FairPrice Foundation to peg donations to reusable bag sales and customer recycling efforts; funds to be donated to Rainbow Centre, AIN Society and Bizlink Centre
As part of its commitment to the environment, NTUC FairPrice will be launching the FairPrice Cares! Campaign in conjunction with Earth Day, to raise funds for charity and to raise awareness of environmental issues.
Under the FairPrice Cares! Campaign, FairPrice targets to donate up to $60,000 to three charities based on the proceeds from the sale of reusable bags, and the number of cans or PET bottles brought in by customers for recycling at selected outlets. It will also launch a Facebook game application and involve staff in an inter-store contest to raise awareness of the campaign.
Commenting on the Campaign, Mr Gerry Lee, Managing Director, Business Groups, and Green Committee Chairman of NTUC FairPrice, said: “As a retailer with a heart that cares for the environment and the community, we wanted to do something meaningful to mark Earth Day this year which would benefit both causes. Through this campaign, we want to encourage customers to save the environment and help the needy at the same time by either recycling their drink containers or by buying a reusable bag.”
Bags from the Heart
From 22 April to 9 May, FairPrice Foundation will donate to charity a sum that matches the sales proceeds from reusable grocery bags. The donation will go towards the Rainbow Centre, AIN Society and Bizlink Centre to assist them in their community work.
Crush It, Not Chuck It!
During the same period, FairPrice Foundation will also donate $1 to the three charities for every can or bottle that customers bring in to recycle at the reverse vending machines at its City Square Mall supermarket, Ang Mo Kio Hub Xtra and Marine Parade Finest stores. The reverse vending machines at Ang Mo Kio Hub Xtra and Marine Parade Finest have been newly installed while the machine at City Square Mall, FairPrice’s pilot eco-friendly supermarket, has been very well received by customers since the outlet opened in December last year. To date, over 25,000 drink cans and plastic bottles have been deposited in the reverse vending machine at City Square Mall store.
Eco-Hero Challenge
To spread the Green message in a fun and creative way, FairPrice’s convenience store chain, Cheers, will launch an online game application called Eco-Hero Challenge. This game aims to educate youngsters on the importance of preserving water bodies such as reservoirs and ponds for a balanced ecology system. The online game can be found at www.facebook.com/cheerschallenge. In addition, Cheers will be engaging its more than 20,000 Facebook fans through quizzes on environmental issues.
Inter-Store Contest
Internally, FairPrice will hold an inter-store contest between each individual store to decorate the cashier area with reusable bags to create awareness for the campaign. The top three stores with the most creative displays will be awarded prizes.
Affirmation of Green Policy
To reiterate its commitment to the environment, FairPrice will be distributing posters of its Green Policy to all stores, corporate office and warehousing facilities. The Green Policy comprises everyday measures to reduce energy and water consumption, and to promote recycling, such as using energy-saving lighting and water-saving devices, recycling waste whenever possible and encouraging staff and customers to use reusable bags.
Other Green Initiatives
The ongoing FairPrice Green Rebates Scheme to encourage shoppers to bring their own shopping bags has to date saved more than 43 million plastic bags, and given out more than $600,000 in rebates, since it was launched in 2007. Customers at FairPrice supermarkets enjoy a 10 cents rebate for bringing their own bag.
Last December, FairPrice also launched Singapore’s first eco-friendly supermarket at City Square Mall, which features the use of recycled store fixtures, energy-saving equipment and lighting, as well as recycling machines.
