Make a difference this Plastic Free July with these local brands

Did you know? For a small city like Singapore, we use a whooping amount of plastic – 1.76 billion annually to be exact. This is unsurprising given the prevalence of single-use plastics in our everyday lives, which include items such as plastic bags, PET bottles and takeaway plastic containers.

The consequences of such plastic waste are far-reaching. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), it is estimated that a garbage truck’s worth of plastic is dumped into the oceans every minute, killing marine life and even ending up in our meals as microplastics.

Plastic Free July is a timely reminder that each of us can be part of the solution by making a conscious choice. As Singapore continues to take steps towards a greener future, many brands across our island are offering incentives for customers who bring their own reusable bags or containers when dapaoing food or having coffee on-the-go. At these local brands, you may even get some discounts! Read on to find out more:

1. Nylon Coffee Roasters

Since its establishment in 2012, Nylon Coffee Roasters has been anchored on the belief of building sustainable, traceable and transparent relationships across its coffee chain. Located in a quaint spot at the heart of Singapore, the brand serves delightful cups of coffee from beans sourced from the origin and lovingly roasted daily in-house.

In addition to its sustainable sourcing practices, Nylon also prides itself in its day-to-day eco-friendly movement, particularly by reducing single-use coffee cups. By bringing along your own reusable tumblers when purchasing your takeaway coffee, you can get to enjoy 30 cents off your cup of joe! Fret not if you do not own a cute coffee mug yet – Nylon is well-stocked with mugs of various designs, including this colourful mug that we really love! With its double wall vacuum insulation, your coffee will be kept at the right temperature as you sip it throughout your morning meetings.

Image Credits: Nylon Coffee Roasters

What’s more, as part of its eco ethos, Nylon also offers used coffee grounds should you be looking for some enriching nutrients for composting endeavours. Preloved coffee jute bags are available in-store too upon request if you’re looking for them for any of your upcycling projects. Psst, these sturdy bags are perfect for any beach clean-up activities you have in mind as well – a great alternative to plastic garbage bags!

2. Bettr Coffee Bar

For the coffee connoisseurs amongst us, you definitely have to check out Bettr Coffee Company, a homegrown coffee company that offers professional coffee education and speciality coffee products. With two retail bars located at the Ministry of Social & Family Development and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, the brand serves sustainably sourced coffee to the community with each coffee bar largely staffed by certified students and graduates to allow them to gain skills and experience. With every purchase from these coffee bars, it also goes towards supporting Bettr Coffee’s social programme for marginalised women and youth at risk.

And it doesn’t stop there! Committed to igniting change to the environment, Bettr Coffee also has several initiatives in place to reduce the brand’s carbon footprint. These include going straw-free and giving 30 cents off drinks for customers who bring their own reusable cups in the effort to reduce plastic waste! With every KeepCup purchased from Bettr, you can also look forward to being rewarded with a free drink.

Going a step further, Bettr also repurposes its used coffee grounds by upcycling them to give these food waste a new lease of life! These coffee grounds have been successfully upcycled into coffee-based tables in partnership with A1 Environment, and also turned into compost at Khoo Teck Puat Hospitals’ rooftop farm – now that’s the mark of a true circular economy!

3. Back to Basic Living

Experience the slow life and bring your picnic mats along when you dine at Back2Basic Micro Vegan Restaurant. Located along a wide grass patch at Buona Vista, Back2Basic offers the option for customers to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying delicious food and basking under the warmth of the sun. The restaurant features a comprehensive menu, which includes organic coffee, organic vegan desserts and even food for your fur kids – there’s something for everyone!

If you’re considering having your meal to go (though we’d really encourage you to dine in and enjoy the outdoor view!), do remember to bring along your reusable container. Not only will you be saving the environment, you will also be rewarded with a 10% discount – talk about a win-win! What’s more, as part of the brand’s commitment in advocating for zero waste, enjoy a cup of piping hot coffee on the house when you drop off your glass or plastic items for upcycling. Doing our part for Mother Nature by reducing waste sent to the landfills has never been so rewarding!

Image Credits: Back 2 Basic by JC Cheng

4. NomvNom

Established in 2015, NomvNom puts a refreshing vegan spin on modern fast-food options like burgers, pizzas and pastas, in its mission to contribute to the sustainability movement by promoting a plant-based diet. With the promise to ensure the utmost quality of its food, the brand is committed to using premium ingredients to tantalise the tastebuds of both vegans and non-vegans alike, serving up handmade wholesome burger buns and patties, delectable straight-cut truffle fries, and hearty soups thick with goodness.

Image Credits: NomvNom

With its meals easily consumed on-the-go, NomvNom highly encourages customers to BYO containers to reduce the need for any single-use plastics and earn a 10% discount! As part of its dedication to make a difference for the environment, the brand also invests in disposable cups and containers made with recycled materials to minimise the strain on the earth’s finite resources and operates on a no-straw policy.

So, are you ready to take on the challenge of going plastic-free (or even just using less plastic) this Plastic Free July? Remember, embarking on a more sustainable lifestyle does not mean enacting a 180-degrees change overnight! By adopting the mindset of gradual but continuous effort, it will all add up to a considerable difference overtime.

Psst, to help you get a head start on your green journey, do pop over to our Geneco Facebook page or Instagram account where we’re currently hosting a Plastic Free July giveaway! Simply name one of the four brands mentioned in this blog that offers a discount when you BYO and you could be one of the 10 lucky winners to walk away with a $50 FairPrice e-voucher and an exclusive Geneco Green Starter Kit!

What’s more, in celebration of our nation’s 57th birthday, we would like to invite you to join our #GreenDiscoverSG initiative.

As we do our part to reduce plastic waste for a greener future, take the chance to look around us. Who knows, you may discover an amazing green space that is unimaginably found in Singapore and if you do, capture a photo of it and share with us. You might stand to win up to $1,500 cash and FREE 1-year electricity with Power Eco Add-on worth $1,250.

Let’s continue to #PowerTheChange and build a sustainable Singapore together.

Because green is more than a colour.

It is our future.