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Join the iBuildSG Club to learn more about Singapore's built environment - and sustainability!
Ever wondered how iconic buildings like Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade are built? What makes a building “green”? What are some sustainable features to consider when designing a building?
Recently, Terra SG was appointed by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) to manage a new club for students who are interested in learning more about Singapore’s Built Environment (BE) - the iBuildSG Club!
Members of the iBuildSG Club will get access to exclusive programmes and activities that explores Singapore's exciting built environment including:
- Learning Journeys to iconic built structures in Singapore
- Hands-on Workshops relating to the STEM industry
- Networking Sessions with Industry Professionals
- National Competitions
All interested students from local schools and institutions of higher learning are welcome to join the Club - for free!
Students who would like to join the iBuildSG Club will need a nomination from a teacher or lecturer. Please write to BCA_iBuildSGClub@bca.gov.sg to nominate any deserving students.
In the meantime, please follow our social media pages (below) to learn more about the Built Environment and receive updates about the Club!
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Experience the Sustainable Singapore Gallery - in your school's corridor!
Located in Marina Barrage, the Sustainable Singapore Gallery is the flagship sustainability learning destination in Singapore. The Gallery's six zones provide an overview of Singapore's commitment to sustainability, explaining various sustainability issues through bite-sized infographics, interactive exhibits and more. It is an excellent place for students to learn about sustainability.
Taking inspiration from the physical Sustainable Singapore Gallery, Terra SG has developed a new Green Space concept that brings the best bits from the Sustainable Singapore Gallery right into your school - by redesigning and transforming spaces such as under stairwells, walkways and neglected corners into a Sustainable Learning Trail!
The Trail will feature the 6 zones in the gallery and the key learning outcomes from each zone. With informative infographics and downloadable worksheets, students will be able to understand the different sustainability issues beyond the classroom.
This green space is created by upcycling perceived waste into useful and functional pieces, integrating environmental education into the formal curriculum. In addition to producing an informative learning space in your school, the Sustainable Learning Trail will also feature furniture that are upcycled from perceived waste. These include tables, shelves and planters made from disused pallet wood; and seats and shelves made from disused tires.
Excited to integrate this new green space into your school? Contact us at info@terra.sg and take your first step in supporting the Sustainable Singapore Movement!
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We have gone Digital!
In this new normal, with social distancing and other measures in place, it has become difficult to conduct physical events. But this does not mean that impactful engagements are not possible!
Here at Terra SG, we believe that sustainability education should never stop. We are excited to introduce our online sustainability events, where you can engage your audience meaningfully in many ways!
Let’s continue to share about sustainability, wherever we are.
Connect with us at www.terra.sg to find out more!
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An online upcycling workshop with Singapore Press Holdings
In June, Team Terra conducted an online upcycling workshop for more than 30 staff from Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). Though separated by screens, the live session was engaging and educational, proving that sustainability can start right at home!
Apart from learning about environmental sustainability, participants also tried their hands at upcycling. We shared how they could transform disused paper, files or magazines into functional wallets - all with common household tools!
This upcycled travel-lite wallet is perfect when you don’t want to carry a bulky wallet. It allows you to store notes and cards, and can be folded flat to fit snugly into your pocket or purse.
The SPH staff had an excellent time crafting their wallet from paper, files and magazines they found around the house, proving that everyone can take action for sustainability - even when you're staying home!
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iBuildSG Club’s first Digital Learning Journey
Are you looking for exciting activities to engage your students? Look no further! iBuildSG Club has started a new series of digital learning journeys for all students to participate!
On June 30, more than 100 participants joined us online during the first LIVE learning journey to the BuildSG Gallery (formerly known as BCA Gallery). The BuildSG Gallery showcases many fun facts about the infrastructure that we live in every day, and the processes that happen before buildings are constructed. Viewers also had the chance to participate by commenting their answers to questions on the interactive features!
If you missed it, fret not! Head over to iBuildSG Club’s Instagram page @ibuildsgclub to view the entire digital tour on IGTV!
Next Up:
Our next Digital Learning Journey will be to Henderson Waves on 29 July at 4pm! Join us as we share with you interesting building features that you probably didn’t know. Follow us on Instagram @ibuildsgclub to catch the latest updates on when we go live!
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Plastics vs. Glass - Which is the more sustainable packaging option for beauty products?
Beauty products comprise of a range of products that are used to care for the face and body, including skin care, personal care, cosmetics and fragrance. These products have become increasingly popular, as more and more products are released and marketed to the public.
