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Rebate2Earth

Rebate2Earth was launched on 4th February 2008 by NUS Provost and Deputy President (Academic Affairs), Professor Tan Eng Chye, and Miss Eunice Olsen, Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP). Rebate2Earth is a university-wide, sustainable and permanent eco-friendly initiative which aims to minimize the excessive and often unnecessary usage of plastic bags on NUS campus.

The campaign seeks to control the issuance of plastic carriers and discourage the irresponsible one-time usage of these bags by students and staff. Rebate2Earth serves as a reminder for us to give a rebate (10 cents) to the environment whenever we use a plastic bag.

Rebate2Earth is currently supported by NUS COOP bookstores and all drinks and fruits stores in NUS canteens. All proceeds from the sale of plastic bags will go into a Rebate2Earth fund to support future environmental projects on campus. Following the positive feedback from students and staff of the campaign, Rebate2Earth was later extended to all fruit and drinks stalls in the canteens on 31th March 2008.

Till date, our statistics reveal that Rebate2Earth has successfully reduced plastic bag consumption by more than 80% in the participating outlets. This is above our initial target of 50% reduction in plastic bag consumption. This number is comparable to the reduction observed in European countries which introduced similar plastic taxes.

Extension of Rebate2Earth Campaign

  • Extension of Rebate2Earth to all NUS canteens, food and beverage outlets by late August 2008

  • Collaboration with SW CDC’s WEworkz programme and NUS COOP to sell and promote the use of reusable bags made from unwanted waste materials like old event banners

  • Promotion of Rebate2Earth campaign to all other tertiary institutions following the success in NUS through channels like Youths For Clean and Sustainable Environment (CASE) and Tertiary Institutions Council for the Environment (TICE)

More on Rebate to Earth at Living with Gaia