CapitaLand marks Earth Hour with record e-waste collection in Singapore by a real estate company
Over 30,000 kg of e-waste collected in 2018 at CapitaLand properties year-on-year increase of more than 30%
Singapore, 26 March 2019 – CapitaLand is marking Earth Hour 2019 with
Mr Tan Seng Chai, Group Chief People Officer of CapitaLand Group and Chairman of the CapitaLand Sustainability Steering Committee, said: “Singapore is the second largest generator of e-waste in the region; but with only 5% of it being recycled and diverted from landfills[4], e-waste is a growing environmental problem for the country. By helping our tenants and shoppers to manage their e-waste safely through e-waste collection services at our properties, CapitaLand seeks to leverage our competencies and network to effect positive change for the environment. To mark Earth Hour this year, CapitaLand is embarking on a global sustainability outreach with over 280 online and offline activities across more than 30 countries. We want to encourage our customers around the world to join CapitaLand in taking climate action, by reducing waste and leading more sustainable lifestyles.”
Over 260 CapitaLand properties – including 31 properties in Singapore – will participate in Earth Hour on 30 March 2019 by switching off their façade and other non-essential lights at
Mr Tan added: “Sustainability is a key focus for CapitaLand. As a leading global real estate company, we strive to create real estate products that are not just
Supporting Singapore’s national environment objectives
Earth Hour Quiz
With 2019 designated as Singapore’s Year Towards Zero Waste, CapitaLand is amplifying the national message with 1.44 million STAR$®, 20% more than last year, to further encourage the community to reduce waste. CapitaStar members can take part in the 2019 CapitaLand Earth Hour Quiz in March to earn free STAR$®, and more importantly, learn how to reduce plastic waste, electronic waste and save water. Readers can learn about these three topics and find the answers to the quiz in articles published on CapitaLand INSIDE, CapitaLand’s digital lifestyle news platform.
A third and final quiz will take place on 29 March 2019. Participants who provide the right answer within CapitaStar mobile app can redeem free STAR$®. Highly popular, the first two rounds of the quiz have been fully redeemed. The first two quizzes drew 3,200 correct entries, at an average of about 7 redemptions per minute throughout the duration of the quiz. This is the third year CapitaLand has conducted its CapitaLand Earth Hour Quiz.
E-waste recycling
CapitaLand is helping shoppers and tenants to safely manage their e-waste. E-waste recycling services are available at six CapitaLand commercial buildings in Singapore’s Central Business District: Capital Tower, CapitaGreen, Six Battery Road, One George Street, Raffles City Tower and 21 Collyer Quay (HSBC Building). Tenants can simply drop off their e-waste at the tenant service centres or contact the building managers to pick up their e-waste. For shoppers, e-waste recycling bins are also available at 10 CapitaLand malls: Bedok Mall, Bugis+, Bugis Junction, IMM, JCube, Junction 8, Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, Plaza Singapura, Raffles City Singapore and Tampines Mall, making it Singapore’s largest mall network of e-waste recycling bins.
Largest venue sponsor for Singapore’s World Water Day Campaign
CapitaLand also partnered with PUB – Singapore’s Water Agency in support of Singapore’s World Water Day (SWWD) campaign for the second year. As the largest venue sponsor, CapitaLand is playing host to PUB’s public roadshows to spread the message of water conservation. Participants can pick up water saving tips, pledge to save water and win exclusive SWWD premiums at 12 participating CapitaLand properties nationwide in March. As a display of further support for water conservation, the angel canopies at Clarke Quay were lit in blue during SWWD on 22 March 2019 from 7pm – 1am.
Coney Island Beach cleanup
On 22 March 2019, 29 CapitaLand staff volunteers and 10 children participated in a beach cleanup at Coney Island to minimise marine plastic pollution and learn about the importance of preserving Singapore’s water resources. From the beach cleanup co-organised by Trash Hero Singapore, over 110 kg of trash was collected over a 50 metre stretch along the beach in one hour, with single-use plastic making up most of the trash collected. Unique items collected included a motorcycle helmet, sepak takraw, plastic drum barrel and a lid from a washing machine.
A global outreach to improve the environment
China
To encourage shoppers to reduce single-use plastic, shoppers can redeem eco-bags in 40 CapitaLand malls across 17 cities in China. There will also be a recycling drive to collect old and unwanted cosmetic bottles at these malls. Through a collaboration with international non-profit organisation (NGO) Roots & Shoots, an NGO founded by environmentalist Dr Jane Goodall and local artists, the bottles will be used to form two unique works of art that will be unveiled during Earth Hour at CapitaMall Tiangongyuan in Beijing and CapitaMall Hongkou in Shanghai. The bottles and the two art pieces will be recycled by recycling company, TerraCycle after a two-week exhibition.
