Introducing cooking oil certified by credible sources, including the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), is a step in the right direction ("Eco-friendly cooking oil now available at FairPrice"; Oct 19).

International schemes like RSPO can encourage firms to adopt green initiatives within their production line. Hence, initiatives like that of Fairprice will lay the foundation for further steps towards environmental sustainability, be it for the supermarket chain itself or for other firms to follow suit.

This is especially important as Asean aims to be haze-free by 2020.

There are two ways that businesses, like FairPrice, can effectively communicate the eco-friendly nature of their products to customers.

First, such products can be repackaged to attract more customers.

American entrepreneurs Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan of Method put their non-toxic and eco-friendly cleaning agent in slick, clear bottles that people would be attracted to and proud to display at home.

The packaging differentiated the eco-friendly brand from many others, while communicating the concept of environmental sustainability.

Second, the symbols of certifications should be clearly printed on the label.

Official symbols such as the Health Promotion Board's "Healthier Choice" can influence purchases. Likewise, RSPO's certification needs to be clearly printed on product labels. This will not only raise awareness about the eco-friendly aspects, but also better differentiate these products from others.

Wee Zongyang