More Singapore firms lauded for going green

3 companies honoured at Environmental Achievement Awards
Harsha Jethnani Straits Times 4 Aug 10;

SINGAPORE-REGISTERED companies appear to be adopting a green approach more enthusiastically, with three local companies being honoured at this year's Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards.

In previous years, only one company had been recognised.

Going the extra mile out of choice and not compulsion, the award recipients 'represent an emerging breed of green companies', said the chairman of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), Ms Isabella Loh, at a ceremony held yesterday at the Shangri-La Hotel.

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, who was guest of honour at the event, handed out the awards.

Gammon Construction Singapore was recognised for optimising energy and water efficiency at construction sites, including a site housing its own offices.

Internally, it has introduced a system that mimics a carbon trading scheme, encouraging employees to reduce their carbon footprint from work activities.

Green products supplier and construction company Samwoh wowed the judges with its use of recycled materials to produce concrete and green products for road maintenance, helping to address concerns of waste build-up.

The third firm to win recognition was Siloso Beach Resort which was given an award for its 200-room eco-hotel, built on a site which has been mainly preserved in its original state.

Winning the award has been 'exciting' and an added confidence boost for Mr Kelvin Ng, executive director of the resort.

He added that Singapore's green industry is still growing and education to raise awareness remains important.

Home-grown firm Winrigo was awarded the SEC-Senoko Energy Green Innovation Award for its production of eco-friendly plastic. Senoko Energy is the awards' main corporate sponsor.

The company recycles plastic and strengthens it with rice husk fibre to produce a material that can be used to make items such as cutlery and spectacles.

Recently, it also took part in a project facilitated by the Singapore Manufacturers' Federation (SMa) to develop by-products from local brand Prima's bran waste from food production.

The idea is to recycle waste and make use of renewable sources for production, its operations director, Mr Teri Teo, told The Straits Times.

Six other companies were commended with merit awards for making strides in using environmentally sound practices.

These were: City Developments, EnGro, Keppel Land, NatSteel, Panasonic and ST Marine.

Ms Loh told about 250 people attending the award ceremony that in the next few weeks, the SEC will be announcing a new certification for environment management consultants, so they are recognised here and abroad.

The council is also working with government agencies and other organisations to devise a framework allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to use environmental consultants at generous subsidies.

Previously, SEC was the sole organiser of the annual awards. This year, for the first time, the council is working with a partner, the SMa, in holding the awards.

Customers will not be willing to pay a premium for green products for too long, said SMa president George Huang.

Manufacturers can go green without being more expensive, Mr Huang said, stressing that higher productivity and better innovation are the way to go.