Sustainable Red Packet for Lunar New Year Gifting
A traditional environmental envelope that blossoms
Text: Juliana Jauw
Left-handesign BĪJ CNY Envelope
During the Lunar New Year, bright red envelopes, also known as hóng bāo, are often gifted to family and friends to represent good fortune and luck for the year. Traditionally, the design of the red packets was of crucial importance. However, in current years, the environmentally-conscious society has begun to innovate new ways of gifting without hurting the environment.
The printing and discarding of red packets contribute to paper wastage. The National Environment Agency’s website states that out of the 5.8 million tonnes of waste generated in 2020, 1.1 million tonnes are paper and cardboard waste.
Green Plant (Credit: Noah Buscher)
Banks Taking Bigger Green Steps During Festivities
In Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) encourages digital gifting of red packets, especially amidst the Covid-19 pandemic where physical gatherings are reduced. In the past years, major Singapore banks DBS, POSB, UOB and OCBC have also provided red packet collection boxes in bank branches to recycle used red packets.
Green Innovation: Plantable Red Packet that Blossoms
Singapore's first plantable sustainable stationery and lifestyle brand left-handesign created an innovative solution by designing red packets made out of seed paper. Instead of traditional red envelopes, these envelopes are painted with feminine florals set on a background of lush landscapes with nature as the primary focus. After receiving the money, bury the envelope in the soil and shower with sun and water for tomatoes or basils to blossom. BĪJ Abundance Envelopes can be ordered on https://left-handesign.com/.
With various environmentally-friendly innovations, let’s do our part this Lunar New Year by gifting red packets in a sustainable way, without hurting the environment.
