FOOD & BEVERAGES
THE ISSUE
Photo from: DeliHub
Ngee Ann Polytechnic provides Food and Beverages (F&B), during their mass campus events, such as bento boxes and packet drinks for the participants.
Photo from: Yeo's
From our Community Mapping, we found that there are a lot of food being wasted, both unconsumed and leftovers. These food waste , as well as the food packaging and utensils, were not disposed properly as well.
Did you know?
According to Towards Zero Waste SG (2020), food waste is one of the biggest waste streams in Singapore. In 2019, 744 million kg of food waste was generated (National Environment Agency [NEA], 2020) and it is equivalent to the weight of more than 52,000 double decker buses!
> 52,000
Over the last 10 years, the food waste in Singapore has grown by around 20% and is expected to increase with the growing population and economic activity (NEA, 2020).
Not only that, 1/3 of the 1.6 million tonnes of domestic waste disposed of in 2018 is made up of packaging (Towards Zero Waste SG, 2020). More than half of the packaging is made of plastic and only 4% of the plastic is recycled (Towards Zero Waste SG, 2020).
4%
96%
Importance of Zero Wastage:
Singapore is a small country and we import 90% of the food supply from other countries (Towards Zero Waste SG). When food is being wasted, more food need to be sourced to meet the food demands in Singapore and this affects our food security (Towards Zero Waste SG).
Pulau Semakau is the only landfill in Singapore. With the significant amount of solid waste generated including food waste, Ministry of the Environment and Water resources stated that the landfill is expected to run out of space by 2035 (as cited by Singapore Environment Council [SEC], 2019, p.11) which is not sustainable to land-scarce Singapore (Towards Zero Waste SG, 2020).
The production and consumption of food and beverages generate 19-29% of global greenhouse emission gases (Cimini & Moresi, 2019) and this increases our carbon footprint. Consequently, it contributes to global warming and climate change in Singapore (Towards Zero Waste SG, 2020).
Importance of Proper Disposal of Packaging:
Packaging such as containers, plastic cups from our consumed F&B are contaminated with food. Thus, these packaging cannot be recycled and it contributes to the production of waste (Towards Zero Waste SG, 2020).
As mentioned previously, Pulau Semakau landfill will be running out of space by 2035. When the packaging of our consumed F&B are not disposed of in the right way, it contributes to the solid waste in Pulau Semakau as a packaging waste (Towards Zero Waste SG, 2020).
During the incineration stage of the waste management process, the burning of plastic disposables for our F&B results in the emission of greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide and Methane, and toxic compounds. This contributes to carbon footprint which leads to climate change and global warming (SEC, 2019).
OUR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
As a campus event organiser, you can play your part in managing the solid waste in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. To support your efforts and help you better plan your event, here are our proposed sustainable solutions that you can adopt in your event:
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We have provided a list of affordable and environmentally friendly caterers that you can choose from.
Please refer to Annex A
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We have provided measures to guide you on the separation of waste and collection.
Please refer to Annex B
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We have provided the necessary steps to encourage participants to bring their own cutleries so that we can reduce our carbon footprint from food wares.
Please refer to Annex C
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You can propose to the school to apply for Tetra Pak recycling programme for schools.
Please refer to Annex D
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You can have a platform to notify students of unconsumed food through social media accounts.
Please refer to Annex E
These sustainable ideas are ranked according to importance with 1 being the top priority.
MEASURE OF SUCCESS
Annexes
Annex A
List of affordable and environmentally friendly caterers
1. Deli Hub Catering ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1/5 (Based on Google reviews)
✅ Halal-Certified
✅ Healthier Choice
✅ Provides biodegradable food wares (No additional
charge unless extra cutleries are needed)
✅ Affordable price
✅ Food Taste
Contact: 6515 0020
For more info: https://www.delihub.com.sg/home/
Photo: Deli Hub Catering Facebook Page
Costs: Starting from $2.68 w GST per bento set
Reviews:
“Ordered for my daughter's 100 days celebration, great experience! Food was really delicious, salesperson was really attentive and friendly, delivery guy was all smiles and very polite as he set up the buffet. Awesome job Deli Hub!”
-Jasper T
“Ordered from Deli Hub for my lunch gathering with my colleagues last week and my experience was great. The delivery was punctual and service staffs were very friendly. Foodwise, everything was served warm and ready-to-eat. Highly-recommended!!!”
-Hui Xuan
2. Continental Delight ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.3/5 (Based on Google reviews)
✅ Halal-Certified
✅ Provides biodegradable food wares
✅ Last-minute catering
✅ Affordable price
✅ Food Taste
Contact: 6665 0222
For more info:
Photo: Continental Delight Facebook Page
Costs: $3 per bento set / $1 per pax for biodegradable wares
Reviews:
“Food was well-received by the students and we would like to thank you for providing such quality food service.”
-Aisha Lin, Tea Reception at Nanyang Technological University
"Excellent promptness and overall food. Good value-for-money."
-Lyna Rahmat, Conference Meeting Baker Hughes Singapore Pte Ltd
3. Elsie’s Kitchen ⭐⭐⭐ 3.7/5 (Based on Google reviews)
✅ Halal-Certified
✅ Provides biodegradable food wares
✅ Last-minute catering
✅ Affordable price
✅ Food Taste
Contact: 6288 4457 / 9655 6124
For more info: https://www.elsiekitchen.com.sg
Photo: Elsie’s Kitchen Facebook Page
Costs: $3.21 w GST per bento set of 3 courses /
$3.75 w GST per bento set of 4 courses /
$1.07 w GST per pax for biodegradable wares
Reviews:
“Compliments to Elsie's Kitchen for delivery food on time, and also I got alot of comments from my guests, that they really loved the food they eaten. The mains were filling, and the dishes were all scrumptious and delicious. I really loved the desserts. And I have recommend all of them to try Elsie's should they organise any events. I am really satisfied with the service delivery and also the food spread today. Thank you so much for gracing our birthday event. It definitely brought great smiles to us!!”
