Ecopoint works with professionals from around the region, locals and expats, to build bridges and identify new opportunities. This site is here to help you cut across social and cultural boundaries, and progress your new green deal. It’s about forming a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural “virtual” team of some of the best minds in the space. Find the right firm to get things done; locate the right technology for the job.

Start browsing the Ecopoint Business Directory today, or add your business to the database.

From CNA:

SINGAPORE: Singapore companies are still behind when it comes to corporate sustainability reporting. Less than nine per cent of listed companies here conduct such sustainability reporting. This is according to a report by Singapore Compact and despite SGX launching guidelines to spur companies on in June. And to improve on this, industry watchers said that perhaps such reporting standards should be made compulsory in the region.

Reporting water and energy usage for your company will not only help track and streamline business but it also attracts investors. Industry watchers noted that socially responsible investments in the US increased by 13 per cent between 2007 and 2010 to US$3 trillion. Yet, this accounts for just 12 per cent of assets under management in the US.

Jennifer Morris, Executive VP of the Ecosystems Finance & Markets Unit at Conservation International, said: “I think that we are seeing that the trends, even during a downturn in our economy, are increasing. We have really seen in the last three years, an increase in socially responsible investing and certainly in Asia we expect those trends to continue as well.” But for companies to tap into this growing market of investors, analysts said that credible sustainable reporting is needed.

Earlier this year the Singapore Exchange launched a Sustainable Reporting Guide for listed companies. This included recommendations for companies in the pursuit of sustainable reporting. Some analysts said that a regional compulsory system on sustainable reporting should be considered to provide consumers and investors with greater assurance of the credibility of such reports. For many corporations in Singapore, following the path to sustainable reporting is still a gradual one.

Sharad Somani, Partner and Head of Climate & Sustainability at KPMG Singapore, said: “I think most companies are mindful that it should not be increasing the cost base, that they should continue to be competitive. So the first challenge they have is to convince their own management of the utility of all this and how it fits into the big picture.

“The first step we are seeing companies starting to do is their sustainability strategy. The second step is when they go into reporting, it is important what you report is credible and is checked properly. So increasingly, we are seeing companies wanting to report first. So they are getting the management in and then start to report factors which are important first internally, and then reporting to the market.”

And according to recent findings by KPMG, corporations are well on their way to charting sustainable road maps – with a recent study finding that 62 per cent of companies surveyed globally have a strategy for corporate sustainability.

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My opinion: Let’s move away from the fact that SGX has released their guidelines, and not treat sustainability reporting as a compliance issue. Instead, we should celebrate the leadership of the 9% of companies in Singapore that already report on sustainability, and think about why they’re doing it in spite of the obvious resistance to such ideas in our market.

I’ll bet that they have several good reasons.

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Instep Carbon & Sustainability Programme Brochure

Mr S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, launches the International Singapore Compact CSR Summit 2011 today, against a backdrop of CSR gaining momentum in Singapore.

Singapore Compact for CSR, the national organisation charged with promoting CSR, has reported a 60% increase in the number of members over the past two years, with 160 new members since May 2009. This is the fastest growth experienced since the body was set up in 2005, reflecting an increase in CSR awareness. Its membership now stands at 366.

The spurt in growth is directly attributable to the greater awareness and the intensified efforts by Singapore Compact to push the CSR message island-wide. This will be further impetus for the body to increase its resources and strengthen its services and training programmes.

The adoption of the CSR movement is also evidenced by the fact that more than 70 companies now provide a sustainability report in some form or other. Three years ago, there were no such reports.

Additionally, 16 more companies have signed up as signatories to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) network in Singapore. The UNGC incorporates 10 principles covering human rights, labour standards, environment and anti-corruption. Singapore Compact is serving as the Secretariat for the ASEAN CSR Network – a network of CSR Networks in ASEAN.

Said Singapore Compact’s President, Ms Olivia Lum: “I have been glad to see quite a number of steps on a broader scale towards sustainability. The Singapore Stock Exchange launched its Guide to Sustainability Reporting for Listed Companies at the end of June. This was a significant step in encouraging public-owned companies to look at business strategies and risk management in a more holistic way.

