14 March 2013

First environmental collaboration among Singapore’s telcos

Singapore, 14 March 2013 – Singapore’s three telecommunication operators—M1, SingTel and StarHub—want their customers to do their part for the planet by declining a shopping bag with their purchases for three consecutive days, from 18 to 20 March. If they succeed in getting 2,303 customers agreeing to do just that, the three operators will clean a stretch of East Coast Park together on 21 March.

This collaboration is in support of World Wide Fund for Nature, Singapore’s (WWFS) Earth Hour Challenge campaign.

The three companies will be counting the number of customers who decline a shopping bag at all their official stores and customer service centres (see Appendix for details) and hope that 2,303 customers—a direct reflection of Earth Hour’s date this year on 23 March 2013—will answer the challenge.

This is the first time the three telcos will be coming together for a concerted environmental effort.

“M1 is delighted to be partnering our customers and fellow telcos in this nationwide environmental challenge. We hope that many of our customers will be declining our shopping bags from 18 to 20 March, and help us play a part in this worthwhile cause," said Mr Ivan Lim, Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, M1 Limited.

“SingTel is delighted to collaborate with industry players to make this positive difference,” said Ms Aileen Tan, SingTel’s Group Director, Human Resources. “We have been encouraging staff to take little eco steps as well as participate in Earth Hour for the past few years. We hope this hands-on challenge will inspire consumers to do their part as well.”

“StarHub is happy to be a part of this two-tiered eco-friendly effort,” enthused Mrs Chan Hoi San, Head of Human Resource, StarHub. “This initiative will encourage more consumers to make a positive environmental impact through a simple action. I certainly look forward to seeing 2,303 customers declining a bag and I definitely cannot wait to clean the park with our friendly competitors.”

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