Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

The ocean is often a forgotten treasure that should be more protected and preserved, and I wonder if it’s easily forgotten because a lot of the world’s population do not live near one, they don’t see it in their everyday life and therefore, they are not confronted by this beautiful ecosystem that holds a horrifying awful truth.

Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans. – Jacques Cousteau

Our client, OrcaNation, believes that the best way to make an impact is to introduce young, capable people and their families to the wonders of our oceans. Jeroen van de Waal, founder of OrcaNation, has even published a book titled “Together we can turn tides” that digests this hard and complicated topic into easy-to-understand terms with actionable next steps. We are proud to have worked on the branding of OrcaNation, which you can learn more about here.

As Singaporeans, living in a humid tropical island surrounded by water, we should know first-hand how climate change has impacted our lives with the unbearable heat often accompanied by insane thunderstorms. Yet, we seem to be living in our comfortable bubble, simply ignoring how the habits of our city-nomad lifestyle has contributed to the detrimental effects of the ocean ecosystem.

Some first steps you can take:

Say no to Shark’s Fins: As a Chinese myself, I must say this. The soup itself will not taste different by removing the Shark’s Fins, honestly it’s not needed and not worth the damage we cause to the environment. Begin by educating your family and friends, to request for it not to be served during family gatherings, birthday celebrations and wedding dinners. Let’s not allow the idea of showcasing our “Wealth Status” through a bowl of soup.
Say no to Microbeads in your Beauty Products: Here is an article that explains it all.
Always bring a Reusable Bag: So you are always prepared to say no to single-use plastic bags from shops. What’s surprising is that living in a city, we know we will always be buying fresh produce or takeaway food, but yet we do not get into the habit of carrying around a foldable tote bag? If we can do it when we go to IKEA, we can do it everywhere.
Buy what you need when you need it: Yes the season of sales are always very tempting, but you often end up buying more than you can possibly use and they go into trash. Trash overload do cause problems that in the end, indirectly affects our ocean. In Singapore, we burn or bury our trash, harmful substances that are released into the air and goes into the ecosystem. But how can we know for sure that our trash don’t end up littering the coastlines and into the stomachs of Sea Turtles? We need to be more aware of our consumption habits and not over-consume.
Educate yourself: Read up on the issue. There are many free resources available online or purchase a related book. “Together we can turn tides” is a good start.

Hope you have found this useful in your journey to contribute to a more sustainable world.