“The Code of Corporate Governance has also been relooked at, with an eye to better transparency and governance of businesses.”

CSR is essentially about businesses doing well and doing good by working together with stakeholders. It means working with a social conscience, while running a profitable business.

Singapore Compact was set up by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) in 2005 to encourage the take-up of CSR by business organisations. It is the focal point for the United Nations Global Compact Network in Singapore and serves as the Secretariat for the ASEAN CSR Network.

Said Mr Thomas Thomas, Executive Director of Singapore Compact: “The pressures of the global trends lately have been building up, and we will need to be innovative and efficient in order to succeed further in our quest to promote and promulgate the acceptance of CSR in Singapore.”

Focus on youth

Singapore Compact recently announced that it will centre on youth to lay down a CSR foundation for the future. This includes:

1. Youth outreach and involvement
2. Student chapters with ideas and events driven by students
   • Workshops and seminars for students e.g. for final year Water and Environment students at SP
   • Partnerships with tertiary bodies e.g. SMa Institute of Higher Learning-Murdoch University, Temasek Polytechnic
   • Already has CSR chapters in NUS, Singapore Management University, SMa Institute of Higher Learning- Murdoch University and Temasek Poly
   • Make frequent presentations to universities and polytechnics
   • Has been inviting students to attend the CSR summit over the last three years

In line with this focus, it has together with partner and local CSR champion City Developments Limited, launched a new initiative, the CDL-Singapore Compact Young CSR Leaders Award.  This involves tertiary students working with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to help analyse and implement CSR programmes and practices among these businesses. Singapore Compact’s existing CSR awards introduced in 2010 are for business organisations.

This joint initiative is aimed at promoting CSR to young people as well as encouraging and engaging SMEs to practice CSR. In this inaugural Award, 27 teams from tertiary institutions were assigned to 10 SMEs to propose CSR initiatives to them.

The top three teams will receive their prizes from Guest-of-Honour Mr Iswaran at the summit to be held on 5-6 September at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

The  three winning teams are:

1. First: “Team Precise Consultancy” from SMa Institute of Higher Learning-Murdoch University, which worked with ADDP Architects.
   Team members: Kimberly Yap, Rosemary Lee, Sandhu Jespreet Kaur, Shyanne Wang
   Prize: $5,000
2. Second: “The Changemakers” from Singapore Management University (SMU), which worked with Siloso Beach Resort.
   Team members: Bernice Ong, Teo Baona, Joseph Choy, Regina Heng, Wee ZhenYi, Pearlyn Loh
   Prize: $3,000
3. Third: “Team NUS” from National University of Singapore (NUS), which worked with Mainguard Security Services & Mainguard International.
   Team members: Kwek Yi Jun, Fabian Chua, Macey Tan, Benedict Yeo
   Prize: $2,000

The remaining seven companies involved are Ispahan Group, Fabulous Printers, Origin Exterminators, Unison Construction, Wavelink Travel, The Sukha House, and KPK Quantity Surveyors.

Mr Thomas said its programme for youth will also include working with student bodies in tertiary institutions to expose students to CSR. Several student chapters have already been launched over the past year, including SMa Institute of Higher Learning-Murdoch University and Temasek Polytechnic.  The National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University chapters were established earlier.

It will also organise more workshops and seminars for members as well as for tertiary students.

Singapore Compact CSR awards for companies

The Singapore Compact CSR Awards were launched last year to recognize outstanding achievements in how companies behave towards the environment, the local community and their people.

Having received a tremendous response in 2010, the awards opened for submission again this year in April, and closed early in July after receiving 49 entries across 4 categories: Best Workplace Award, Community Developer Award, Caring Employer Award, and Green Champion Award.

The Awards drew submissions from a range of organisations, including private corporations, social enterprises and co-operatives. In addition to the Award winners from each category, 2 organisations received Special Mentions for their commitment to CSR.

