To say that NTUC FairPrice, Singapore’s largest supermarket co-operative, has been a pioneer in sustainability within the retail industry is no exaggeration. As early as 1983, long before ‘sustainability’ became a buzzword, the co-operative initiated its first push for sustainability, while doing good, by encouraging customers to donate and recycle used textbooks for low-income families.

“We see ourselves kind of like a catalyst and a changemaker,” says Chan Tee Seng, former chairperson for the Singapore National Co-operative Federation and the chief sustainability officer at FairPrice Group, Singapore’s largest food retailer and supermarket operator.

Over the years, the supermarket co-operative continued to build on this foundation. In 2007, it introduced the FairPrice Green Rewards Scheme to encourage customers to bring their own bags and cut down on plastic waste. Customers, who did so and made a minimum $10 purchase, enjoyed a 10-cent discount.  

This was followed by the opening of Singapore’s first eco-friendly supermarket in 2009 at City Square Mall, where everything from the biodegradable bags to the recycled store fixtures reflected their commitment to a greener future. The supermarket co-operative’s bold decision in 2012 to stop selling shark fin products set a new standard for ethical retail, and by 2019, when NTUC FairPrice co-operative became a brand of FairPrice Group (FPG), the supermarket had taken another pioneering step by introducing a plastic bag charge at select stores, leading the charge in reducing plastic usage across Singapore.

These early initiatives mirrored the growing global and national focus on sustainability, a shift that was later echoed in the Singapore government’s decision to implement a mandatory disposable carrier bag charge in 2023. “From the Government to retailers, companies to consumers, there are many players in the ecosystem, each with a part to play in protecting the planet,” Mr Chan adds. “For FPG, we knew we wanted to do first was to do the right thing.”

In his role as chief sustainability officer, Mr Chan isn’t just about steering the company’s environmental strategies. It’s also about educating both employees and consumers about the behemoth of the term ‘sustainability’. When he took on the green mantle, collecting relevant data became a prime focus. “We needed the right information to guide our actions,” he says.

In FPG’s vision, the supermarket co-operative, alongside the other retail entities, need to do their part to contribute to Singapore Green Plan, which sought to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Internally, the group has committed to halving operational carbon footprint by 2030, a target Mr Chan describes as “ambitious but necessary.”  

The challenge, however, lies in translating this vision into actionable steps across an organisation of FPG’s scale. According to FPG, there are around 230 outlets, including NTUC FairPrice supermarkets, the premium retailing arm of the supermarket co-operative FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra hypermarkets, Cheers convenience stores, and more.

“One of the biggest challenges is aligning everyone in FPG to the same level of understanding. It’s not enough to set goals; we must ensure that every employee is equipped to contribute to these goals,” he notes. This requires not just data collection and reporting, but a deep cultural shift within the company. Within FPG’s headquarters in west Singapore, reminders for staff to switch off electrical appliances or encourage them to reduce paper usage are displayed in prominent areas. Meanwhile, frontline workers have to attend a module on sustainability as per of their training.  

“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see our staff take ownership of these initiatives, knowing that their actions contribute to a larger purpose,” he adds. “Our employees are our greatest advocates.”

As the chief sustainability officer of Singapore’s go-to supermarket retailer, Mr Chan is mindful not to make empty promises. “It’s easy to undertake specific activities, but real change requires a concrete commitment to measurable goals.”

One of the primary areas FPG is focusing on is the transition of its diesel-fuelled vehicles to electric vehicles. Currently, the group operates a fleet of 400 vehicles, which will include 25 electric vehicles by the end of 2024. “Vehicles in our fleet contribute about five per cent of our carbon footprint,” Chan says, while acknowledging the need to be nimble and monitor technology and charging infrastructure to scale up on this effort.  

As with any supermarket or food retailer, refrigeration is vital to operations, yet it remains one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Mr Chan says that the group has committed to equipping all new and renovated stores with climate-friendly and energy efficient CO2 (R744) refrigerants, which have a significantly lower global warming potential compared to traditional refrigerants. “Our target is for all FairPrice stores to switch to CO2 or other climate-friendly refrigerants by 2045,” Chan states. As of 2023, four stores have already made the switch.

Mr Chan is not averse to alternative energy solutions to manage FPG’s electricity consumption. For a start, FairPrice Hub in Joo Koon has put in place a rooftop solar system, capable of generating 5.8 million kWh annually or enough electricity to power 1,374 four-room HDB flats a year.  

“Waste reduction is another critical area where we can make a tangible impact,” Mr Chan says. “It’s about creating a closed-loop system where nothing goes to waste.” FPG has since rolled out several initiatives aimed at reducing waste and promoting recycling, from reducing the use of plastic bags to introducing recycling stations across its outlets. More importantly, the Group has since committed efforts to divert food waste from the incinerators.

One way of doing so is redistributing surplus food from retail stores to food charities or through the community fridge restock initiative. For the latter, FPG provided communities and individuals in need with unsold but edible fruits and vegetables from their stores for free. FPG has since diverted approximately 1 tonne of food a month from disposal in 2023, its sustainability report states.

But this, too, presents challenges. “Changing consumer behaviour is never easy,” Mr Chan admits. “We have to educate our customers about the importance of recycling and sustainable consumption. It’s a continuous process of engagement and learning.”

As a co-operator at heart, Mr Chan’s advice to smaller co-operatives looking to embark on their sustainability journey is simple yet profound: “Start with small, actionable steps,” he advises. “Focus on areas where you can make the most impact, whether that’s reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, or educating your members. Sustainability is a journey, and every small step counts.”

Faces of Co-operator is a seasonal column featuring the stories behind co-operative employees and members. Here, we featured Mr Chan Tee Seng, former chairperson of the Singapore National Co-operative Federation and chief sustainability officer of FairPrice Group. NTUC FairPrice is part of FairPrice Group.

Established in 2019, FairPrice Group comprises four main social enterprises: NTUC FairPrice, NTUC Foodfare, Kopitiam, and NTUC Link.