Here are 10 things you need to know, that’s happening in sustainability around the world this week.
Another week, Another awesome campaign to make sustainability sexy and this time, it’s by Lush. We also have the beautiful Emma Watson on the cover of Vogue Australia talking about ethical fashion and what not. And of course, in Asia/Singapore, the controversial local bank situation, are they green or aren’t they?! Here’s this week’s conscious scoop:
1. Lush takes aim at palm oil industry with ‘SOS Sumatra’ campaign
“The word ‘change’ can be intimidating, riddled with expectation of outcomes and fear of failure. So I want to propose something to you: when steering a boat, a captain can shift the wheel one degree and it drastically changes the course of the boat. I would like to challenge you, after reading this issue, to make a one-degree shift, because a small change can make a huge difference.” – Emma Watson for Vogue Australia
Our Hermoine, all grown up and talking about #LittleGreenSteps to #LiveMoreConsciously.
Samsung’s recent partnerships with Green Development SA and Rural Development Solutions have helped to deliver 20,000 bioethanol stoves to residents of Mombasa, the second largest city in Kenya, and the Kakuma Refugee camp, in northern Kenya.
Not to shabby eh.
“The fact that we can fund six projects at an amount less than our fund commitment is positive indication that initiatives to protect our environment need not be expensive missions… we hope other organisations can also come aboard to support this cause,” said OCBC’s head of corporate communications, Koh Ching Ching.
That’s a fair sentiment, but what about OCBC’s Coal funding projects?
5. NGOs to Singapore banks: Act on climate change and stop funding coal
While international banks are backing away from fossil fuels, Singapore’s DBS, OCBC and UOB are fuelling climate change by financing new coal power projects in Southeast Asia. World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, who has warned that plans to build more coal-fired power plants in Asia would be a “disaster for the planet”.
6. Five key sustainability trends for 2018
For the first time since 2009, more consumers say they have punished companies for their behaviour than having rewarded them. More than 9,500 companies have joined the UN Global Compact in support of the SDGs. Consumers creating positive trends in sustainability.
And that folks, is how you vote with your wallet.
7. The sustainable statement Hollywood is making on the Oscars red carpet
Get some Little Green Steps on finding fashionable, sustainable formal wear.
8. Sustainable cities need more than parks, cafes and a river walk
So there’s the “parks, cafes and a riverwalk” model of sustainability, which focuses on providing new green spaces, mainly for high-income people, a vision of shiny residential towers and waterfront parks has become a widely-shared conception of what green cities should look like. And then there’s the environment, economy and equity Model, where the equity piece is often missing.
Sound a little familiar?
Hong Kong came in 28th in a global ranking of the most liveable cities for Asian expatriates – retaining roughly the same spot for three straight years while Singapore retained the top spot for the 16th year running, with Australian and Japanese cities close behind.
Pretty cool, now if only Singapore could address the plastic bag problem as well, we’d be golden.
10. Germany’s first vegan kindergarten opens this summer
Frankfurt city officials have just approved plans for Germany’s first completely vegan kindergarten, scheduled to open in August 2018. Mokita Kindergarten will combine progressive academics and social learning with plant-based nutrition to give toddlers a competitive start to their education.
Start young, we like it!
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