The following are the winners:

Community Developer:           Citi Singapore

Caring Employer:                    KFC Management

Green Champion:                   Samwoh Corporation

Best Workplace:                     Maybank Singapore

Two Special Mention Awards will be given to Adrenalin Events and Education and Mirage Landscape Design & Contract.

Winning companies will receive their awards at the International Singapore Compact CSR Summit 2011 to be held on 5-6 September at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

CSR programme to be ramped up

Elaborating on the ramped-up CSR programme, Mr Thomas said the focus is to raise awareness, recruit new members and build capacity.

“We are also taking steps to add value to membership,” he added. “The Singapore Compact website has been revamped and more resource materials added. The aim is to make it a one-stop centre where members can ask questions and raise issues so they can share the CSR journey. Since the revamp, the website has been getting more hits.”

The website includes updates, articles and interviews by partners and members of Singapore Compact’s consultants’ network. It has both resources to raise general awareness of public and exclusive resources for members specifically. A blog has also been created. In due course, it will have an interactive area for members to exchange ideas.

Since January, a monthly e-newsletter has been sent out to update members on developments and upcoming trends. Singapore Compact will tap on expert consultants in various fields of CSR to provide more advice and assistance over the years as Singapore’s CSR capability grows.

The Summit

The International Singapore Compact CSR Summit 2011 is being held for the third time.  There will be two keynote speeches, one by Dr Wayne Visser, Founder and Director of the think-tank CSR International.

Dr Visser will speak on “Sustainability, Next Mega Trend: How True? How to Respond?”

Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, and Visiting Professor of Sustainability at Magna Carta College, Oxford, he is also the author/editor of 12 books, nine on the role of business in society.

The second keynote speaker will be Dr Fons Trompenaars, Director, Trompenaars Hampden-Turner of the Netherlands.  He will speak on CSR – Sustaining Values for Success.

Fons Trompenaars is a Dutch author and consultant in the field of cross-cultural communication.  His books include: Riding the Waves of Culture, Seven Cultures of Capitalism, Building Cross-Cultural Competence, 21 Leaders for the 21st Century and Innovating in a Global Crisis. Trompenaars experienced cultural differences firsthand at home, where he grew up speaking both French and Dutch, and then later at work with Shell in nine countries.

Other subjects to be discussed at the summit will cover investor relations, sustainability reporting, CSR and supply chain management and role of media in CSR.

Wings Of A Pig is our very own upcycled fashion label, designed and made lovingly by Jane Tan, our awesome retail manager. The label was recently featured on I-S Magazine. Here’s an excerpt from the write up:

Inspired by the ebb and flow of everyday life and serenity of nature, local designer Jane Tan channels her energy and time towards designing nifty bags and accessories made from upcycled materials, hemp and organic cotton yarn. For over a year now, she’s been turning to thrift stores and friends for vintage odds and ends, giving these scraps a new lease of life with her artistic customizations.

View the whole range at CHOOSE.

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Idocare is our new range of (made in Singapore) plant based cleaning products. These ones have been flying off the shelves because of it’s great environmental credentials and low price point (only $4.50).

Balanced PH and natural ingredients make it safer for your family. It’s gentle on your hands yet effective – It’s 5x Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid effectively cuts through the toughest grease. It’s one of those products where all I need to tell you is that It Just Works. (BTW: We all use it at home!)

Currently available in Dishwashing Liquid and Laundry Powder.

Check it out on CHOOSE.

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Madana Yoga is a home grown Singaporean yoga brand founded by Theresa Shan.

Theresa felt that there was a gap in the market for good quality, grippy, nature friendly, colorful and reasonably priced yoga mats. So she decided to fill this gap by creating her own yoga brand that meets all those requirements, thus Madana Yoga was born.

View the whole range at CHOOSE.

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Carbon & Sustainability Programmes

Our Sustainability Services Arm, ACT. is the licencee for Instep Carbon & Sustainability Programmes in South East Asia.

The Instep program is a science based carbon accounting, monitoring and certification process for organisations. We provide tools and resources that help organisations measure, manage, mitigate and report their greenhouse gas emissions with credibility and integrity.

