In an effort to address single-use plastic waste, Muuse introduced a reusable container program at the Hawker Centre @ Our Tampines Hub. This project was conducted from November 2022 to October 2023, showcasing the potential for more circular practices in Singapore's popular hawker centers.
To better understand the environmental aspects of the program, Muuse worked with Unravel Carbon to conduct a life cycle analysis (LCA). The LCA provided insights for potential future improvements. If all takeaway meals at the hawker center were served in reusables, it could potentially help avoid about 160,000 food containers going to landfill annually, possibly saving around 21 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions. This impact might be similar to eliminating 10 single-trip flights from Singapore to Toronto.
"Hawker centers are an important part of Singapore's culture, and we've been hoping to support the community through reusable packaging for some time." Jonathan Tostevin, CEO Muuse
Community engagement played a role in the program. Muuse organized four activities at Our Tampines Hub, engaging with approximately 3,000 people through events like urban clean-ups and documentary screenings. These efforts aimed to raise awareness about plastic and disposable waste issues.
"At first, it was quite a change from what we're used to, but using Muuse's reusable containers in my stall has been a good experience. We're trying to set an example in reducing single-use packaging, and some of my customers have been supportive of this too." Loh Chen Long, Muuse reuse program participant
As Singapore and other countries consider ways to address single-use waste, Muuse's pilot at Our Tampines Hub offers some insights into sustainable practices in food service. With the initial results and data from the trial, we are keen to continue contributing to Singapore's sustainability efforts and inspire similar initiatives in other places.
Learn about how Our Tampines Hub implemented our smart reuse system. Check our case study 👇
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