However, the packaging for these products are often discarded after use. In 2018, 142 million units of waste were produced from beauty and personal care packaging alone! What really goes into the manufacturing and recycling processes of these products, and why is there still so much waste?
The top two materials used in packaging are plastic and glass. Which material is truly the most eco-friendly choice to package products?
Manufacturing
Glass packaging is created when raw glass is heated and cooled rapidly. This process requires huge amounts of fossil fuels to attain the high temperatures that allow the formation of glass. Furthermore, glass is denser than plastic, using up more resources than its plastic counterpart. As a result, glass packaging takes twice as much energy to produce compared to the same amount of plastic packaging!
Shipping
Glass is typically more fragile and heavier than plastic, which makes shipping glass items more expensive. Transporting plastic is also less costly in the environmental and economic sense, because it is lightweight and durable. It requires less gas and oil than glass to transport, expending less energy and leaving a smaller carbon footprint.
How good is it as a packaging material?
Some formulas can interact with plastics and compromise the integrity of the package. One example is perfumes - the alcohol and perfume oils can actually dissolve plastic containers! This is why fragrances are often packaged in glass.
As glass is a non-porous and impermeable material, the packaging and the products inside would never interact chemically, making it safer for use.
Recycling
Glass is 100% recyclable, which means that each time glass is recycled and remanufactured, the resulting product is of a similar quality. It is a closed-loop system, not creating any additional waste from its recycling process. Glass can also be reused after wash, extending its life cycle.
In contrast, plastics are known to have the risk of chemical leaching, making it dangerous to repurpose many times. Recycling plastic is possible, but it can degrade each cycle. This means that when you recycle a plastic bottle, it is not re-casted to make another bottle and is instead used for synthetic clothing or carpets. This process is often called downcycling. Plastics will eventually end up as waste.
The choice of plastic versus glass is not easy, because each material has its pros and cons.
The best thing we can do is reduce our reliance on anything that only offers one-time use. Instead, opt for an option that offers the same benefits but has less negative environmental impacts. Apart from beautifying ourselves, let’s help protect mother earth too!
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Want to look beautiful while staying sustainable?
Check out ‘Project Beauty Inside and Out’ to learn how!
Project Beauty Inside & Out is a social media campaign launched in collaboration with students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Diploma in Business & Social Enterprise. This three week-long campaign is aimed at creating a community that is interested in sustainable beauty.
What beauty practices are harming our planet? How do you choose sustainable beauty products? What actions can we take to help create a more sustainable world? Find out the answers with our Instagram stories, games, pledges and engaging posts!
Some topics covered include beauty packaging, cosmetics testing, manufacturing processes, and hacks to help you lead a sustainable lifestyle. Stay tuned for new content posted on our Instagram page @terravillage and get ready for exciting activities coming your way!
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The Sustainable Singapore Gallery is now open!
Our friends from the Sustainable Singapore Gallery are excited to announce that the gallery has finally re-opened!
If you would like to head down to the gallery, here are some things to take note!
1. Entry into the gallery is by pre-registration only. You can pre-register here.
2. Prior to entering the gallery, you will be required to take your temperature and scan the SafeEntry QR code.
3. In line with the enhanced safe distancing measures, stickers have been placed on the ground to demarcate standing areas.
4. To minimise touchpoints, all interactive features have been disabled.
The Sustainable Singapore Gallery team is working hard to produce exciting events and content for you online. Follow their social media pages - Facebook @ssgallery.sg and Instagram @ssgallery.sg to learn more!
 
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Launch of Sustainable Singapore Gallery’s e-School Programme
Can’t visit the Sustainable Singapore Gallery (SSG) physically for a learning journey? You're not alone - many schools are unable to conduct outdoors or out-of-school learning programmes currently.
But this does not mean that sustainability learning should stop! The SSG team is excited to announce the launch of SSG’s e-School Programme, and it's FREE for all schools and learning centres in Singapore.
The e-School Programme encourages active and interactive learning about sustainability for all students via digital platforms, which can be experienced right in the classrooms. The programme highlights key points from the rich sea of information available in the gallery, covering a range of topics, including climate change, energy efficiency, water conservation and waste minimisation.
Content is curated to accommodate to different learning levels, so that learning is easily digestible. With activities such as trivia quizzes and a variety of upcycling workshops to choose from, the digital experience brings the fun and education directly to schools!
Register for the e-SSGSP via this link: http://tinyurl.com/essgsp. Remember to act fast - sessions are limited!
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