In addition, CapitaMall Tiangongyuan in Beijing, CapitaMall Meilicheng in Chengdu, and CapitaMall SKY+ and Rock Square in Guangzhou, are also partnering with Roots & Shoots to conduct upcycling workshops for shoppers to create unique handicrafts and objects from recyclables. Each mall will also host exhibitions featuring upcycled products to inspire and encourage shoppers to reuse and recycle their old and unwanted items.
Vietnam
In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, over 230 kg of trash were collected by 41 volunteers. Similar environment cleanup activities in cities such as Hanoi, Danang and Nha Trang have also been planned.
Malaysia
Shoppers can use their STAR$® to redeem stainless steel straws at six CapitaLand malls, reducing their use of single-use plastic. At Gurney Plaza in Penang, shoppers can take part in a bra recycling initiative in exchange for vouchers. They can also share creative photos of a bio-degradable product on social media to stand a chance to win gift sets from The Body Shop.
At Queensbay Mall, a 30km cycle and 10km run will take place on 30 March to rally the community to exercise and reduce their carbon footprint.
Germany
At CapitaLand’s Citadines serviced residences in Germany, guests will be able to take part in an eco-quiz to test their knowledge on the environment. Guests will also be able to sample and taste fresh organic apples grown regionally, encouraging guests to choose produce with a lower carbon footprint.
More flowers will also be planted around the serviced residences to help the bee population thrive, as many of the world’s food crops and flora rely on cross-pollination by bees. Lastly, to encourage staff to take the public transport and reduce their carbon footprint, free bus and metro tickets will also be distributed.
Elsewhere across CapitaLand’s properties worldwide, guests, shoppers and tenants are also doing their part for the environment. Activities such as eco-quizzes, recycling drives, cycling, terrarium building workshops, tree planting initiatives, screenings of environment-related movies, green bazaars and more, have been organised to encourage customers to minimise their environmental footprint.
CapitaLand’s track record in global sustainability
CapitaLand has achieved a 29.4% reduction in carbon emissions intensity from 2008 to 2017, exceeding its 2020 target of 23%. It has achieved 23.4% and 24.1% energy and water reduction (per m2 from base year 2008) respectively, exceeding its 2020 target of 20%. This resulted in S$140 million in utilities cost avoidance since 2009. CapitaLand aims to reduce its carbon emissions and water intensity by 30% by 2030 as well as energy intensity by 25% by 2030.
As a global real estate company present across more than 180 cities in over 30 countries, CapitaLand’s collective efforts in sustainability across its global operations has garnered international and regional recognition[5]. For more information on CapitaLand’s accolades, please refer to Annex A.
For more on CapitaLand’s sustainability efforts, please refer to the CapitaLand Global Sustainability Report 2017. The CapitaLand Global Sustainability Report 2018 will be published in May 2019.
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[1] E-waste is electrical and electronic equipment of any kind that has been discarded. It includes anything powered by an electrical source including IT equipment, such as laptop and mobile phones or home appliances such as toaster ovens and electric kettles. For more information, please visit: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/3r-programmes-and-resources/e-waste-management
[2] In 2018, over 12,000 kg of e-waste were collected from CapitaLand offices and close to 18,500 kg of e-waste were collected from CapitaLand malls.
[3] An average smartphone weighs about 165 grams.
[4] 1 February 2018, The Straits Times, “Singapore’s mountain of e-waste” https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ environment/singapores-mountain-of-e-waste.
[5] CapitaLand ranks among the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world for the seventh time. For more information, visit https://www.capitaland.com/en/about-capitaland/newsroom/news-releases/international/2019/jan/CapitaLand_ranks_among_the_Global_100_most_sustainable_corporations_in_the_world_for_the_seventh_time.html
[1] E-waste is electrical and electronic equipment of any kind that has been discarded. It includes anything powered by an electrical source including IT equipment, such as laptop and mobile phones or home appliances such as toaster ovens and electric kettles. For more information, please visit: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/3r-programmes-and-resources/e-waste-management.
[2] In 2018, over 12,000 kg of e-waste were collected from CapitaLand offices and close to 18,500 kg of e-waste were collected from CapitaLand malls.
[3] An average smartphone weighs about 165 grams.
[1] E-waste is electrical and electronic equipment of any kind that has been discarded. It includes anything powered by an electrical source including IT equipment, such as laptop and mobile phones or home appliances such as toaster ovens and electric kettles. For more information, please visit: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/3r-programmes-and-resources/e-waste-management.
[2] In 2018, over 12,000 kg of e-waste were collected from CapitaLand offices and close to 18,500 kg of e-waste were collected from CapitaLand malls.
[3] An average smartphone weighs about 165 grams.