The haze in Singapore has been a never-ending affair as of late. One day it’s here, the next it’s gone. While we’re out getting N95 masks or finding ways to stay indoors as much as possible, we might actually be contributing to our hazy skies.
Or more so, the products we purchase.
Major supermarkets in Singapore such as NTUC FairPrice and Sheng Siong have joined forces to boycott products of haze-linked firms. How do these companies connect to the fires in Indonesia?
Companies who are guilty
Most of them belong to companies with logging concessions from the government in Indonesia. A unit of Indonesia’s Sinar Mas group, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) is greatly under pressure from governments and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) because of its numerous concession suppliers in Sumatra. The concessions have recorded the highest number of hot spots of any firm.
FairPrice has withdrawn 19 APP-related products from its shelves
As of 7 October, 19 products have been removed from FairPrice. Only two of FairPrice’s house-brand paper products were affected. The APP-related products were sourced through a local importer, Universal Sovereign. However, 19 of these products may still be available at Giant, 7-Eleven and Cold Storage and other outlets run by Daily Farm group. These 3 supermarkets have halted all replenishing stocks, but will resume selling the remaining items.
Some of the APP-related products.
For a full list of products, click here.
Source: Straits Times