GrEen SeCreTs

After hours of brain-storming…

Hours of reading pop-up books for reference…

Hours of working on the computer…

Hours of drawing, colouring and cutting…

… Above and beyond all that,

2 LONG sleepless nights…

The Green Secrets pop-up book is FINALLY completed!

Well… almost.

On the way to CapitaLand, Calvin was still adding the final touches to the pop-up book on the bus:

HERE IT IS… “Hot out of the oven”!!! =D

This book was brought by the 12 youths to CapitaLand Towers this morning. With this book, they presented their 12 green secrets to the CapitaLand Green Committee.

To start things off, Mr. Tan Pang Yong did a short presentation on CapitaLand Group’s corporate profile to give the youths a better idea of what CapitaLand does. Before this presentation, I never knew how huge CapitaLand Group is. CapitaLand has footprints in countries in Europe, Asia and Australia. Under their arm, there are CapitaLand Residential, CapitaLand Commercial, CapitaLand Financial, CapitaLand Retail, CapitaLand International Leisure, Entertainment and Conventions and The Ascott Group. Impressive, isn’t it?

 

The 12 of them, sitting in an arc…

Following the corporate presentation, Kenny did an introduction of what the Creative Youth Xchange is and how the whole idea came about.

Hmmm… why did Kenny turn around to look at the slides when he didn’t prepare any slides for the presentation? =P LOL!

So, what exactly is all of this, and what are the youths going to be presenting?

“Creative Youth Xchange in association with GardenAsia and CapitaLand focuses on unleashing simple green innovations that can be incorporated to make convenient our daily lives. The Green Secrets pop-up book is a compilation put together by 12 youth from various parts of Asia, mainly Singapore, China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. The designs are a proposal for incorporation of green ideas into Plaza Singapura. Although the designs act as individual creations, it follows a sequential flow, coming out of one spirit, Green Secrets.”

Introducing… the panel of judges…

Admira steps up to the plate and does an introduction on the behalf of all the youths…

Li Min giving out her handmade CYX ZoCard fans to the judges… I’m sure they will keep it as souveniers =)

FINALLY! The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here… Let’s start!

First group to present… the group who came up with Pre-emptive green ideas.

Yu Shan did the opening introduction for her group =) Yu Shan, I really like your presentation style, always so calm and composed… though a little shy… but you express and articulate your thoughts and ideas VERY well =D

Designer: Bao Xiao Xiao

Product Name: Green Hand

Idea: To allow shoppers carrying multiple bags to loop them all into a holder, making carrying the bags more convenient and less strenuous on their hands. Green Hand is made from used toilet paper roll core.

Designer: Lin Yushan

Product Name: Twee

Idea: To encourage shoppers to reuse their shopping bags, and reduce the usage of plastic bags. Twee is a trendy foldable recycled paper shopping bag with a rattan casing. The rattan casing serves as a storage case when bag is not used and a bag handle when in use. Twee is made from recycled paper and rattan.

The panel of judges loved the ideas… they even started giving our youths ideas to improve the products =P

The fact that these youths made the pop-up book by themselves impressed the judges too =D They enjoyed the creative way the presentation was done… Definitely something different from powerpoint presentations.

See their happy and excited faces *points below* ^_^

Designer: Ong Li Min

Product Name: Paddie

Idea: A pouch for females to dispose used sanitary pads in a hygienic manner. A stack of Paddie pouches will be suspended on a string next to the toilet paper dispenser for easy and convenient access. By tugging on the pouches, Paddie will detach from the string and be ready for use. Paddie is made from recycled paper and magazines. 

Designer: Chua Tin Giap, Calvin

Product Name: Ha-ha Leaf

Idea: A disposable baby changing mat for parents to lay their babies on while changing their diapers. The mat comes with a drawstring that allows the parents to turn the mat into a bag for containing soiled diapers, before disposing into the trash bin. This product helps to ensure hygiene in the changing room and disposal of diapers. The mat comes in 3 sizes, small, medium and large. Ha-ha Leaf is made from recycled paper and organic cotton wool.

Designer: Mikko Fong

Product Name: GreenSole

Idea: A disposable, eco-friendly, non-woven shoe wrap with an elastic band at the ankle to accommodate to varying sizes. Allows users to cover their wet shoes on a rainy day, and prevents shoppers from slipping on wet floors in the shopping mall. GreenSole is made from eco-friendly materials and organic cotton fabric.

Designer: Tang Chien Lin

Product Name: Bag Roll

Idea: Already a product that exists in the market, this is a plastic bag used for carrying wet umbrellas into indoor areas. However, instead of a standard size, Bag Roll comes in 2 sizes, one for the full size umbrellas, and the other for the foldable umbrellas. This helps to reduce plastic wastage for shoppers using the foldable umbrellas. Bag Roll is made of plastic.

Designer: Linda Yuliana

Product Name: Infox

Idea: A box, the size of a namecard, that holds cards and booklets with environmental information and do-it-yourself project ideas. The box can also be used as a namecard holder. The 2 slits at the bottom of the box makes it stackable and can be used as a toy for children.  Infox is made from recycled paper, plastic and cardboard.

Second group to present… group who came up with Reactive green ideas.

Designer: Admira Pustika

Product Name: Bagcharia

Idea: A re-usable shopping bag that unfolds into a chair. This product is targeted at the teenagers as it allows them to carry their shopping items, as well as take a sit when waiting for friends, for a movie to start, or in a crowded food court. Bagcharia is made from recycled cardboard and cloth.

Third group to present… group who came up with Adaptive green ideas.

Designer: Sangeeta Ramakrishnan

Product Name: Cart-A-Pram (CAP)

Idea: An adjustable clip that can be fastened to baby strollers and trolleys and is used for carrying additional bags. CAP is made using cardboard, padded with bubble wrap, plastic buttons and hooks.

Designer: Do Nguyen Lap Xuan

Product Name: COMBE (Care of My Better Earth)

Idea: Disposable comb that can be used up to 3 times. COMBE is made from recycled cardboard.

Last but not lease, group with Failsafe ideas =)

Designer: Huang Zhi Ming

Product Name: Lampedia

Idea: For exhibiting, showcasing and promoting products, ideas and for spreading information and creating greater awareness. It also serves as a lamp. Lampedia is made from used tin cans/ box cartons and a bulb.

Designer: Ling Han

Product Name: Hidden Space

Idea: Multi-function reclinable seats that occupies minimal space and maximizes available space. Bottom of seats can be used as an advertisement bulletin.

DONE!!

12 Green Secrets have been revealed… now it’s up to the panel of judges to decide which secret to implement =)

The judges were VERY much impressed, to say the least…. this is probably something new to all of them, and having heard such refreshing and creative ideas, they were all smiling at the end of the presentation =D They were very receptive of the ideas, and at the same time inquisitive and interested in what the youths had to say. The judges were also very open-minded, which made persuading them a ton easier. Going the extra mile…. the judges even provided good suggestions and raised valid concerns for the youths to ponder on and consider.

Kenny wrapped things up for the day… and that was that!

After the presentation, everyone proceeded for a short tour around CapitaLand’s showroom… There, they got to see models of properties owned by CapitaLand.

 

Found out from Johnny that there are people whose job is to make trees for models like these… ONLY trees, nothing else. What are these people called? Hmm… maybe Tree Model Experts? ^_^

After the tour of the exhibits, they were free to go for the day. Everyone headed back to the Singapore Sports School for a well-deserved afternoon of ZZzzZzZzz =D Johnny made it clear that EVERYONE should sleep… no sneaking out into town to go shopping, sight-seeing or partying =(