig
hbou
rhoo
d es
tate
s ar
ound
the
isla
nd. T
hese
blu
e bi
ns
have
bee
n in
exi
sten
ce s
ince
Apr
il 20
01, w
hen
they
wer
e la
unch
ed u
nder
the
Nat
iona
l Env
ironm
ent A
genc
y's
(NEA
) N
atio
nal R
ecyc
ling
Prog
ram
me
(NR
P). T
he N
RP
colle
cts
pape
r, pl
astic
, gla
ss a
nd m
etal
recy
clab
les
toge
ther
in th
e bl
ue r
ecyc
ling
bins
tha
t ar
e em
ptie
d an
d pr
oces
sed
by
publ
ic
was
te
colle
ctor
s (P
WC
s),
wor
king
to
war
ds
beco
min
g a
Zero
Was
te N
atio
n by
reu
sing
and
rec
yclin
gal
l mat
eria
ls.
In A
pril
2017
, te
n Si
ngap
orea
n en
viro
nmen
tal
grou
ps
calle
dfo
r st
rong
er a
ctio
n ag
ains
t pl
astic
was
te b
y co
-si
gnin
g an
op-
ed “P
last
ics:
Eno
ugh
Tras
h Ta
lk”.
This
is th
e fir
st
of
such
a
unite
d sh
ow
of
supp
ort
whi
ch
was
sp
earh
eade
d by
WW
F. “
Plas
tics:
Eno
ugh
Tras
h Ta
lk”
reve
als
the
true
exte
nt a
nd im
pact
of t
he p
last
ic p
robl
em
and
show
sho
w c
onve
nien
ce c
an n
umb
com
mon
sen
se.
This
sh
ows
conc
erte
d ad
voca
cy
to
fight
ag
ains
t th
e pr
oble
m o
f pla
stic
.
r no was
papapapaapaaack
aC
lC
lC
lC
lC
lC
osin
N
12
Ref
eren
ces
Gui
ding
Que
stio
ns /
Dis
cuss
ion
Issu
es
App
licab
le
Less
/ N
ot a
pplic
able
Issu
e 3:
C
orpo
ratio
ns
and
gove
rnm
ents
ar
e sh
iftin
g th
e re
spon
sibi
lity
of t
he p
robl
em o
f pl
astic
was
te o
nto
indi
vidu
als.
‘Fra
min
g lit
ter
as a
per
sona
l fai
ling
was
rem
arka
bly
conv
enie
nt.’
(line
s 66
-67)
In
1988
, th
e ye
ar
glob
al
plas
tic
prod
uctio
n pu
lled
even
with
ste
el,
Mar
gare
t Tha
tche
r, pi
ckin
g up
litte
r in
St
Ja
mes
’s
Park
fo
r a
phot
o op
portu
nity
, ca
ptur
ed
the
tone
pe
rfect
ly. “
This
is n
ot th
e fa
ult o
f the
go
vern
men
t,” s
he to
ld r
epor
ters
. “It
is
the
faul
t of
th
e pe
ople
w
ho
know
ingl
y an
d th
ough
tless
ly th
row
it do
wn.
” N
otic
eabl
y ab
sent
fro
m h
er
indi
ctm
ent
was
an
yone
w
ho
man
ufac
ture
d or
sol
d pl
astic
in th
e fir
st p
lace
. (lin
es 6
6-71
)
Is th
e ex
cess
ive
use
of p
last
ic a
nd li
tterin
g se
en a
s th
e fa
ult o
f th
e in
divi
dual
in
Sing
apor
e?
Do
the
Sing
apor
ean
gove
rnm
ent a
nd lo
cal
com
pani
es ta
ke
resp
onsi
bilit
y fo
r thi
s?
The
rhet
oric
beh
ind
the
num
erou
s an
ti-lit
ter c
ampa
igns
in
Sing
apor
e is
bui
lt on
ind
ivid
ual
resp
onsi
bilit
y, a
nd a
ny
offe
nces
are
dee
med
to b
e th
e in
divi
dual
’s fa
ult.
Just
last
ye
ar,
the
Nat
iona
l En
viro
nmen
t Ag
ency
(N
EA)
issu
ed
39,0
00 l
itter
bugs
fin
es.
