Rachel Kelly Channel NewsAsia 23 Feb 11;
SINGAPORE: Businesses need to think green when looking to the future -- and in Singapore they appear to be doing just that.
From making eco-friendly furniture to wanting to shape the Republic's policy on emissions, they see a role for action and advocacy.
Singapore-based Wilsin Office Furniture for instance, has come up with transformer-like-office-space innovation, which allows companies to expand and contract furniture.
Its executive director James Pang said with this innovation, companies can easily change the size of their furniture to suit the number of staff.
This is one example of how companies are innovating to come up with products that combine utility with environmental-friendliness.
On a larger scale, Shell's climate change advisor said companies in Singapore are interested in entering into a dialogue with policy makers on energy use and climate change.
That's because businesses don't want to be caught off guard by new rules and regulations on carbon emissions.
Shell climate change advisor David Hone said: "One of the things that business wants to do is be part of moulding that future, rather than just have it inflicted upon them.
"In fact, one of the reasons I'm in Singapore is that in the UK, Shell belongs to an organisation called the Corporate Leaders Group on climate change and there's a first meeting of interested companies in Singapore which may look (to) form a similar group here.
"The aim of this group is to take a leadership role in working and talking with the government on how it looks at the regulatory framework in the future in terms of carbon emissions".
Mr Hone added that the group may start off in Singapore, but may spread in the region as companies in Japan have also showed interest in having a dialogue with policy makers.
-CNA/wk
