S’pore explores new technology to treat drinking water [News]

A new technology is being tested for its potential to treat drinking water in Singapore.

A S$5 million water treatment plant, which will use ceramic membrane technology to treat drinking water, has been built at the Choa Chu Kang Waterworks after two years of planning.

The “demonstration plant” is funded by a grant from the Environment and Water Industry Programme Office under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Read more

Only 53% of Asian family firms have CSR policy: survey [News]

While family businesses in Asia are engaged in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, not enough is being done to integrate it into their business strategies.

A report, conducted by CSR Asia in partnership with Family Business Network Asia – of Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia – found that while 87 per cent of family businesses surveyed participate in CSR activities, only 53 per cent had a CSR policy. Merely 39 per cent had clear CSR goals, objectives and targets.

Jenny Costelloe, country director of CSR Asia (Singapore), noted: ‘If there is no management approach, then it’s just separate initiatives that are not related to the business. The heart of CSR has to be corporate governance and a management approach to the issues most pertinent to each organisation.’ Read more

South East Asia’s leading event in the Build Green sector gains steady momentum with 45% new participants at Build Eco Xpo Asia (BEX Asia) 2011 [Press Releases]

Asia’s green building event, Build Eco Xpo (BEX Asia), announces that it will see more than 45% new participants at the 2011 edition, making BEX Asia 2011 an even more important platform for the BUILD GREEN industry.

Staging its 4th edition this year, BEX Asia 2011 is expected to draw some 250 participating companies from over 25 countries, showcasing the latest environmentally-friendly building technologies, products, concepts and solutions. Major players confirmed include Carrier, Daiken, Johnson Controls, Lafarge, Legrand, Lutron, Onna Prima, ParexDavco, Philips, Trane and Toshiba, among many others. BEX Asia 2011 will also presents five country/region pavilions, namely Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. Read more

Singapore International Water Week 2011 set to offer the latest insights into opportunities in the global water industry [Press Releases]

Singapore, 28 June, 2011 – The Singapore International Water Week 2011 today announced that in just four years, the annual global water event has grown to become the leading platform for the latest in water technology and sustainable water solutions, attended by policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners from around the world.

Set to take place from 4 to 8 July this year at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, the fourth edition of Singapore International Water Week will address the theme ‘Sustainable Water Solutions for a Changing Urban Environment’ and will also explore broader issues such as the effects of climate change and watershed management on today’s urban environment.

With five flagship programmes focusing on integrated water solutions – the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, Water Leaders Summit, Water Expo, Water Convention, and Business Forums, – Singapore International Water Week 2011 is set to offer the latest insights into opportunities in the global water industry, including research and innovation to the commericalisation of water solutions – delivering more value than ever to delegates and exhibitors with multiple opportunities to explore business collaborations and to access sustainable water solutions across the entire spectrum of the water value chain. Read more

SGX Introduces Sustainability Reporting Guide to Support Listed Companies [Press Releases]

27 Jun 2011 – Singapore Exchange (“SGX”) introduced today a Sustainability Reporting Guide (the “Guide”) for its listed companies. This follows a public consultation, issued in August 2010 that received widespread attention and positive feedback in support of disclosure and accountability for operating and developing businesses in a sustainable manner.

It has long been recognised that the way businesses operate can have long terms effects on the environment and society. More recently concerns about climate change, biodiversity, social and environmental risks have been heightened by crises and natural disasters. Global investors and other important stakeholders have called for companies to espouse sustainability and report what they do. SGX, as a responsible Exchange with global reach, has responded with a Guide for listed companies. Read more

A long way to go in sustainability reporting [News]

TOO few listed companies here are reporting their environmental, social and governance risks, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) signalled yesterday at the launch of its sustainability reporting guide.

SGX – which has not ruled out mandatory reporting of such risks later – urged companies to follow the guidelines that can boost Singapore’s global standing in this area and draw more investments for their individual businesses.

‘Let’s be honest here. There is currently limited mainstream sustainability reporting beyond corporate governance here in Singapore,’ said SGX chief executive Magnus Bocker.

‘We have the ambition to be a leading global exchange and we will never succeed to be that unless we are leaders when it comes to reporting.’ Read more

SGX issues guide to sustainable reporting [News]

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has released a how-to guide so firms can prepare ‘sustainability reports’ that show how they are reducing carbon emissions or improving labour relations.

The SGX believes an increased emphasis on a firm’s impact on the environment and society will help the community and give companies a leg-up for long-term growth. It wants all listed companies to release such reports but is not making it compulsory.

Some companies, including Olam International, Wilmar International, City Developments, Hyflux, Sembcorp Industries and Keppel Corp, already produce such reports.

The SGX is encouraging firms in industries that significantly impact the environment and local communities – such as agriculture, forestry, mining, energy and shipping – to issue the reports. Read more

Innovation in the farming industry [News]

While the farming industry has traditionally been associated with intensive physical and manual labour, urban-folk may be surprised to learn of the industry’s recent push for innovation and its embracing of technology.

Whether through the adoption of cutting-edge technology, or through simple adaptations of existing farming processes, Singaporeans are modifying conventional methods of food production so as to heighten productivity and remain competitive.

DJ Engineering, a local private engineering company, has tweaked the concept of vertical farming – which has taken off in Europe and Japan – for use in Singapore.

Vertical farming sees plants growing skywards in high-rise farms, which significantly reduces the need for large amounts of land – a plus in land-scarce Singapore. Read more

More nurturing for S’pore farming [News]

SINCE becoming a full-time farmer 14 years ago, Alan Toh, 47, managing director of Yili Vegetation & Trading Pte Ltd, has not travelled out of Singapore.

As the owner and head of a 4-hectare farm in Kranji, he runs one of the bigger vegetable farms in Singapore, where vegetable farm sizes are generally 1-2 ha. Not only does he have to deal with buyers, he is also a hands-on breeder, capable of tending to the crops, adjusting methods according to weather patterns in order to maximise yields. But a lack of management talent meant that he’s had to handle all of the decision making himself.

With just six years’ worth of lease left on the land he operates, he is now at a crossroads. ‘Farming is a good business, but we are facing too many obstacles and limitations,’ he said in Mandarin. ‘We would like to do more but if we don’t get an inflow of new people, sustaining the sector will be tough.’ Read more

Government to commit S$400m on urban sustainability R&D [News]

The government will commit S$400 million to spearhead research and development (R&D) in urban sustainability.

This was announced at the first ever Urban Sustainability Research and Development Congress on Monday morning.

The congress will see some 800 participants from government agencies, research institutes and the private sector discuss R&D responses to urban sustainability challenges.

The congress will bring together 12 government agencies, which will discuss R&D priorities in five key areas including Sustainable Urban Living, and Urban Ecology and Food. Read more

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