Since 2020, Watsons Singapore and WWF-Singapore have built a long-standing partnership focused on advancing sustainability and nature conservation. As a key partner of WWF’s PACT (Plastic ACTion) initiative, Watsons Singapore launched its “Bring Your Own Bag” (BYOB) programme in 2020 to address the growing challenge of plastic pollution. Under this initiative, Watsons Singapore introduced a nominal charge for plastic bags every Tuesday, with all proceeds directed to WWF-Singapore to support conservation programmes and efforts to reduce plastic leakage into nature.
Encouraged by the programme’s impact, Watsons Singapore expanded BYOB in 2021 to three days a week (Monday–Wednesday) and, since 2023, has implemented it daily across all its stores. Beyond the bag charge, Watsons also promotes the use of reusable bags and has introduced plastic bags with recycled content, reflecting its broader commitment to reducing single-use plastics and encouraging sustainable consumer habits.
Through this partnership, Watsons Singapore not only helps fund WWF-Singapore’s initiatives but also demonstrates leadership in retail sustainability by integrating practical solutions that drive lasting behavioral change among its customers.
Beyond its efforts to reduce plastics, Watsons Singapore has also supported WWF-Singapore’s biodiversity awareness initiatives. In 2022, the company participated as one of the Sculpture Sponsors for the AR-mazing Tiger Trail, funding life-sized tiger sculptures to support interventions aimed at protecting tigers and accelerating their population recovery across priority landscapes in Southeast Asia where wild tigers persist. This initiative highlights the plight of the endangered Malayan tiger and raises public awareness of wildlife trafficking and habitat loss, ultimately benefiting wildlife, nature, and local communities.
The partnership also extends to WWF-Singapore’s flagship Earth Hour events, with Watsons Singapore serving as a Lead Partner in 2024 and 2025. As part of the Earth Hour Festival, Watsons Singapore has supported a range of activities, including educational booths, sustainable product showcase, bottle-recycling campaigns with product giveaways, and public engagement initiatives encouraging pledges of time toward climate-positive actions through WWF’s “Hour Bank” programme. Through these multifaceted efforts, Watsons Singapore underscores its strong commitment to sustainability, actively supporting WWF-Singapore’s mission to build a nature-positive future while engaging employees and the wider community in meaningful environmental action.
Watsons Singapore employees have also actively participated in a series of hands-on environmental activities designed to foster corporate responsibility and strengthen the organization’s internal sustainability culture. These activities included a Kallang River kayaking clean-up, where employees collected litter from the waterway while learning about the impacts of marine debris; a Solar Light Challenge workshop, which highlighted the importance of mitigating climate change and the real-world applications of renewable energy; a cycling clean-up around Marina Reservoir, combining fitness with environmental stewardship; and a microgreen planting workshop introducing participants to sustainable urban farming practices. Collectively, these initiatives provided experiential learning opportunities, reinforced Watsons’ broader sustainability goals, and supported WWF-Singapore’s mission to protect the environment.
If you’re interested in exploring a similar partnership with WWF, contact:
Mayj C. Tolentino
Director of Growth and Partnerships
E-mail: mtolentino@wwf.sg
