Back when I was staying in hall during my first two years of university, some of my most cherished memories were the spontaneous supper sessions in my tiny room. The supper trucks on campus were not helpful — they would pull up every night, serving everything one could think of. This was especially common during exam season; we would stay up eating, catching up and laughing until the sun rose again. Unfortunately, there was always a pile of plastic containers, bags and disposable cutlery left behind to be thrown away without much thought.
This late-night takeaway culture is not just unique to my university — it is a way of life for many across Asia. From Singapore’s hawker centres to Korea’s food delivery culture and Thailand’s street stalls, these quick comforting meals bring people together. Thankfully, taking up sustainability modules at university has shown me how much damage this “convenience” can cause. In Singapore alone, about 200,000 tonnes of disposable waste were generated in 2020. This made me more aware of how my small inconsiderate actions can contribute to bigger problems.
One of the most eye-opening lessons I have gained is that small practical solutions can change habits without removing what I value most — food and community. Some universities in Hong Kong have made it easy for students to borrow reusable containers from vending machines and return them later without washing anything. Similarly, Indiana University has a digital ReusePass system that links containers to students’ accounts. Evidently, sustainability can be incorporated into daily life, only if we choose to change.
This understanding deepens as I prepare for my exchange in the UK, which has shown great determination in aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions across various sectors by 2050. I plan to align my actions to this crucial goal by choosing low-emission travel, reducing my use of disposable items, and contributing to sustainable initiatives. Whenever possible, I plan to travel by train instead of short flights, bring my own cup and containers, and support local businesses that care for their communities and the environment. Through these efforts, I hope to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals of responsible consumption, climate action and sustainable communities. Ultimately, I do hope that my actions will encourage those around me to make better choices, because it takes a collective effort to create significant change.
Wherever I am in the world, those late-night suppers will remind me that food and community are what make me feel at home. These moments depend on how well I care for the people and places around me. I feel fortunate to be able to cross new borders, but with that privilege comes the responsibility to leave lighter footprints. This upcoming exchange is more than just a personal goal, it is my chance to show that being a global citizen means caring for the world I explore, one small thoughtful change at a time.
– https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/3r-programmes-and-resources/reducing-our-use-of-disposables
– https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3239013/free-reusable-food-container-vending-machines-set-hong-kong-universities-part-plan-cut-plastic-waste
– https://topanga.io/case-studies/indiana-university
– https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy
– https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200218-why-trains-are-so-much-better-than-planes
