Singapore Packaging Agreement

Background

The NEA signed the Singapore Packaging Agreement with 5 industry associations (representing more than 500 companies), 19 individual companies, 2 non-governmental organizations, the Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore and 4 public waste collectors on 5 June 2007, World Environment Day. 

The Agreement, which commenced on 1 Jul 2007, provides a platform and structure for industries to collaborate with the government to reduce packaging waste over a 5-year period.  The Agreement is voluntary, so as to provide flexibility for the industries to adopt cost-effective solutions to reduce waste.   

Domestic waste formed 57% of all waste disposed of at the disposal sites in Singapore in 2008.  Of this, about one third was packaging waste.  From 1 Jul 2007 to 30 Sep 2009, the Agreement targeted food and beverage (F&B) packaging, since F&B packaging waste constitutes more than 50% of household packaging waste. 

From 1 Oct 2009, the Agreement will be extended to cover all types of product packaging, including detergents, household products, toiletries and personal care products, besides packaging for F&B products.  Apart from manufacturers and users of packaging, new signatories will include building owners/managers of hotels and shopping malls, whose main role in the Agreement will be to provide recycling facilities for the building occupants. 

Progress Update

The signatories have made commendable progress in reducing waste since the signing of the Agreement.  In the first year of the Agreement (from 1 Jul 2007 to 30 Jun 2008), the signatories collectively reduced 850 tons per year of packaging waste, and reduced up to 17% of packaging usage for individual F&B products, saving a total of S$1.5 million in packaging costs. This packaging waste reduction amount and cost savings are projected to continue annually.

In the second year of the Agreement (from 1 Jul 2008 to 30 Jun 2009), the signatories implemented further improvements to their processes and packaging, which enabled them to a project an additional reduction of about 800 tons per year of packaging waste, and potential savings of about S$1.4 million in the packaging costs of locally consumed products. This is on top of the 850 tons of packaging waste reduction and S$1.5 million that was originally projected in the first year.

The number of signatories has also increased.  As of 1 Oct 2009, there are 95 signatories of the Singapore Packaging Agreement. Click here for the full list of signatories.

3R Packaging Awards 2009