The
lurid
yel
low
ves
ts w
orn
by
offe
nder
s se
rved
with
Cor
rect
ive
Wor
k O
rder
s (C
WO
s)
and
mad
e to
cle
an th
e st
reet
s ha
ve a
lso
been
rede
sign
ed
to m
ake
them
eve
n m
ore
read
ily d
istin
guis
habl
e, in
a b
id
to d
eter
offe
nder
s. T
his
leve
rage
s on
the
im
porta
nce
Sing
apor
eans
pla
ce o
n th
eir p
erso
nal r
eput
atio
ns, a
nd th
e pr
oble
m o
f litt
er (
amon
gst o
ther
env
ironm
enta
l iss
ues)
is
henc
e fra
med
as
a pe
rson
al f
ailin
g an
d no
t so
muc
h as
so
met
hing
larg
er to
be
tack
led
by o
ther
sta
keho
lder
s.Th
is
is fa
irly
reas
onab
legi
ven
how
ther
e ar
e in
deed
cou
ntle
ss
case
s of
indi
vidu
als
care
less
ly d
ispo
sing
of
(sin
gle-
use)
pl
astic
pr
oduc
t by
th
e ro
adsi
de
or
near
w
ater
way
s,
incl
udin
g pl
astic
bag
s w
hich
wer
e un
nece
ssar
ily t
aken
w
hen
purc
hasi
ng j
ust
one
item
tha
t co
uld
have
bee
n st
ored
in o
ne’s
poc
ket o
r bag
. La
st y
ear,
MP
Loui
s N
g ca
lled
on th
e go
vern
men
t to
do
mor
e to
tac
kle
the
city
-sta
te’s
chr
onic
pla
stic
ove
r-use
pr
oble
m a
nd m
ove
tow
ards
a p
last
ic-li
te S
inga
pore
by
bann
ing
sing
le-u
se p
last
ic in
the
publ
ic s
ecto
r, an
d pu
tting
a
char
ge o
n ca
rrier
bag
s to
add
ress
thi
s ur
gent
pub
lic
safe
ty is
sue.
Thi
s w
as m
et w
ith a
fam
iliar
resp
onse
from
th
e M
inis
try
of
Envi
ronm
ent
and
Wat
er
Res
ourc
es
(MEW
R)
– th
at p
last
ic p
ollu
tion
will
be t
ackl
ed t
hrou
gh
publ
ic e
duca
tion
not
polic
y, in
ord
er t
o bu
ild “
a na
tiona
l co
nsci
ousn
ess
to c
are
for
the
envi
ronm
ent”.
Thi
s cl
early
sh
ows
the
appr
oach
in v
iew
ing
plas
tic u
se a
s a
pers
onal
re
spon
sibi
lity.
(A
lso
men
tione
d in
M
otiv
atio
n #1
Ap
plic
able
)
Ther
e ha
ve
been
gr
ound
-up
effo
rts i
n Si
ngap
ore
as
seve
ral
com
pani
es i
n th
e su
perm
arke
t, ho
tel,
food
&
beve
rage
in
dust
ries
have
pl
edge
d to
ta
ke
targ
eted
m
easu
res
to re
duce
pla
stic
use
, tak
ing
resp
onsi
bilit
y of
the
issu
e. T
he c
ompa
nies
are
com
mitt
ed to
taki
ng m
easu
res
to c
ut p
last
ic u
se w
ithin
the
stip
ulat
ed ti
me
fram
es th
ey s
et,
star
ting
with
the
rem
oval
of u
nnec
essa
ry p
last
ics
from
thei
r op
erat
ions
. Fou
r maj
or s
uper
mar
ket c
hain
s w
ill be
wor
king
w
ith th
e Si
ngap
ore
Envi
ronm
ent C
ounc
il (S
EC) a
nd D
BS
Bank
to
enco
urag
e cu
stom
ers
to t
ake
few
er s
ingl
e-us
e pl
astic
bag
s an
d op
t for
reus
able
bag
s in
stea
d.Th
e Si
ngap
ore
gove
rnm
ent a
ckno
wle
dges
the
prob
lem
of
plas
tic a
nd h
as s
et a
side
reso
urce
s fo
r rel
evan
t res
earc
h to
tac
kle
it. S
inga
pore
is
at t
he f
oref
ront
of
scie
ntifi
c re
sear
ch,
whi
ch m
ay i
nvol
ve f
indi
ng b
ette
r m
ater
ials
, im
prov
ing
was
te m
anag
emen
t or
rem
ovin
g pl
astic
s fro
m
natu
re.
