Sharing his views on whether the supermarket bag charge can break Singapore's plastic addiction, SMU Assistant Professor of Psychology Eom Kimin said that if “social rewards” like appreciation or compliment for using reusable bags can be paid in some form, this would also be “powerful for social animals like humans”. Addressing the perception that individual action matters less or is less effective than structural changes in the supply chain, Asst Prof Eom said individual actions have an impact when cumulative, and that this is supported by data. “However, as an individual, it is very challenging to see such cumulative impact when all efforts add up,” he explained. Providing information and tools to help people see the cumulative impact of working together is key, he said. This can increase the sense of efficacy as a collective, which research shows is a key motivator of climate action.