Singapore: Clean And/Or Green? Food Waste in Singapore
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Singapore: Clean and/or Green? Food waste in Singapore Author: Saskia Denneman s1442368 [email protected] Supervisor and first reader: Prof. dr. K.J. Cwiertka [email protected] Second reader: Prof. dr. D.E.F. Henley [email protected] Researchmaster Asian Studies Leiden University Final version 31-07-2015 Abstract One third of the food worldwide goes to waste. This has an impact on natural resources such as water and energy resources. Research on underlying processes of food waste in specific contexts are important as it will give insights on how to resolve this issue. Singapore is a country with an high GDP for its region. Because of this developed status, it may be an predictor for other surrounding countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia. In Singapore, approximately 158 kg per capita per year of food was wasted in 2014. In comparison to Malaysia, which wastes 177 kg food per capita per year, this is a lot: Malaysia is producing food itself, where food is lost. Singapore produces almost nothing itself yet almost equals the amount of food waste. The reasons behind food waste in Singapore come from the love for food and abundance from wealth, in combination with the reflection of government policies on clean and green Singapore. Through fieldwork and literature research, it is found that the Singaporean government is aware of the food wastage problem in Singapore. Not only because of the global impact, but also for reasons of local impact. First, as Singapore is small, limited space is available to use as landfill. Second, the government has, since independence in 1965, sought to show an image of clean and green Singapore, and food sustainability is seen as green. Paradoxically, this image of a clean and green Singapore may also be the pitfall for food waste in Singapore: as Singapore is promoted by the government to be clean and green, this may have its effect on the quality of food consumers want: high quality and no blemishes. However, the Singaporean government has recently started to introduce measures against food waste, in educational campaigns, but also at hawker centres by educating hawkers and introducing food waste recycling machines. The government stimulates other businesses in Singapore to also reduce food waste. Supermarkets and in the service sector have introduced measures to reduce food waste as well. Not only measures in existing business, new business opportunities and charities are found as well through reducing food waste. Rooftop farming, advice business on being green, but also charities. Willing Hearts, Food from the Heart and Food Bank are leading charities that reuse food waste to provide needy with food. 1 Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 3 List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................... 4 List of figures and images .......................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 6 1. Singaporean food waste in the global and regional context ................................................. 11 1.1 Global food waste ........................................................................................................... 11 1.2 Regional perspective ...................................................................................................... 14 2. Food Culture in Singapore ................................................................................................... 19 2.1 The Singaporean meaning of food ................................................................................. 19 2.2 From division to unity through food .............................................................................. 23 2.3 Food waste through food love ........................................................................................ 27 3. Clean and Green or Clean through Waste? ...................................................................... 30 3.1 Governmental waste management ................................................................................. 30 3.2 Educational campaign Clean & Green Singapore .......................................................... 33 3.3 Food waste ...................................................................................................................... 37 4. The business of food waste .............................................................................................. 41 4.1 Supermarkets, grocery stores, wet markets and food wastage ....................................... 41 4.2 Social entrepreneurship opportunities ............................................................................ 43 4.3 Service sector ................................................................................................................. 44 4.4 Food waste in individuals ............................................................................................... 45 5. Reusing food waste .......................................................................................................... 50 5.1 Charities ......................................................................................................................... 50 5.2 Food Bank Singapore ..................................................................................................... 51 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 58 Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 60 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 61 2 Acknowledgements Writing a thesis is like cycling the Tour de France. I have worked hard to come to this stage in a good condition. Seven years of preparation for this achievement. In the end it is about how your legs are, but it is definitely not an individual achievement. You need a good team. In this case, I had a great team. I would like to express gratitude to my supervisor: Prof. Dr. Cwiertka. In a period of disorder, she would provide calm advice, and help structure my thoughts. I also like to thank my second reader, Prof. Dr. Henley who has also given me useful comments. Of course, I cannot forget my dad, who cycled the mountains with me and should have been awarded the polka dot jersey but had to leave the journey before completed. I would like to express gratitude to all my loved ones, everywhere around the world. They are the ones who cheered at the side of the road and are my soigneurs, provided me with food, company and encouragement. Especially my mom, sisters, boyfriend and his family. Just because they were always there and have a lot of patience and love. Flora Toh, my buddy in Singapore, who surprised me every time with sharp comments and who provided me with my first fried carrot cake. The Burrows Family, who are the most welcoming family I know. Lisa, Pete, Jack, Thea and Luke (and of course Harvey, the dog), who took in this complete stranger, provided me with Sunday roast, G&T and interesting conversations. I would like to express gratitude to the people who work and volunteer at Food Bank Singapore, who were happy to help me and letting me volunteer with them. Especially Nicolas, Jo-an, Shermain and mr. Goh who included me in several events. Thank you for your openness and kindness. You helped me to find my way in Singapore. In the end, I have grown in my journey and I feel like I have obtained the yellow jersey. Not because I have won the Tour, but because I have such a great team of people surrounding me with criticism, love, food, and kindness. I cannot name everybody who have helped me throughout this journey, nor can I thank them enough. I have learned a lot in the academic journey, but the personal journey was just as valuable. Thank you all. 3 List of abbreviations 3R Reduce, Reuse and Recycle 4Ms Multiracialism, Multiculturalism, Multilingulism and Multireligiosity AUC African Union Commission AVA Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FFTH Food from the Heart FMA Food Member Association GDP Gross Domestic Product HDB Housing Development Board MEWR Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources NEA National Environment Agency NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NUS National University of Singapore SEC Singapore Environment Council SGD Singapore Dollar SHA Singapore Hotel Association SMRT Singapore Mass Rapid Transport STOMP Straits Times Online Mobile Print UNEP United Nations Environment Programme USD United States Dollar 4 List of figures and images Figure 1. Relative food wastage, by region and by phase of the food supply chain (Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, 2015) ...................................... 11 Figure 2. Per capita food losses and food waste, at consumption and pre-consumption stages, in different regions. (Gustavsson et al, 2011, p. 5) .................................................................