There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a big toll on Singapore’s food and beverage industry with the removal of dining in options and only take-aways and delivery allowed. However, with the current restrictions on dining out, it's not just the F&B industry that is hard-hit. “Da-baoing” or taking away food to eat at home is also detrimental to the environment. Just think of the number of disposable boxes and cutleries we are throwing away in one meal for a family of four!

In 2017, non-governmental organisation Zero Waste SG started the Bring Your Own (BYO) Singapore movement where 430 retail outlets offered incentives to customers who bring their own reusable bags, bottles or containers. Before the pandemic happened, Singapore was making steady progress in this area. Over 2.5 million pieces of plastic disposables were reduced, according to the movement’s website.

However, the two month circuit breaker in 2020 Singapore households generated an extra 1,334 tonnes of plastic waste, equivalent to the weight of about 90 double-decker buses, from takeaway and food deliveries, says a study by NUS alumni. Overall household waste had also increased significantly with the curb on eating out. The National Environment Agency reported that 73,000 tonnes of waste was generated in April 2020, up 11 per cent from the previous month.

To reduce the impact takeaway and food delivery have on the environment, you can do your part by reducing the use of disposables and using your own lunch boxes and cutleries, cups and reusable straws for the food and drinks. Instead of delivery, opt for self pick up and bring your own containers to store the food or support local business that offers meals using re-useable eco-friendly lunchboxes, for example, Mamashop x The Plattering Co.

In December 2020, a new Bring Your Own Container (BYOC) campaign was launched by Zero Waste SG at the Tiong Bahru Market. Under the initiative, diners at five hawker centres will be reminded by zero-waste ambassadors during the weekends to bring their own containers or to refuse unnecessary disposables.

Here are some useful tips on how to BYOC when taking away food from eateries:

• Bring a reusable container, bottle, cup or bag that is similar in size to the disposable ones the food outlet is using and bring as many as you can fit into your bag.
• Let the staff know upon ordering that you have your own disposable containers and bags and not only when they are packing your food. This makes it easier for the food outlets to accommodate your requests.
• Be polite when making a request to use your own containers and thank the staff of the food outlets sincerely for using your containers as this will encourage them to pay it forward and encourage other customers to BYOC!

Another way to further reduce the impact of plastic from our lives, consumers can also shop at a zero-waste store. These shops don’t just encourage you to bring your own shopping bags, but also operate on a “bring your own container” policy – whereby you fill your own reusable containers with items like food, soap, and laundry detergent.

As we all become more mindful of our consumption of disposals during this period, we all can play a small but important role in reducing the impact of the pandemic on our environment.