WWF-MALAYSIA applauds Universiti Sains Malaysia’s decision to prohibit styrofoam and other polystyrene material in favour of biodegradable food containers at its Penang campus.

In terms of both ecology and economy, the decision initiated by vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak is in the right direction.

Styrofoam and other synthetic material do not decompose easily and they can remain in landfills for more than 1,000 years.

During that time, these waste are bound to release harmful substances, including carcinogenic compounds, into urban areas and the environment.

Since these materials are man-made compounds, animals do not have a natural faculty to sense the obvious dangers.

Animals are known to choke on or get poisoned whenever curiosity gets the better of them. Plant roots also soak up toxins from these synthetics and pass them into the human food chain.

Burning up this material will not solve the issue either, as incineration releases noxious fumes and particulates which settle on water, plant life, and the human skin and causes air pollution.

We need eco-friendly alternatives, which make sound economic sense as well. USM’s initiative shows the way.

Eco-friendly biodegradable containers made of oil palm waste provide a timely solution.

These are among the many that can be used as substitutes in our plastic world.

They are manufactured from recycled material and will make it unnecessary to siphon additional resources from the environment.

Though these biodegradable containers have yet to reach economies of scale compared to its more polluting counterparts, it is Worldwide Fund for Nature-Malaysia’s contention that the crux of pricing depends on greater environmental consciousness and practice among members of the public.

Economies of scale are only achieved through greater adoption and utilisation. Numbers do count sometimes.

It is time for our corporate leaders to take the cue from the initiative of our students.

We hope Universiti Sains Malaysia will introduce the same eco-friendly concept at its Kubang Kerian and Nibong Tebal campuses.

DIONYSIUS S.K. SHARMA, WWF-Malaysia, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – January 14, 2008