Behind the Scenes

Bite-Sized Sustainability Lessons I'm Taking Back to My Classroom: Tanty's Industry Attachment Experience

Feb 11, 2025

Tanty Suryani

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7 min

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What does pastry-making have to do with sustainability? More than you'd think! Like perfecting a recipe, sustainability involves small changes that add up to something bigger—shifting perspectives and sparking conversations.

Here's what Tanty learnt during her 2-week attachment with Green Nudge!

1. Hello Tanty! Care to share more about yourself and your role in the education sector?

I am a senior lecturer and mentor specialising in pastry and baking at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). This year marks my 16th year with the institution!

In my role, I guide and teach students, helping them refine their baking and pastry skills while preparing them for the dynamic and evolving demands of the culinary industry. I am also actively involved in the development of learning pedagogy and projects, with a focus on enhancing the educational experience. In addition, I contribute to initiatives like creating sustainability-focused modules. My goal is to inspire and empower future professionals to excel in both traditional and innovative culinary fields.

Tanty with her students

2. What made you interested in sustainability and Green Nudge’s work? 

My interest in sustainability was sparked when I was tasked with creating a new module on "Sustainability and the Care Economy." Through my research, I came to realise how crucial sustainability is to our daily lives, particularly in ensuring that resources are preserved for future generations. This insight has strengthened my resolve to incorporate sustainable practices into both my professional and personal life.

My fascination with Green Nudge’s work began during this research process. I have been truly inspired by the company’s innovative strategies, impactful initiatives, and steadfast commitment to sustainability. These qualities motivated me to pursue an industry attachment with Green Nudge. I believe this experience will be invaluable in deepening my understanding of sustainability and green practices, which will also enhance my ability to teach and promote these values.

3. Can you share an observation or experience that was particularly impactful during your time here?

The importance of small, intentional actions!

An experience that stood out during my time at Green Nudge was witnessing their unique approach to integrating sustainability with education. One particularly impactful moment was seeing firsthand how a well-organised clean-up effort goes beyond removing trash. It sparks meaningful conversations and shifts perspectives. The sheer volume of rubbish and plastic collected during the clean-up highlighted the pervasive nature of pollution and encouraged me to reflect on my own consumption habits. 

Another inspiring initiative was organising and participating in learning trails—visits to an e-waste recycling facility, the Bedok community trail, and the plant-based food trail.

Bedok Community Trail
Plant-based Food Trail
Vegan Nasi Lemak from Cup of Time Cafe Visit
Purple Rice Drink from Cup of Time Cafe Visit

These experiences demonstrated how small, intentional actions can effectively raise awareness and promote sustainable living practices. This holistic approach has motivated me to incorporate similar ideas into the sustainability and care economy module. By introducing such initiatives, I hope to inspire students to adopt small, impactful changes in their daily lives and contribute to a more sustainable future.

4. How do you think the work we do at Green Nudge can inspire change in the classroom or educational community?

The value of experiential learning!

Green Nudge’s work provides powerful inspiration for driving change in classrooms and the wider educational community. Their emphasis on hands-on sustainability initiatives, education, and community involvement offers a strong model for shaping lessons, projects, and mindsets.

Educators can adopt similar approaches by combining action with education:

  • Integrating activities like community clean-ups or upcycling workshops to enhance students' understanding of environmental issues. Addressing real-world problems, such as plastic pollution or resource waste, encourages creative problem-solving.
  • Engaging students in projects like designing waste-reduction strategies for their school or creating campaigns to promote sustainable habits. Green Nudge’s community-driven approach can inspire students to see themselves as catalysts for change.
  • Implementing student-led initiatives to foster accountability and advocacy for sustainability. Simple practices, like reusing rice sacks during clean-ups, highlight resourcefulness and can be extended to classroom activities that encourage students to rethink waste.
  • Amplifying the ripple effect by involving parents, local businesses, or community groups in green projects, ensuring sustainability efforts extend beyond the classroom.
Repurposing used soft plastics and bottles into ecobricks for functional stools!

Visited local cafe ‘Cup of Time’ as part of the plant-based trail!
Clothes Swap session with the community to reduce textile waste!

5. What is one sustainability lesson you’re excited to bring back to your students or colleagues?

The concept of “waste as a resource”.

Their innovative approach demonstrates how everyday items can be repurposed—rice sacks for collecting rubbish during clean-ups, fruit peels for making eco-enzymes, and coffee waste for creating exfoliating scrubs.

Repurposing coffee waste into exfoliating scrubs!

These practices highlight the power of creativity and resourcefulness in addressing environmental challenges. This lesson can inspire my students and colleagues to view waste differently, recognising that what is often dismissed as trash can be transformed into something valuable.

I plan to introduce activities where students transform food waste into useful, new products. For example, turning stale bread into breadcrumbs, croutons, breadsticks, or bread pudding. Such initiatives not only promote sustainability but also foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation—key skills for driving change in the care economy and sustainability fields.

A note from the Green Nudge team:

Thank you for your contributions, Tanty! Her curiosity, positive attitude, and valuable insights as an educator made working with her a truly enjoyable experience. The team is grateful for her fresh perspectives and looks forward to seeing her again. We wish her all the best in her journey as she continues to inspire and empower future generations!

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