Firms pledge packaging waste-reduction efforts

Cheng Wong

More than 100 companies have signed a Packaging Reduction Charter that aims to encourage reduction of packaging, despite difficulties in enforcing a unified packaging standard, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said.

Tse posted in his blog yesterday that the diverse purposes, forms, and packaging materials on the market make it difficult to unify through legislation.

"Enforcing packaging standards would only create challenges for various industries," Tse said.

He shared that the Environment and Ecology Bureau plans to first provide guidelines for reducing packaging - as outlined in the Charter released on March 31 - in certain sectors, encouraging them to minimize packaging and thereby gain experience for future reductions.

Tse noted that 102 local and multinational companies have signed the Charter committing to packaging reduction, including supermarkets, logistics, hotels and tourism, electronics, and beverage manufacturing.

Companies and organizations that sign the Charter commit to submitting their total packaging material usage to the Bureau annually, taking measures to reduce packaging or adopt sustainable packaging solutions, and encouraging suppliers, business partners, and customers to minimize packaging materials and improve packaging management.

He said this is just the beginning, and that the Bureau's team will continue to engage with businesses across various sectors to encourage their participation in the Charter and collectively promote the reduction of packaging waste.

He also said the general public can retain and reuse packaging materials.

"Consumers can also choose more refillable products, such as refillable personal care and skincare products. This not only reduces packaging waste but also helps save money."

Tse said the government is actively promoting waste reduction at the source and expanding the recycling network.

The average daily disposal of municipal solid waste has decreased for three consecutive years since 2021, from 11,358 tonnes per day in 2021 to 10,510 tonnes last year.

Green@Community received some 41,800 tonnes of recyclables last year, an increase of nearly 60 percent compared to 2023.

cheng.wong@singtaonewscorp.com