![[FULL] Mei Xin: “Only 9% Of Plastic Is Recycled In Malaysia”, On Phasing Out Single-Use Plastics By Renting Out Reusable Foodware Plastics From OPack](https://s3.castbox.fm/c5/ee/f9/6a8d1ef345b79e9ba0dac07cbeeab8d642_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Mei Xin: “Only 9% Of Plastic Is Recycled In Malaysia”, On Phasing Out Single-Use Plastics By Renting Out Reusable Foodware Plastics From OPack")
[FULL] Mei Xin: “Only 9% Of Plastic Is Recycled In Malaysia”, On Phasing Out Single-Use Plastics By Renting Out Reusable Foodware Plastics From OPack
Description
When I first heard of this new startup which has only been around for 8 months since the start of 2024, I had a lot of skepticism. Particularly, the way it solves the plastic problem because it actually introduces more plastic into the ecosystem. Sure, they could have introduced another material and still call it a green company, but I think the problem of single-use plastics is still there. The idea and concept of single use.
I get it, because it’s so convenient and far too much time saved if we just dispose of our containers and utensils after every meal. I am guilty of this too. The idea of introducing reusable plastics is not new and novel, but the logistics of having it in every corner we visit might just make it work. I see there is a huge hurdle for the team at OPack to encourage the switch to reusable plastic, or any other material in that context, but having collaborated with companies and event organizers, they are on track to make an impact never before seen in Malaysia.
But should there be a punish/reward system for this to be successful? I’ll let you make the verdict after you finish the episode.
Timeline:
[00:00 ] What does OPack do?
[02:34 ] Measuring her own plastic usage
[04:58 ] The feedback she got about her business idea
[06:07 ] How eco-friendly is the process of making her plastic products?
[11:30 ] The reason biodegradables are not on her list
[15:21 ] Green-washing and the reason why recycling rate is low in Malaysia
[18:35 ] Isn’t OPack producing more plastics?
[21:38 ] Aren’t there already reusable plastics?
[23:42 ] Partners of OPack
[25:42 ] Missing out on the consumer market
[30:53 ] Rental rate = Amount of single-use plastic avoided
[34:35 ] Is it already a profitable business?
[36:19 ] The pilot projects that kicked off OPack
[38:54 ] The single hardest part of running the business
[40:20 ] Large corporations still prefer single-use plastics due to the low cost of logistics
[43:27 ] Are deposit systems the best way to increase the rental rate?
[45:22 ] Why aren’t there more companies doing what OPack does?
[46:43 ] Can technology step in to help?
[49:11 ] CSR and ESG of companies matter to OPack
[54:58 ] She wanted to stop doing this back in 2022
[01:00:03 ] Her motivation to keep doing this
[01:01:05 ] Her day-to-day routine as a founder
[01:03:58 ] The last happiest moment for OPack
[01:05:55 ] Short-term goals for OPack
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com and https://www.epidemicsound.com/
![[FULL] Ep 2: A Day In The Life of a Makeup Artist based in Singapore - Janine](https://s3.castbox.fm/05/7f/04/cc9e36b2d52c8a6f0160770a37f4e6f111_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Ep 2: A Day In The Life of a Makeup Artist based in Singapore - Janine")
![[FULL] 2024 Recap | Learning About Misogyny, Cancer, Starting A Business, Property Investments And More!](https://s3.castbox.fm/3b/76/4e/8fc3473c8ad6f333db5968199b766247e1_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] 2024 Recap | Learning About Misogyny, Cancer, Starting A Business, Property Investments And More!")