Sustainability management and reporting is fast becoming a major concern in the private sector, and we’ll be ramping up efforts in distributing these services in the next few months. Help us spread the word!

More information on our blog,

Instep Carbon & Sustainability Programme Brochure
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Eco Music Challenge

The Eco Music Challenge concluded with last week’s finale concert. Post Eco Music Challenge, the NEA has now launched an album design competition for the to-be-produced-by-Oct 2011 Eco Music Challenge Season 2 album.

The top prize is $500!

& the closing date is 22 Sep. More info can be found here.

Olive Ventures is the licencee for the Instep Programme in Singapore and South East Asia.

The Instep program is a science based carbon accounting, monitoring and certification process. It is used by individuals, organizations and events to measure and quantify their carbon footprint, and assist in the monitoring and reporting of their sustainability efforts. It was, for example, deployed in the recently concluded Marina iLight Festival 2011 in Singapore.

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We provide the following services:

• For Organisations and Projects: Instep Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Programme (in accordance to WRI, WBCSD, ISO 14064)
• For Events: Instep Sustainable Events Programme, or ISEP (in accordance to BS 8901)
• For Products and Services: Instep Lifecycle and Labeling Programme

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Instep programs have an will continue to be adopted globally. We are part of a global network with offices in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, UK and Canada.

For example, the ISEP program was used in the following events: Oxfam Trailwalker, Eco Tourism Conf, Dual Triathlon, EVANZ,NCEE, Just 4 Kids Festival, Whangamata Jazz Festival, i Light Festival Singapore, NZ Junior Soccer Championship, Eco Day, Australia University Games, Canada Green Building Councils Conf , TED.

All Instep programmes are based on internationally recognised standards, and scientific foundation (WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol / ISO 14064) and real data. We provide tools and resources to help you measure, manage, mitigate and report your greenhouse gas emissions with credibility and integrity.

Get in touch to find out more.

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Related notes:

• If you are an SME and looking to attain ISO 14064 certification, you may want to check out the QUality for Enterprises through STandards (QUEST) Programme from SPRING.
• If you are an SGX listed company, you should take a look at the SGX’ recent announcement about sustainability reporting.

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Instep Carbon & Sustainability Programme Brochure

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The NEA Eco Music Challenge is back!

Eco Music Challenge 2011 is an online song-writing competition organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for talented and passionate individuals to express their appreciation and support for our beautiful environment through music.

This year, we have (the awesome) Inch Chua on board to inspire everyone to write a song for a cleaner and greener world. On top of that, the top 3 winners will get to perform their song at Timbre @ The Substation! Sounds like fun?

Check out this year’s prizes:

Closing date for entries is 20th June 2011.

Visit the NEA Eco Music Challenge Website for more details. Also, like their Facebook page.

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Oh yes, and if you missed out on last year’s competition, you can watch the 2 min video below to get up to speed.

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So what are you waiting for? Start writing and submitting your songs NOW!

(and send this info to all your musically talented friends)

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Although the Singapore Government has not publicised any plans for the 173.7 hectares of land that spans the entire breadth of the island, the question of what to do with it will naturally arise. One proposal, which was submitted by Nature Society (Singapore) on the 21st of October 2010, is  to Keep the Railway Lands as a Continuous Green Corridor.

Here’s the main reasons from the proposal.

1. Connecting Our Green Spaces.

Preserving the Railway Land as a Green Corridor will not only make it possible for Singaporeans to hike from the wetlands in Kranji to Rainforests in Bukit Timah and the hilltops of Henderson through a continuous nature trail; the Green Corridor is also important for preserving our Natural Heritage by acting as a connector for flora and fauna movement across the island, to some extent mitigating the effects of the fragmentation of our Nature Reserves.

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2. Connecting People

This Green Corridor has the potential to directly or almost directly serve 1.2 million people living in estates along the entire stretch of railway.

There are currently scenic vistas of forests and rivers, canals and wetlands right at our doorstep. The construction of simple walking trails, lighting, resting points and directional signage would make all of this accessible and inviting to hundreds of communities nearby.

