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Potential Carbon and Cost Savings for Singapore: Waste reduction efforts, such as using biodegradable paper
Integrating Sustainable Practices in the Hospitality straws and minimising plastic packaging, further diminish
Sector environmental impact. Transitioning from single-use plastics
Singapore's Green Plan 2030 envisions a sustainable future to sustainable alternatives helps reduce landfill waste and
methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. For example,
where businesses and communities collaborate to reduce replacing 100,000 plastic straws with biodegradable ones can
carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly practices. The prevent approximately 1 ton of plastic waste annually. Across
hospitality industry holds considerable potential for reducing 5,000 establishments, this could equate to a reduction of
carbon footprints while achieving significant cost savings. 5,000 tons of plastic waste per year.
Initiatives like those by Deli In The Park (DITP), in collaboration
with the NYAA-HSBC-ITE project, exemplify how energy-
efficient technologies and waste reduction measures can Cost Savings for Businesses and the Nation
simultaneously benefit the environment and the bottom line. Beyond environmental advantages, sustainable practices
yield notable cost savings for businesses. Energy-efficient
Carbon Savings through Sustainable Practices technologies like LED lighting and solar films directly decrease
Businesses can substantially cut their carbon emissions by utility expenses. For DITP, these initiatives have led to reduced
energy consumption, saving an estimated SGD 15,000
implementing energy-efficient technologies and sustainable annually in electricity costs. If similar savings were realised
building practices. Based on data from the National across 5,000 establishments, the sector could save up to SGD
Environment Agency, the average mid-sized restaurant in 75 million each year.
Singapore consumes approximately 250,000 kWh annually,
resulting in around 175 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Through
the implementation of energy-efficient LED lighting and solar Moreover, sustainability in operations can lead to material cost
films, businesses like DITP can achieve energy reductions of savings through waste reduction. By opting for biodegradable
up to 30%, equating to a reduction of approximately 52.5 packaging, businesses can avoid the expenses associated
metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. with single-use plastic and waste disposal, potentially
saving another SGD 5,000 per year. If applied across 5,000
Imagine if these practices were adopted across the estimated establishments, the industry could save an additional SGD
5,000 similar establishments in Singapore's hospitality sector. 25 million annually. As eco-friendly solutions become more
The collective impact could result in a reduction of 262,500 accessible and affordable, the financial incentives for adopting
metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, significantly advancing green practices become increasingly apparent. Additionally,
Singapore's progress toward its carbon neutrality goals. businesses committed to sustainability might qualify for
government incentives, tax breaks, or grants, further
Additionally, installing PVC strip curtains in restaurants mitigating the costs of green initiatives.
enhances insulation, reducing the need for air conditioning
by up to 20%. This not only cuts down energy consumption The broader economic impact is substantial. Widespread
but also decreases carbon emissions linked to high electricity adoption of sustainable practices across Singapore's
demand by another 35 metric tons annually. If broadly hospitality industry could result in significant national savings
implemented across 5,000 establishments, the sector could in energy and waste management. This not only enhances
collectively save an additional 175,000 metric tons of CO2 Singapore's energy resilience by decreasing dependency on
emissions each year. imported fossil fuels but also promotes a green economy that
supports job creation in sustainability sectors.
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