Over 300 million tonnes of plastics is produced every year, increased 20 times since 1950, and is projected to triple by 2050. Plastic is widely used, versatile and convenient, a great tool to transport products in, keeping goods safe for consumption, among other things. The problem is not with plastics, but how plastic is being used.

Currently, only 4% of all plastics in Singapore are recycled. This means that most plastics are incinerated after a single-use, losing 95% of their material value. It contributes to pollution, as incineration and even recycling processes emit greenhouse gases. In addition, poor waste management leads to plastic pollution in the environment. Every year, around 11 million tonnes of plastics leak into the oceans, where it breaks down into microplastics that linger in the waters for hundreds of years, affecting the ecosystems and wildlife. Over 50% of turtles live with plastic in their digestive tract, limiting their ability to swim, hunt for food and avoid threats.

A study conducted by University of NewCastle in 2019 found on average that people could be ingesting approximately 5 grams of plastic every week, which is the equivalent weight of a credit card. Aside from creating health issues, it impacts negatively on the economy too. Plastic waste that washes up on our beaches creates an unpleasant sight on top of safety risks. Cleaning it up, along with tourism losses, costs the Asia-Pacific region USD 622 million every year.

Sentosa Development Corporation and WWF-Singapore have embarked on a project to develop a playbook to outline best practices for hotels, attractions and the F&B industryin Sentosa with the aim of reducing the use of disposables.