Straws Begone: NP Becomes Environmentally-Friendly
Ngee Ann Polytechnic has joined in the cause to save the environment, starting with bringing awareness to the students with its own student-led campaign
By Winny Wint Htae
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The student-led initiative, ‘NP Goes Eco’ aims to bring awareness of the environmental conservation to students and staff
With more global movements urging for people to be environmentally conscious, franchises such as KFC and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) have taken the first step and stopped providing plastic straws. Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) has joined in the cause to save the environment.
Their first change implemented to encourage students to be environmentally conscious is prohibiting plastic straws from their drink stalls in food courts, the employees have also been reminded to not provide students with plastic straws.
However, a student-led initiative has come about make bigger changes in both the school. Ms Elizabeth Pang, a staff at the NP Office of Service-Learning (OSL), said that NP Goes Eco aims to “create awareness of environmental issues and encourage the campus to do their bit to minimize damage that [we] are causing to their environment”.
According to Ocean Crusaders, there are currently an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean, of which 269000 tons float on the surface and 4 billion plastic microfibers cover each square kilometer in the deep sea.
These plastic debris have a negative impact on wildlife. They can be entangled in plastic debris which has affected 344 species, including all sea turtle species.
Ingestion has also affected 233 species of marine animals including seals and whales. Plastic has also been found in 90 percent of all seabirds and sea turtle species.
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NP Goes Eco created awareness of environmental issues by placing cages full of plastic waste near their booth. Bartrisyia Farzana, 18, said it was “interesting” and why she participated in the campaign.
It has encouraged students to take a pledge to use less plastic in their daily life. Ms Ellie said that it was made for students and staff “to reflect on their plastic use on a regular basis”.
The campaign held a giveaway for metal straws to encourage students to stop using plastic straws. Ms Ellie added that they gave out “metal straws as a way for [students] to help them start their eco-friendly lifestyle by replacing that single-use plastic straw that we have been taking for granted”.
The campaign proved itself effective as Lee Yu Xian Natasha, 18, won a metal straw and commented that she “started using it regularly” and continuous use of it served as a “reminder” for her to be environmentally conscious.
NP Goes Eco also invited Reprovisions, a bulk foods store, for a pop-up booth. Reprovisions encourages customers to bring their own bags or containers to the store and payment is made according to the weight of the purchase. Students could learn how to shop plastic-free from the booth.
Re-provisions pop-up booth at NP Goes Eco, showing students their bulk food concept.
Students can also go eco-friendly on campus. Ms Ellie listed out some ways such as “reducing our reliance on single-use plastics” and being mindful of “how we deal with the trash we create”. According to National Environment Agency, recycling recyclable trash is a big contribution to saving the environment by preventing waste generation.
NP Goes Eco has proved to be effective in its purpose to encourage students to be eco-friendly on campus as it met its target to reach out to 1000 people as the campaign received 1120 pledges at the end of the last day.
A student learning how to pledge to use less plastic at the NP Goes Eco booth
Ms Ellie said that they are continuing to “[monitor] the straws and lids consumption at the canteens” and they have also seen “more students drinking without plastic straws on campus” since the campaign started.