本末倒置的世界

今天新加坡環境工程學會安排了一堂課,澳洲工程學教授講的『生命週期工程』(Life-cycle engineering)
生命週期工程其實是什麼東東?

譬如你用的洗髮水產品,生產商會先購入原材料,再製造產品及包裝,然後按照合約零售商的需求量出貨,你從零售商處買入成品,再置於家中使用,用完丟掉包裝,完。

事實卻未完。韓戰亦未完。我們以為很多眼看不見,已完結的事情其實還未完

生命週期工程(製造業的話)就是由產品的最基本原材料採集開始,一直去到產品的所有部分被徹底毀滅為止,從『搖籃』到『墳墓』
將產品製作的所有過程中涉及的能源,廢料排放及影響等,一早就算入工序中
這些數字必須少於環境的可負荷程度,萬一環境不能承受或處理,斷不能繼續以此方案生產

我們沖下渠道的洗髮水泡沫,丟進垃圾桶或回收箱的塑膠瓶子,也是生命週期的一部分
渠道究竟通向哪裡?污水處理廠會不會把它淨化才排放出河流和海洋?
要是問我們的父母,他們應該會答:『人家科學家們一早計算好的,設計時已經考慮過啦』

錯。任職過於零售與生產業巨擘逾十年的我可以透露,絕大部分根本沒有

假如你只有三塊紙黏土,怎麼用也可以,但只有三塊,你會怎用?
當然小心翼翼使用,希望用完可以還原,循環再用於下一次,不然用過就沒有了

我們捨棄的即棄用品,竟是正相反
幾乎所有產品都猶像資源無窮無盡的被製造着,售賣着,獲利着
我們完全無視自然環境的限制,本末倒置

而地球縱是有9369092469029582塊紙粘土,可是亦有7294602946810個人啊!
而且已經持續了百多年的大量生產了,我們越做越快,越做越多

我們在地球鎖得死死的,信不信由你,目前仍然未有方法去別的星球吃,喝,拉,撒
那麼,怎麼解決?

身為製造商的,要將資源循環使用,設計好環形生命週期
這世界根本沒有『丟棄』一回事,只有『挪到貧窮且不可發聲的人們住的地方放置,由得有毒物質影響他們,總之不是我們』,還有『死掉魚兒,好過我們不方便不整潔』

身為消費者的,亦要考慮到需求問題
不需要的,不必買,少了我們每一個人的需求,製造商也不會造那麼多
如果有產品宣稱環保概念,可以調查一下究竟是什麼,才因應需要購買

而我,我會繼續促使企業選擇更環保原材料,生產程序及生命週期管理

保護地球,交給我,交給我們每一個。

m.circular-economy

The “worst offenders”

Our recent project with the hospitality industry in Singapore was praised… and ridiculed.

The Marina Bay Sands is the largest hotel in Singapore and boasts 45 million visitors annually – that is 10 times the population of Singapore.
WWF Singapore is now partnering up with the biggest fish in the sea to curb the overfishing of fish in the sea.
At stage 1, our mandate is to help them transform their seafood procurement by creating sustainable aquaculture (fish farms) that gives them a stable supply.

Mainstream media has been reporting – and commending – the MBS’ effort in going green.

Now this news article has captured it in a slightly different light. Behold.

Capture

“Worst offenders”. The article goes on further in attempt to uncover more skeletons.

This reminds me so much of how whenever someone or some business claims to be sustainable, they get challenged and grilled incessantly about every. single. issue. pertinent. to. the. planet.

Just like how if you proclaim to be a Christian, you will get things like:
“But you used to smoke”
“But you didn’t recycle your plastic cup”
“But you never volunteer your time”

I will not defend Christians or the Marina Bay Sands.

I just want to remind you, that being a Christian means that we have admitted we are sinners, and that we are striving to do better and walk God’s path.

Similarly, by partnering up with environmental NGOs, businesses are trying to be more sustainable.

And yes, we want the “worst offenders” – the most, in fact – come forth and let us help you.

m.