![[FULL] Farah: “I Cry A Lot Because It Is Really Exhausting”, Handling More Than 10 Patients All At Once As A Surgical Nurse, Offering Kindness To Total Strangers](https://s3.castbox.fm/8f/e2/8d/b8270ddafc89167bac0f666b0b1ce3b84c_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Farah: “I Cry A Lot Because It Is Really Exhausting”, Handling More Than 10 Patients All At Once As A Surgical Nurse, Offering Kindness To Total Strangers")
![[FULL] Jia Yie: “Simple Giving, Simple Love, Simple Life, Love Life, Love Nature”, How She Runs A Sustainable GreenLife Project Founded By TuMa](https://s3.castbox.fm/bd/91/80/aff0111be2169045f6eb9f0300f367b144_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Jia Yie: “Simple Giving, Simple Love, Simple Life, Love Life, Love Nature”, How She Runs A Sustainable GreenLife Project Founded By TuMa")
![[FULL] Jing Wen: "Sugar Does Not Feed Cancer Cells", The Sweet Debate Of What To Eat When You Are Diagnosed With Cancer](https://s3.castbox.fm/fc/f5/33/ff4b8ae50cb3d8a2cc34b6ab224525edb2_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Jing Wen: \"Sugar Does Not Feed Cancer Cells\", The Sweet Debate Of What To Eat When You Are Diagnosed With Cancer")
![[FULL] Xin Hui: “It’s The Entire Concept And Package For Your Brand”, What Goes On Behind An Online Bakery Business And Keeping Up With The Trend](https://s3.castbox.fm/c5/f2/4d/bafeddd21c798ef3a7cf9b04c74c46f3cf_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Xin Hui: “It’s The Entire Concept And Package For Your Brand”, What Goes On Behind An Online Bakery Business And Keeping Up With The Trend")
![[FULL] Zul: “These Bajau People Are Not What People Portray Them To Be!”, Volunteering To Help Out These Bajau People In Semporna Malaysia](https://s3.castbox.fm/13/79/44/eda91aeaf26281157d9fd9083d914885e7_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Zul: “These Bajau People Are Not What People Portray Them To Be!”, Volunteering To Help Out These Bajau People In Semporna Malaysia")
![[FULL] Stephen: “Build Things People Ask For, Don’t Build Things People Don’t Need”, How He Started His Startup Called FireJet, A Solution By Developers For Developers](https://s3.castbox.fm/19/2d/68/a61b61bd024691b03913752f71c6770496_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Stephen: “Build Things People Ask For, Don’t Build Things People Don’t Need”, How He Started His Startup Called FireJet, A Solution By Developers For Developers")
![[FULL] Isya: “How You Do One Thing Is How You Do Everything”, Make Sure You Have Contracts To Protect Yourself When Starting A Business!](https://s3.castbox.fm/3a/71/a9/1fd979c26cef6f5890501f83679ab87afe_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Isya: “How You Do One Thing Is How You Do Everything”, Make Sure You Have Contracts To Protect Yourself When Starting A Business!")
![[FULL] Daren: "The Number One Reason Anyone Should Buy A Tesla Is Safety", From A Googler To A YouTuber Who Reviews Cars](https://s3.castbox.fm/a8/68/3f/7d595bcb6443ff68f3f7e8319d0d66ef78_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Daren: \"The Number One Reason Anyone Should Buy A Tesla Is Safety\", From A Googler To A YouTuber Who Reviews Cars")
![[FULL] Ashvin: “Some Rules Are Not Meant To Be Followed”, He Switched Schools A Lot When He Was Younger, And Went On To Run A Great Business](https://s3.castbox.fm/7e/68/8f/cc6b979ceb368c61ba2498c425bf9a9f8b_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Ashvin: “Some Rules Are Not Meant To Be Followed”, He Switched Schools A Lot When He Was Younger, And Went On To Run A Great Business")
![[FULL] Noel: “They Know Deep Down They Were Once A Small Kid”, Follow This Strength Training Program To Get Bigger!](https://s3.castbox.fm/80/e7/fa/0a1edec024d2d9814149263392b277294e_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Noel: “They Know Deep Down They Were Once A Small Kid”, Follow This Strength Training Program To Get Bigger!")
![[FULL] Shen Yi & Ameerul: “Dieting Means Tracking Your Food Intake”, The Benefits Of A Keto Diet, Intermittent Fasting And Special Foods For Diabetic Patients](https://s3.castbox.fm/67/50/9d/a640f445a01015fcd396d89eb8431c2bd6_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Shen Yi & Ameerul: “Dieting Means Tracking Your Food Intake”, The Benefits Of A Keto Diet, Intermittent Fasting And Special Foods For Diabetic Patients")
![[FULL] Ganesha (Part 3): "Buy Below Median Prices", On Diesel Price Hike And More Expensive Homes, The Border Between Tier 1 And Tier 2 Areas in KL](https://s3.castbox.fm/8a/7d/07/41c283ee0354bbb5a4013c83dc535eac05_scaled_v1_400.jpg "[FULL] Ganesha (Part 3): \"Buy Below Median Prices\", On Diesel Price Hike And More Expensive Homes, The Border Between Tier 1 And Tier 2 Areas in KL")
United States
