At Sembcorp Industries, all meetings start with a Sustainability Moment.
"During these moments, we share case studies of sustainable ideas and practices we can adopt in our day to day operations and personal life”, says Gwendolyn Loh, Vice President, Group Strategic Communications and Sustainability.
Gwendolyn (extreme left) with Sembcorp volunteers preparing the Sembcorp Cool House for its official opening. Picture taken on 18 March 2021. Picture credit: Sembcorp Industries.
To further encourage employees to break new ground on green solutions, Sembcorp has started running a Sustainability Moment contest. From large-scale ideas like the recycling of wind turbine blades to more day-to-day suggestions on replacing bottled water dispensers with piped water systems, the goal is for everyone to start thinking of how to incorporate green practices into their daily work.
Keppel Corporation also spreads greater awareness of sustainability issues through organising regular talks for staff and engaging the wider community. In November last year, Keppel partnered with the Sustainable Singapore Gallery to launch the “R.I.S.E to the Challenge” roving exhibition to raise awareness about the impact of rising sea levels and the urgent need for action. The programme is expected to reach over 200,000 people in Singapore.
Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (centre), accompanied by Mr Loh Chin Hua, Chief Executive Officer of Keppel Corporation (first from right) and senior management of Keppel Land at the launch of ‘R.I.S.E. to the Challenge.’ Picture credit: Keppel Corporation.
From trash to treasure
At Sembcorp, maintaining a circular economy, where resources are used efficiently to minimise wastage, is key to their business.
Ho Kee Hoe in front of Sembcorp’s Energy-from-Waste plant. Picture credit: Sembcorp Industries.
After retrieval of recyclables, industrial and commercial waste is transported by SembWaste (the company’s environmental services arm) to Energy-from-Waste facilities on Jurong Island.
The trash is then incinerated to generate steam for customers in the neighbouring facilities. What would have otherwise have been 280,000 tonnes of discarded waste, now becomes “treasure”, i.e. energy.
Integrating Energy and Environment
Similarly, Keppel has transformed itself on the sustainability front. Ho Tong Yen, Director, Group Corporate Communications, Keppel Corporation, highlights the progress that has been made. “Eight to ten years ago, many people would know Keppel mainly for being the world’s leading builder of offshore drilling rigs. Over the past few years, we have been progressively refocusing Keppel to be a provider of solutions for sustainable urbanisation,” he explains.
An example of this approach is Keppel’s Marina East Desalination Plant, a dual-mode desalination plant which can treat either seawater or rainwater drawn from the Marina reservoir, depending on the weather conditions. Other solutions provided by Keppel include green buildings and townships, as well as waste-to-energy solutions.
Keppel Bay Tower, where the Keppel Group headquarters resides, was also the first commercial building in Singapore to be certified a Green Mark Platinum (Zero Energy) building by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
Green Mark Buildings The BCA Green Mark award recognises developers, building owners and individuals who have made outstanding achievements in environmental sustainability in the built environment. For ideas on how to make your home and working environment a greener one, click here. |
Keppel’s solutions for sustainable urbanisation, such as its water treatment plants (pictured), contribute to meeting the increased demand for resources. Picture credit: Keppel Corporation.
Sustainability as a collective effort
However, getting everyone’s buy-in has not been the easiest of tasks. “Ten years ago, people did not understand what sustainability was. Sometimes, I needed to have very thick skin to get their attention”, Gwendolyn recounts with a chuckle.
Towards a greener future
Individual action and responsibility remain equally important as we strive towards a greener future – just ask Kee Hoe. “People in Singapore recycle often, but they are not necessarily doing it right”, he remarks.
He points to the high contamination rate of recyclables received at SembWaste’s Materials Recovery Facility, which sorts municipal waste collected across Singapore’s blue recycling bins. If consumers could do their part to place clean and recyclable items into these blue bins, this would mean a step forward in the country’s ambitions for a circular, zero-waste economy.
Similarly, companies can play an important part by undergoing their own green transformation.
What companies can do: 1. Increase staff member’s awareness of how they can go green 2. Invest in sustainable solutions 3. Ensure a low carbon and circular economy:
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While sustainability may not be a business for all companies, it is certainly everyone’s business to go green.
For more on the SG Green Plan and how you can get involved:
- 5-ways-you-can-support-green-causes
- 5-ways-to-eat-more-sustainably
- sustainable-shopping-tips-for-every-budget
- how-to-make-your-commute-a-more-sustainable-one