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3. A Clean and Green Transport Route

Singapore aspires to be a leading Eco-City in South East Asia, if not the world. Pollution from urban transportation and traffic jams are common problems in major cities in the world. One way to solve this urban evil is to encourage cycling as an alternative means of transport. Cycling partially solves transportation needs and provides recreation.

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4. Preserving History

The railway line is a physical historical record of the relationship between Singapore and Malaysia. These 2 countries were once one and the same country called Malaya. There was no border until 1965. This railway line serves as a reminder of this historical fact. The whole stretch of the railway line can be turned into an outdoor ‘museum’ with ‘walking commentary’. Because of its linearity, points of historical interests can be planned along the route to educate the public about life in the 50s, 60s and up to the 70s.

Arguably, some people won’t find this idea attractive. After all, we live in an overcrowding place that is land scarce, and there is a heavy opportunity cost involved in every land decision that is made. So before the development junkie and progress obsessed side of us starts ringing the alarm bells, please consider first, what we stand to lose.

The Railway Lands is something that was carved out of unique historical circumstances. It is also a rare occasion in urban Singapore, where politics had allowed for the unhampered growth of a lush ecology, relatively untouched by the urbanisation around it. It is part of our relatively young heritage, and it’s value is something that cannot be replaced by any amount of engineering.

Oh yes, here’s what I came across on SG Polls:

(Disclaimer: I’m not saying that this is statistically indicative of the Singapore population)

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What can I do?

1. Read the proposal – The Green Corridor: A Proposal to Keep the Railway Lands as a Continous Green Corridor

2. Send your feedback and suggestions to Nature Society (Singapore)

3. Like the “We support The Green Corridor in Singapore” Facebook page.

4. Follow them on Twitter.

5. Most importantly, tell everyone you know about the proposal.

Check out this post to see some photos, and what went on during 10:10 The Green Carpet Edition. We had a great time, and we’ll be doing this again soon. So check back for that!

Olive Ventures is proud to present 10:10 The Green Carpet Edition, a Charity Concert & Flea Market for the Environment, in support of 10th October 2010, “a global day of doing”.

There’ll be plenty of food & drinks to go around, so grab a friend or ten and come eat, drink, shop and hang out for a good cause.

A portion of all food & beverage sales will be donated to 2 local environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)- Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES).
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GET YOUR SHOPPING ON!
It’s about time to heed the old & wise adage: Reuse, Reduce & Recycle!

Olive Ventures & For Flea Sake are collaborating and getting the hottest vendors with quality pre-loved and eco-friendly merchandise to showcase their wares just for you. Now, who doesn’t love a good bargain? Also, look out for products by CHOOSE, Singapore’s first eco-store.

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*** Interested to rent a booth at The Green Carpet Edition Flea? ***

Rental: $45/booth
Logistics: 1 table & 2 chairs

Pre-loved items, handmade and/or recycled merchandise are preferred! Come join in the fun!

*** Send your enquiries to Admin@ForJakeSake.com ***

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BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES!
We’ve got a line-up perfectly suited for a chilled out Sunday afternoon for your aural pleasure.

From 1pm till late, come groove to the beats & tunes of these talented musicians: -

DJ Funk Bast*rd

Michaela Therese

Cheating Sons

Typewriter

Alicia Pan

SIXX

The Cereal Killers
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HOSTED BY: DIVIAN & VANESSA FERNANDEZ OF 987FM’S AM JAM!!!

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DON’T MISS OUT – 10:10 The Green Carpet Edition Goodie Bags!

The first 120 guests who arrive and present their reusable shopping bag will receive a goodie bag stocked with eco-friendly products.

Come EARLY and you may get lucky and end up going home with some X-mini speakers, Eco-Friendly products, dining vouchers, skincare products and much more!

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Getting Here:

By MRT

Hop onto the East-West Green line and alight at Buona Vista Station. Krish is a short walk from the station along North Buona Vista Road (See map).

By Bus

Option 1:
Logon to http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/ to plan your journey. The bus stop to alight at is Bus Stop No. 18141 or 18149

Option 2:
We’re currently working on providing a shuttle service for your convenience. Pick-up locations & timings are TBC so do check back for updates!