-Muhammad Nizam
“The food today is well received and our senior team loves it v much. We also like to commend the 2 guys whom helped to set up the buffet line...we made special request for them to be very quiet in the setup as the food place is within the training room. Kudos to these 2 guys, their set up was very smooth and super quiet...amazing! Overall dining experience was great today for the management.”
-Esther, OCBC bank
Photo: Eatz Catering Facebook Page
Cost: Starting from $4.50 per bento set / For bento orders received after 6pm, or Saturday after 1pm or Sunday/Public Holiday - for next day: additional $15 / Transport charges are $30 for regular days, and $35 for a public holiday or the eve of a public holiday (after 2:00 p.m.) / For buffets order on the day itself: additional $25
Reviews:
“My guests were impressed with the quality and tasteful dishes of the lunch buffet. Both lunch and tea reception set up was very elegant and beautiful. My hubby and I were extremely satisfied with the prompt, professional, helpful and friendly service displayed by Sales consultant Roy, the set-up crew, and pick up team. Eatz Catering was an contributing factor towards a successful housewarming. I have recommended Eatz to some guests and I will certainly be a returning customer! Thank you Eatz!!”
-Penny Koh
“Ever since we found Eatz Catering's services online, we have been their faithful client! From our wedding lunch buffet, to our son's first month buffet, to our housewarming buffet, to our daughter's first month buffet, Eatz Catering has been our top choice. The food is good, pricing reasonable and decorations (floral) look really nice and professional. But we are most pleased with the service they provide as they try to meet our every need.”
-Sidney Lin
4. Eatz Catering Services Pte Ltd ⭐⭐⭐3.6/5 (Based on Google reviews)
✅ Halal-Certified
✅ Provides biodegradable food wares
✅ Last-minute buffet catering
✅ Food Taste
Contact: 6789 0328 / 9188 3336
For more info: https://www.eatzcatering.com/
5. KCK Food ⭐⭐⭐ 3.3/5 (Based on Google reviews)
✅ Halal-Certified
✅ Provides healthier choices of food
✅ Provides eco-friendly food wares
✅ Food Taste
✅ Prompt service
Contact: 6443 5723 / 6449 3278
For more info: http://www.kckfood.com/
Photo: KCK Food Facebook Page
Costs: $6.50 per bento set
Reviews:
“Thank you for your prompt service today.My colleague enjoyed the food very much..”
-Ms Jerena of Dunman High School
“Thank you for the wonderful food and service today.Received amazing feedback from the participants about the food. We will definitely order from your catering in the near future.”
-Ms Haini of SGC Pte Ltd
Annex B
Measures on the separation of waste and collection
After you have finished the food,
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Remove the leftover consumed food from the bento box/container (Apply to all eaters)
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Rinse the bento box/container to ensure that there is no food left in the bento box / container (Apply to all eaters)
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Allocate different plastic bags to separate the leftover consumed food and the bento box / container respectively (Apply to the person in-charge)
E.g Black plastic bag: Leftover consumed food
Blue plastic bag: Bento box / container
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Allocate manpower to ensure participants adhere to the separation of food waste and bento box/container (Apply to the person in-charge)
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Dispose the separated leftover consumed food into general bin
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Dispose the separated bento boxes/containers into the recycling bin
Annex C
Steps to encourage participants to bring their own cutleries
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Alert the participants to bring their own cutleries beforehand through email, text message and social media such as Instagram
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Promote the benefits of bringing own cutleries through social media such as Instagram
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Provide incentives for participants who bring their own cutleries
E.g Participants will be given a pair of free socks
Annex D
Propose to the school to apply for Tetra Pak recycling programme
How will it be done?
It collects used Beverage Cartons (UBCs) from drinks consumption by students and staff in school, or from consumption at home (Tetra Pak, n.d.).
Tetra Pak will provide one special recycling bin for this programme. It will label the trash bag indicating collection for "Drink Packets" and place the trash bag at your school's recycling collection point (Tetra Pak, n.d.).
It is essential to ensure that only UBCs are disposed of in the trash bag. The Public Waste Collector (PWC) assigned to your school will collect the UBCs from the collection point (where all other recyclables are consolidated). The PWC will weigh the UBCs after collection and will send a monthly report to NEA and Tetra Pak. Schools can request for a collection report when necessary (Tetra Pak, n.d.).
1. Each participating school can request for one session of (subject to availability of the requested date and time)
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Recycling talk/Upcycling workshop (Tetra Pak, n.d.).
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One sponsored recycling bin for UBCs (Tetra Pak, n.d.).
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Free loan and delivery of recycling exhibits for special events (Tetra Pak, n.d.).
Why Tetra Pak Recycling Programme?
2. Provides the infrastructure to enable school community to practise the good habit of recycling (Tetra Pak, n.d.).3. Make aware the benefits of it to the next generation through school recycling activities at educational institutions (Tetra Pak, n.d.).
What is Tetra Pak Recycling Programme?
Annex E
Platform to notify students of unconsumed food through social media accounts
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Coordinate with the owner of Ngee Ann Official Instagram account to alert the students/staffs of the unconsumed food
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Make a new Instagram/Telegram account to alert the students/staffs of the unconsumed food and subsequent person in-charge will take over the account
Click me to view / download the above information in PDF !