Knowledge Enterprise Online

Creating a 'reusable lunchbox' culture in NUS

- Jeremy Sor, 4th year Communications and New Media student


FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Arts canteen food stall vendor patiently explains the working process of Project Box to student Mugant Mehanathan. STUDENT ENVIRONMENTALISTS from NUS have launched yet another green initiative to fight climate change. Aptly named Project Box, this new initiative by Students Against Violation of the Earth (SAVE), a student environmental body under the NUS Students Union, seeks to promote a culture of using reusable boxes instead of disposable plastic packaging for take-away food at canteens around campus.

"A conservative estimate of disposable plastic boxes used in 80 per cent of NUS' food stalls is about 31,000 per month," said Wei Tao, project director of Project Box. "We hope to reduce the consumption of plastic boxes in all five canteens by 20 per cent by year-end."

Targeted at the entire campus community, Project Box rewards participants directly through the use of a redemption card where they can accumulate stickers every time they take away their food in a reusable box. These reusable boxes are sold at selected food stalls for $2. Every food purchase with a minimum value of $1.50 entitles the participant to a sticker. "Participants can either redeem a free dispensed drink for five stickers at the participating drinks stalls or enjoy a $2 discount off their food purchase when they have accumulated 10 stickers," explained Wei Tao.

The response towards Project Box has been encouraging. Mugant Mehanathan, a final-year political science student, was one "green" enthusiast who participated in the initiative. "I did not know about this initiative until the vegetarian stall vendor at the Arts canteen explained it to me," he said. "It is very heartening to know that the vendors themselves are so passionate about this initiative."

Lasting until 31 May, Project Box is an extension of the ongoing Rebate 2Earth project that advocates the reduction of plastic bag consumption in NUS. The initiative is also supported by the University's Office of Environmental Sustainability and Office of Estate and Development.

NUS celebrates Earth Hour

SYMBOLIC GESTURE: "Love N-U-S" in candlelight.


LIGHTS ON AND OFF: University Hall in support of Earth Hour. SOME 200 students and staff came together on 28 March 2009 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm to celebrate NUS' inaugural Earth Hour. A global green campaign organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature to raise awareness on global warming, Earth Hour encourages individuals, homes and businesses to switch off their lights for an hour to signify voting against global warming.

As lights dimmed across campus, students from Students Against Violation of the Earth (SAVE), an environmental body under the NUS Students Union, used candles to form the alphabets 'N', 'U' and 'S' at the football field. This symbolic gesture sought to convey their sense of belonging to NUS and their readiness to further champion the environmental cause on campus.

Over 20 offices, faculties and halls of residence participated in Earth Hour, which was jointly organised by SAVE, Office of Estate and Development (OED) and Office of Environmental Sustainability (OES).

Beyond Earth Hour, OES and OED are working to develop a campus energy masterplan to cut down the University's energy usage and improve energy efficiency which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.