By Car

There are 2 car parks available in the Rochester Park area (See map). If it’s imperative that you drive, it is encouraged that you car pool. After all, it’s more eco-friendly!

RAIN OR SHINE, WE’LL BE THERE AND ADMISSION IS ABSOLUTELY FREE. DONATIONS ARE GREATLY WELCOMED & APPRECIATED.

All donations are going to 2 local environmental NGOs- Singapore Environmental Council (SEC) and Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES)

So remember to grab a friend or ten and come eat, drink, shop and hang out for a good cause!

When: 10th of October 2010, 11 am – 10.30 pm.

Where: Krish Restaurant & Bar

More Details: Facebook & 350.org.

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See You There!

1. Solar Technology is not feasible, because it is too primitive for practicality.
2. As a result, it is too expensive, with no clear Return On Investment (the basis of all decision making).

True. And both arguments can be said about a lot of other forms of green tech.

But more importantly to me, it seemed like he wanted to give up on the idea of renewable energy sources entirely.

I could not let that happen. I had to do my job! So I started talking about how solar energy is being harnessed using mirrors. OK. So that’s not too much of a logical stretch, since everyone knows that mirrors, in principal reflect light, but here’s how it works: If you can reflect many many beams of light into a small area, you get a lot of energy.

Not convinced? Check out how SUNLIGHT + MIRRORS = MOLTEN STEEL:

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So that’s a nifty little science experiment that you could attempt to replicate in your living room (but please don’t), so how can such an application help solve the world’s energy problems? The answer, which popped up on my RSS reader recently, is right here (from Climateprogress):

On August 4^th, 2010, Brightsource Energy Inc., an Oakland, California-based developer of utility-scale solar thermal power plants, announced that the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) siting committee recommended approval of what will be the world’s largest solar energy project.  The project, called the Ivanpah Solar Energy Generating System (ISEGS), consists of a three-plant, 392-megawatt solar electric generating system located in California’s Mojave Desert.

Here’s what it looks like on paper:

Here’s how it works (from Mercury News):

BrightSource’s solar thermal technology concentrates the sun’s rays with mirrorlike “heliostats” that reflect heat to boil water. The steam from the boiling water turns turbines that generate electricity.

The company’s heliostats track the sun on two axes to optimize exposure throughout the day as well as during different seasons. The heliostats are capable of heating up to 550 degrees Celsius (about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit), which means BrightSource can use the most-efficient turbines now on the market. Ivanpah would use 173,500 heliostats and three 459-foot towers.

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This is just one example of how alternative energy sources may look like in the future, but there are lots of commenters that feel that renewable energy cannot be employed on a large scale, especially in Singapore. Take Mr. Tilak K. Doshi who wrote for The Straits Times, an article entitled Renewable Energy, At What Price?

I’m not going to copy / paste the whole article (though it is extremely insightful), but let’s take a look at the conclusions:

Given the uncertainties in renewable technology evolution and the choices among competing alternatives, it is unlikely there will be a silver bullet.

Right, and wrong. I totally agree with Mr. Doshi’s very educated view of the whole energy situation, but challenging the efficacy of renewable energy itself, seems defeatist, and discounts the innovative efforts like the ones cited above. Let me add one word to that sentence to make things right: Yet.

So, this brings us to the next part of his concluding paragraph: The success of future energy technologies will turn on creative innovation and commercial competitiveness. There is little reason to believe government largesse will play a determining role in market outcomes.

Spot on.

What we need, in his words, is Creative Innovation,

and I for one, am not going to give up on human kind to get that done just yet.

I’ve had the time to think lately, and this is what has materialised thus far . I’ve filed this piece under “work in progress”, so don’t mind if it ends up incomplete.

After spending the last 2 weeks doing quite a fair bit of personal reading, I’ve come to some observations about the green movement.

