Singaporeans are being affected by the chronic haze pollution caused by forest fired in Indonesia.(Source : Reuters/VNA)Singapore has required seven major retailers to make it known to customers which wooden, paper and pulp products are made in a sustainable fashion as part of efforts to end the chronic haze pollution caused by forest fires in the neighbouring country of Indonesia.
The haze pollution in the region, which has lasted over the past two months, is mainly caused by burning forest to reclaim land for planting oil palm trees in Indonesia, an important source of income in the Southeast Asian country.
On October 7, the retailers including NTUC FairPrice, Watsons, Guardian, 7-Eleven and IKEA were asked to specify which products are not related to companies accused of causing forest fire in Indonesia.
According to HM.Haze, a Singaporean website specialising in studying and organising activities to fight haze pollution, palm oil products and paper that are made from palm trees cultivated in an unsustainable way cause long-term damage to the environment and local residents.-VNA