The
gove
rnm
ent
offe
rs
rese
arch
gr
ants
fo
r co
mpa
nies
an
d or
gani
satio
ns
to
deve
lop
sust
aina
ble
was
te m
anag
emen
t te
chno
logi
es,
and
has
plan
ned
to
mak
e it
man
dato
ry f
or l
arge
gen
erat
ors
of p
acka
ging
w
aste
to re
port
the
type
s an
d qu
antit
ies
they
use
and
thei
r re
duct
ion
plan
s by
202
1.
Issu
e 4:
Th
e pl
astic
ind
ustr
y is
mak
ing
exag
gera
ted
clai
ms
abou
t th
e po
tent
ial
of
recy
clin
g th
eir
prod
ucts
.
‘The
pro
blem
with
thes
e ro
sy c
laim
s w
as th
at p
last
ic is
one
of t
he w
orst
m
ater
ials
for r
ecyc
ling.
’ (lin
e 74
)
‘Eac
h st
age
is e
ssen
tially
a o
ne-w
ay
ratc
het
tow
ards
la
ndfil
l or
th
e oc
ean.
’ (lin
es 7
9-80
)
Are
the
recy
clin
g ef
forts
in S
inga
pore
tru
ly e
ffect
ive?
Wha
t hap
pens
to a
ll th
e pl
astic
in
Sing
apor
e?
MEW
R,
as p
art
of Z
ero
Was
te S
G,
prop
osed
a c
ircul
ar
econ
omy
appr
oach
whe
re th
ey la
unch
ed re
sear
ch fo
r the
su
stai
nabl
e de
sign
for
pla
stic
mat
eria
ls,
with
the
aim
of
allo
win
g pl
astic
s to
be
mor
e re
usab
le a
nd e
asie
r to
re
cycl
e. A
t thi
s po
int,
it is
stil
l not
kno
wn
if th
is a
ppro
ach
has
been
ef
fect
ive
or
feas
ible
in
bu
sine
sses
an
d co
rpor
atio
ns.
In
an
effo
rt to
go
gr
een,
Br
eadT
alk
intro
duce
d bi
odeg
rada
ble
bags
. How
ever
, as
ther
e ar
e m
any
varie
ties
of b
iode
grad
able
pla
stic
, so
me
only
deg
rade
at
high
er
tem
pera
ture
s,
and
whe
n th
ey
do,
form
m
icro
plas
tic
parti
cles
that
are
har
mfu
l to
the
ocea
ns.
Sing
apor
e is
at
th
e fo
refro
nt
of
rese
arch
in
to
new
te
chno
logi
es t
o re
cycl
e pl
astic
s. A
tea
m o
f re
sear
cher
s fro
m
the
Nat
iona
l U
nive
rsity
of
Si
ngap
ore
and
the
Sing
apor
e In
stitu
te o
f M
anuf
actu
ring
Tech
nolo
gy h
ave
conv
erte
d po
lyet
hyle
ne te
reph
thal
ate
(PET
) bot
tles
into
a
high
ly i
nsul
atin
g an
d ab
sorb
ent
mat
eria
l cal
led
aero
gel,
that
tur
ns t
he p
last
ic w
aste
tha
t en
ds u
p in
oce
ans
and
land
fills
into
a li
fe-s
avin
g m
ater
ial,
say,
for
mak
ing
chea
p fir
e-re
sist
ant j
acke
ts fo
r al
l peo
ple.
The
y ar
e m
akin
g tru
e th
e cl
aim
that
cer
tain
pla
stic
s ca
n in
deed
be
recy
cled
and
pu
t to
othe
r use
.
t (M pub
coooooooons
cshshshshshsh
owre
maaaaaak
ikikikikikkkkikkkikikikikikkngnngnngnngngngngngnggggnggngg
t
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heeeeeiriririririr
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rerereeeecycycycycycycy
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