Eco-Warriors Unite!

In primary school, little Li Chan used to nag her at her sister Cressa over her excess of use in toilet paper. “I used to tell her one or two sheets were enough all the time,” she admits. In addition to that, school mostly consisted of reusing rough paper, and arranging recycling systems and organizing seedling replanting as the chair of her Green Club.

As she matured into womanhood, so did her eco-friendly ways. Geared towards women, Li opened Fem Choices two years ago, which sold reusable menstrual cups and cloth pads. However, this year, Li decided to expand to a concept, which completely reflected her eco-friendly life. Enter Tiny Tapir, a store that sells only ecological or organic products, spanning everyday products from reusable cutlery and bottles to reusable diapers.

“I think being eco-friendly actually empowers me by forcing me not to be a mindless consumer – the simple act of using a reusable bag makes me more aware about the wastage in packaging and the impact of my purchases,” Li explains. And perhaps thanks to Anya Hindmarch’s “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” campaign, shopping bags seem to be all the rage right now. Tiny Tapir’s printed shopping bags are foldable, adorable, waterproof, and can even store up to 23kgs worth of goods. So help the environment, save the world, while toting a fashionable piece of eye candy. Li says, “A little green deed can make a difference, and you’ll come to find that it’s much easier to adapt to than you initially thought. If we don’t do even the teeniest bit to help, we’ll regret it when Mother Earth falls apart more than it already has.” So do your bit and visit their showroom at 9, Lorong Damai 9, off Jalan Damai, Kuala Lumpur 50450, Malaysia, or check out their site at www.tinytapir.com.

Text Claudia Low