To the more hard headed green types among us, it’s a very macro focused imperitive that talks about the ways we harness and use resources (like energy) and educating people about the ills of the planet and how things like climate change, biodiversity loss, the impending oil crunch and food security will affect our lives, and our children’s lives.

The good ideas that come up of these debates can be summed up (roughly) in something like this: That we need to fundamentally change the systems that our societies function in, and very quickly, on a massive scale. (I do recognise that there’s a lot more to what’s going on, and I may have missed something out for the sake of being brief)

That’s fine and very good, but here’s the part that I’m still coming to terms with: When the conversation topic arrives at consumerism, consumption and consumers, I often find myself on the disagreeing end, because green people tend to take a, in my opinion, misguided hack at things like marketing and advertising, needless fashion cycles, large corporations that sell large volumes of products, and people buying and not needing iphones (true story).

So let’s break this down into the fundamental premise that everyone almost immediately recognises: The act of consuming a product or service leads to emissions and resource use, hence, we as individuals should not consume above a level that compromises the consumption of future generations.

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OK. That’s logical enough, but here’s the problem, it is almost impossible to dictate an upper limit of consumption for people, because people are heterogeneous, especially in terms of their wants and needs.

In my personal opinion, a person needs very very little. So am I supposed to be telling everyone in the developed world to not eat meat, scrap the car that they spent years saving up for, stop going on (non-eco) holidays, never buy food that is not local, never drink bottled beverages even if there’s no other choice, and of course, very importantly to some, not use an iphone?

I think you’d agree that I’d not be the most popular person if I went out and did just that. To those taking one for the team by doing this, much respect to you.

Here’s the detach that I detect: There is a stark difference between gross over-consumption (everyone in the world driving an SUV) and “non-consumption” (riding a bike 10km everyday to work). We tend to treat “good” and “bad” in these extremes, but we’re still figuring out what “normal consumption” (as in: ecologically and sustainably permissible) should be.

We know that driving an SUV, for example is bad, hence it is discouraged. But how are you going to convince everyone to only transport themselves by pedal power? Let’s be practical about this: That ain’t going to happen. Sure, we could enforce that public transport be the only way, but what of those who may need to drive like my friend in the construction industry, who is constantly on the road and on-site?

And this is where “green” products and the private sector in general, fit in. If we can arrive at an extreme situation where all the products in the world were eco-friendly and sustainable (in creation, use and dispose), more durable (in terms of fashion as well), and carbon neutral, wouldn’t the world be a better place?

Better because we have to worry a lot less about saving the planet, but also, because people can enjoy a comfortable (and I don’t mean “lavish”) standard of living, at the same time. A win-win for everyone: Environmentalists, businesses, governments and everyday people will rejoice, then look for the next big thing to wrestle over.

Now even if you can’t accept that vision because you don’t think that will happen eventually, consider this: Even if we do manage to sort the big things out (Clean and renewable energy for all, non-petrol fuels, sustainable urban infrastructure, waste management systems that somehow manage 100% recycling rates), but continue to produce and consume the same toxic junk that we’re currently used to, aren’t we taking 2 steps forward and 1 back?

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The other thing that I keep coming across is this statement: Green has to become mainstream.

At this point, I’d like to ask all the environmental people that are overly anti-consumerist this: How do you get something to be mainstream if it’s not marketable or marketed? I liken the scenario to the point in time when any sub-cultural movement starts “selling out”, it’s founding members never seem happy about it, and come to reject a lot of things about the movement as in gains popularity and becomes more marketed.

Don’t mind my cultural interjection, but here’s what I think: This is where businesses can help very well, simply because they have had a long and perhaps, not so illustrious history of making people buy stuff. So why not using those proven competencies to sell green lifestyles and create innovative green products instead?

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I may have touched upon quite a few areas in this piece and may not have offered a lot of answers, and most of this may be just wishful thinking. Let me however, end off with this:

I am not at all saying that over-consumption should be encouraged, and I do recognise that we should not be giving people excuses to purchase unnecessarily. At the same time however, we ought to recognise that normal lifestyle consumption products and necessities will continue to be bought.

This post aims at addressing that part of “consumerism”.

More on this in the future.