30 July 2007
Beginning from August 2007, Cathay Cineplexes will be the first entertainment company to participate in the NEA’s Bring Your Own Bag Day (BYOBD) programme.
Launched by the NEA in April this year, the programme encourages shoppers to use re-usable bags as often as possible so as to reduce wastage of checkout bags. The programme, which takes place on the first Wednesday of each month, encourages shoppers not to take checkout bags if they do not need them, particularly for small purchases. Shoppers who need checkout bags are prompted to make a donation of 10 cents per bag as a reminder to conserve resources.
Cathay Cineplexes used some 40,000 plastic bags for its patrons in 2006. The number is expected to rise to more than 50,000 with the recent opening of Cathay Cineplex at AMK Hub and another cineplex in Downtown East towards the end of the year. Though the volume used may not be considerable compared to supermarkets and other retail sectors, it is the company’s intention to promote the “Recycle, Reuse and Reduce” message to its patrons. Cathay will be targeting to cut down the unnecessary issue of plastic bags at their snacks counters. For instance, patrons who purchase snacks for immediate consumption or who already have their own bags could choose not to take the plastic bags. Those who still want the bags will be prompted to make a 10-cents donation for each bag taken to encourage them to avoid wastage of plastic bags. The donations will go to the NEA’s programme for green initiatives.
Cathay Cineplexes are located at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, The Cathay, Causeway Point and AMK Hub which opened recently in June. The group will soon open a fifth cineplex at Downtown East at end of 2007 with 6 screens and 1,200 seats.
In 2006, Cathay Cineplexes Cineleisure Orchard, Causeway Point and The Cathay (which opened on 24 March 2006), contributed 4.8 million to the total nation wide cinema admission figures of 16.9 million. The group is well positioned to promote the message to wide audience of all ages.
Says Suhaimi Rafdi, President, Cathay Organisations Holdings Ltd, “We hope that more organisations will step forward and be encouraged to join the green programmes initiated by the NEA. It is through combined efforts, no matter how small, that we will be able to promote the message of caring for the environment”.
NEA’s CEO Mr Lee Yuen Hee is delighted to have Cathay on board as a partner in this BYOBD programme. “This shows that environmental ownership is rising in priority among organizations. We hope that more organizations will follow suit and join in the national effort for a sustainable environment ”, said Mr Lee.
Cathay Organisation has launched its own internal green initiatives in its business office and buildings which the group owns. Cathay Organisation also intends to produce a trailer to be screened at all its cinema halls and buildings to reinforce the message of caring for the environment.
< BACK |
