
The greater use of 12 PET bottles
As early as eight in the morning, the void decks of HDB flats in Tiong Bahru were bustling with activities – more than 1000 residents were attracted to the programmes on the stage, the range of food stalls, recreational facilities, and an exhibition area set up by Tzu Chi volunteers to promote environmental awareness and responsibility.
Although no bigger than half the size of a badminton court, the exhibition area offered variety and substance. Among the displays, the eco textiles developed by Da Ai Technology Co. Ltd. attracted the most attention. From the video screening the production processes, members of the public found it incredible that the eco vest, eco blanket and other woven products were produced from post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate bottles (commonly referred to as PET) after further refining and processing.

In fact, 12 recycled PET bottles can make a 200gm shirt and 61 PET bottles can weave a 180x150cm blanket. Recycle and remake PET bottles into textiles not only prolongs the useful life of materials but also helps to conserve energy. When second hand materials are used in repeated production, the required energy is half of what raw materials would consume. Imagine the savings and the impact on energy use!
When Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, visited the exhibition area later that morning, he was equally intrigued by the wisdom of ‘transforming uselessness to usefulness’ after being briefed about the eco-textile technology. “Can this really keep warm?” PM Lee asked curiously while feeling the texture of the eco blanket. The volunteers assured the Prime Minister, to which he kept nodding in acknowledgement.

One resident, Nisha, commented that after watching all the images of disasters through news on TV, she had thought of but did not know how to contribute her effort. Now that she had discovered through Tzu Chi volunteers the relationship between disasters and conversation work, she realized that she could be helpful simply by making personal effort to protect the environment.
Lessons from inconspicuous trash
In addition to organizing the exhibition, around 30 Tzu Chi volunteers were seen among the crowd, donned in white caps and gloves, each with a trash bag on one hand and a pair of tongs in the other, surveying the site intently. Be it paper, plastic cup or smaller items like cotton buds and cigarette butts, they would bend down to pick them up, ensuring 'no trash is grounded' at the event site. Nothing escaped their sharp eyes.
According to volunteer coordinator Tan Suzan, the objective of the “Litter Free Drive” was to, “apart from spreading awareness, show by example and influence others through concrete actions”.

The exhibition lasted three hours and ended at noon. It is our fervent hope that more would engage in conservation, to protect and care for Mother Earth, and to purify our mind at all times.
By Chan Moh Boon, Ng Jia Han & Low Hai Loon
Translated by Chee Wai Yee
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