DBS, a local banking institution, has unveiled a groundbreaking metaverse concept named “DBS BetterWorld,” a gamified adventure designed to showcase the potential of virtual spaces in promoting positive change. This metaverse experience is intended to draw attention to the global challenges related to food waste and highlight the endeavors of Businesses for Impact, a venture supported by the DBS Foundation, in tackling this issue.
In this interactive experience, participants engage in a series of challenges inspired by the five Businesses for Impact projects that are backed by the DBS Foundation, each with their distinctive strategies for addressing food waste.
One of these projects is Brewerkz, a Singapore-based craft beer producer committed to repurposing brewers’ spent grains, a byproduct of beer-making often discarded, into usable food products. Another example is Edible Garden Singapore, which advocates for urban farming and edible gardening as a means of promoting self-sufficiency in food production for city residents.
Players will immerse themselves in the metaverse, navigating a fantasy realm crafted by the bank. Throughout the journey, they will tackle tasks focusing on sustainability and the reduction of food waste, interact with fellow players, and have the chance to discover intriguing local landmarks such as the Merlion and characters from DBS’ miniseries, “SPARKS.”
Moreover, the metaverse interactions will have real-world implications. Players located in Singapore will receive additional rewards, redeemable through special QR codes accessible via DBS PayLah!. Additionally, virtual tokens may be introduced, enabling players to trigger tangible actions in reality, such as the bank’s potential tree-planting efforts, as disclosed by Karen Ngui, Head of Group Strategic Marketing and Communications at DBS and a board member of the DBS Foundation, during the virtual space’s launch event.
Ngui emphasized, “DBS believes that it is possible to leverage the metaverse as a force for good. It can be harnessed as an interactive platform to increase awareness of important ESG issues and creatively spotlight those who are finding innovative ways to address them.” She went on to state, “As metaverse technologies mature, we hope to create mechanisms for communities and businesses to translate the outcomes of their virtual initiatives to real-world impact.”
During the launch event, Ngui also underscored how the metaverse provides DBS with an opportunity to engage with a previously untapped demographic, including the youth. She emphasized that the initiative isn’t solely for entertainment but rather aims for purposeful enjoyment that triggers tangible positive effects in the real world.
