Undergraduate Rachel Tan created an Instagram account in July 2017 in a light-hearted bid to get her friends to practise eco-friendly habits.
Through the use of quirky language and humour, the 20-year-old would “nag”, urging them to reduce the use of disposables such as plastic bags and containers.
The account attracted followers who posted photos of themselves using environmentally friendly options for their purchases.
Ms Tan’s zero-waste advocacy account @nocarrierpls has over 1,300 followers. It comprises mainly pictures of people using metal straws, water bottles and tote bags in place of plastic ones.
“I think the best part is that we normalise the BYO (bring your own) culture,” said Ms Tan, a first-year National University of Singapore Geography student.
Ms Tan also uses the account for discussions on environmental issues, provide tips and at times hold giveaways for eco-friendly items such as reusable ziplock bags.
Despite the increased publicity, she has opted to retain the informal tone of the account.
The best part of it all, she said, was watching a community emerge out of concerted efforts by various green advocates.
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Source: The Straits Times, 30 May 2018