Let's Try These 5 Ways to Take Care of the Environment in 2019! | Bahasa

Indonesia.27 Dec 2018
Indonesia, 27 Dec 2018 - People were shocked by news reports that broke at the end of this year about a sea turtle that was found dead at Congot beach, Yogyakarta, with its stomach clogged by plastic waste. Equally shocking was news that a whale was found dead off Wakatobi’s waters, Southeast Sulawesi, its stomach full of plastic waste consisting of 750 gr of plastic cups (115 pieces), 140 gr of hard plastic (19 pieces), 150 gr of plastic bottles (4 pieces), 260 gr of plastic bags (25 pieces). These incidents raised concerns about Indonesia’s environmental sustainability. A report submitted by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, LIPI), revealed that  between 100,000 and 400,000 tons of plastic waste are dumped into the sea. If this practice continues, it is predicted that by 2050 the amount of plastic waste will exceed the total sum of marine biotas. Given these facts, changes are crucial. We as individuals can also contribute in simple ways to improve Indonesia’s natural environment. Do you want to know how? Let’s consider these 5 simple ways:

1. Consider the Packaging of the Food and Beverages We Buy

Food and beverages are mostly packaged in plastics and Styrofoam. Therefore, we must be smart in choosing food and beverage containers in restaurants or cafes. As consumers, we can make changes. We can start with small things like asking for our coffee to be served in a cup rather than a plastic or paper cup when drinking coffee in a coffee shop.

2.Use Reusable Tableware

The use of disposable plastics can also be reduced by using reusable tableware, such as a lunch box, a tumbler, and stainless steel straws. We can carry reusable tableware with us wherever we go, whether to bring home some food or to use when we eat out. If we forget to bring our own food containers, several restaurants in Jakarta use reusable containers for takeaways that we can reuse.

3. Carry and Use a Tote Bag When Shopping

Plastics are used a lot when we shop at supermarkets and retail stores. We can replace plastic bags with tote bags. Tote bags are made from materials that allow multiple use. There are different shapes and motifs to suit our taste so that we can be more stylish while shopping.

4. Use Less Tissue Paper

Tissue paper is made of a material that breaks down easily when exposed to water. As a result, people think nothing of the amount of tissue paper they use and do not limit the use according to need. In fact, tissue paper is made from trees and this can affect forest sustainability and living things. Therefore, use tissue paper sparingly or replace it with cloth napkins that can be washed and reused.

5. Join an Environmental Community and Movement

Aside from making small changes to our daily habits, we can also bring change by joining an environmental community and a social movement, such as Bank DBS Indonesia’s Live More Society. Live More Society is a community platform designed to encourage millennials to give more meaning to life by showing care for the environment, among other things. One of Live More Society’s environmental programs  is Recycle more, Waste less, which is carried out in collaboration with the government and social entrepreneurs engaged in environmental affairs such as Waste4Change. Recycle more, Waste less is aimed at raising the environmental awareness among Indonesia’s millennials to bring change, starting with changes to their daily habits. Through the program, Bank DBS Indonesia invites Indonesia’s millennials to protect the environment through social media. Every post by a social media user who is committed to protecting the environment will be valued IDR 1,000.00 and the funds raised from the program will be used for waste management.

"The Recycle more, Waste less movement will also encourage Indonesia’s millennials to be more critical of their immediate environment. For example, they can report illegal garbage dumping, take photos, create social media posts, tag our location and our social entrepreneur partner, Waste4Change, who collaborates with the regional government. Through the program, we as a banking institution want to invite Indonesians, particularly millennials, to better understand life by showing care for the environment. How can we have a better understanding of life if the natural environment we live in is increasingly polluted?" said Mona Monika, Executive Director, Head of Group Strategic and Marketing Communications PT Bank DBS Indonesia.

Mona added, "To make changes we don’t need to start with something big. We can start with something small, such as making changes to our small habits, so that in the long run the impact will certainly be felt."

 

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About DBS

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia, with over 280 branches across 18 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS has a growing presence in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.

Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker and “Best Bank in the World” by Global Finance. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for ten consecutive years from 2009 to 2018.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, and positively impacting communities through supporting social enterprises, as it banks the Asian way. It has also established a SGD 50 million foundation to strengthen its corporate social responsibility efforts in Singapore and across Asia.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. The bank acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in all of our 26,000 staff, representing over 40 nationalities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.