Singapore’s Green Labelling Scheme Crosses Major Milestone [Press Releases]

The Singapore Environment Council’s (SEC) Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS), which turns 20 in May 2012, has crossed an important milestone today with the certification of its 2000th product.

Helping the SGLS cross the mark is Aficio MP 2852 / MP 3352 by Ricoh (Singapore) Pte Ltd, a black and white multifunctional photocopier. Elaborating on the company’s commitment to providing value for money and protection to the environment, Mr. Vincent Lim, Managing Director, Ricoh Singapore Pte Ltd, said: “Ricoh is committed to providing quality products that serve business operational needs. Our products incorporate a host of sustainable, eco-friendly features that enable fast-paced offices to save money while conserving energy.” Read more

Singapore’s Green Label Gets A Global Boost [Press Releases]

Singapore’s Green Label, which turns 20 in 2012, is certified by Global Ecolabelling Network’s Internationally Coordinated Ecolabelling System

Singapore, 27 October 2011 – Singapore’s most recognised eco-label, the Green Label, which is administered by the Singapore Environment Council, today received a global boost when it was officially accredited by the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), an international non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance recognition, certification and labelling organisations.

2 The certificate of accreditation was awarded to SEC at the 2011 GEN Annual General Meeting and International Conference of the Global Ecolabelling Network in Yilan, Taiwan, this afternoon. Read more

11 recommendations to tackle climate change [News]

By Esther Ng, Today, 14 Oct 2011.

Free public transport during certain hours, quarterly food, electricity and water rationing, and farmers’ markets in housing estates are some recommendations the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) has made to NCCS 2012, the National Climate Change Secretariat’s public consultation exercise.

Top on the list of its 11 recommendations is a call for a more holistic transport strategy which encourages “behavioural change as a longer-term solution”.

For instance, schools could increase “bicycle parking areas” and get students living nearby to ride to school instead of having their parents drop them off.

Bicycle racks can be installed on public buses, so that people who wish to cycle to work, but live too far from their workplace, can split their commute between bicycle and bus routes. Read more

600 motorists go car-free for a day [News]

By Grace Chua, The Straits Times, 23 Sep 2011.

Some 600 motorists, made up of staff and members of the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS) and staff and customers of Fuji Xerox, left their cars at home on World Car-Free Day yesterday.

More ought to follow suit, suggested Singapore Environment Council (SEC) executive director Jose Raymond.

Instead of a single annual Car-Free Day, which would put sudden pressure on public transport networks, they could do it monthly or bi-monthly, he said.

World Car-Free Day is an international initiative that takes place on Sept 22 each year. Yesterday’s event here, organised by AAS and Fuji Xerox, may have been small, but the number of participants rose about 30 to 40 per cent from last year’s figures, when the event was revived. Read more

Five firms receive S’pore Environmental Achievement Awards [News]

By Vimita Mohandas, Channel NewsAsia, 11 Aug 2011.

Five companies received the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards (SEAA) on Thursday for playing a significant role in being environmentally responsible.

The award aims to inspire Singapore-based companies to commit to protect the natural environment.

Among the winners were Temasek Polytechnic and Greenpac which received the honour from the service and manufacturing industries respectively.

Temasek Polytechnic was also commended for its efforts to cut energy usage which translated to annual cost savings of more than S$1.5 million. Read more

A helping hand for those going green in Singapore [News]

The staff of Siloso Beach Resort are keen to expand their environmental initiatives but are often too busy conducting tours of its natural surroundings for guests.

With the launch of the Earth Helpers programme by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), they will be able to get a helping hand to do these tours, leaving them free to nurture other initiatives.

At SEC’s Earth Day celebrations yesterday, chairman Isabella Loh said organisations have often raised the issue of having difficulty in finding the right people with the expertise and passion in managing or implementing environmental initiatives.

This is where the SEC comes in. Read more

Singapore Environment Council chief steps down [News]

The executive director of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), Mr Howard Shaw, has stepped down to join the private sector.

Recognised by many as the public face of the non-profit, non-governmental organisation, he will be a corporate adviser to the council, helping to guide the new executive director, whose name has not been announced.

A well-known advocate of environmental sustainability, Mr Shaw, 40, has been at the Halcyon Group as its senior vice-president of corporate social responsibility since last Friday.

The group is an investment holding company headquartered in Singapore, with businesses in rubber plantations and the offshore and marine sectors. Read more

Paint to come with a dose of green [News]

Singaporeans’ penchant for upgrading and pride in their homes have propelled them to the top ranks of paint consumers in the world.

The republic uses an average of 47kg of paint per capita – among the highest in the world, according to research firm IRL’s profile of the Asia-Pacific paint industry published last June. It is expected to use 307,200 tonnes of paint by 2014, up 40 per cent from 2009.

And in tandem with growth, paint manufacturers are paying an increasing amount of attention to their environmental credentials. Read more

More New Offices Eco-Certified [News]

Singapore: Taking the effort to ‘green’ offices has paid dividends.

The latest batch of recipients of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) Eco-Office Label on Wednesday said they saw savings of between five and 30 per cent in utility costs.

Gammon Construction Quality Assurance Manager Thng Seng Huat said they made efforts to orientate the site offices to be north-south facing to reduce heat gain, cutting down the need for air-conditioning.

They have also designed the layout of lighting and air-conditioning at their offices to maximise energy efficiency.

“(The staff) make an effort to switch off the computer and also the wall switches when they are leaving the office,” Mr Thng said.

“After meetings, they switch off the meeting room lights. When they go out, they try to car pool. They cut down on overseas travelling by using the video-conferencing. Read more

Companies with Best Green Practices Recognised at Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards

At today’s Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards (SEAA) organised by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation (SMa), ten companies were recognised for their green practices and commitment towards sustainable development. The ten winning companies include:

SEAA Top Achievers Award

• Gammon Construction Limited – Promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the construction industry and committing to sustainability efforts at their project sites
• Samwoh – Pushing for the use of recycled aggregates in Singapore and using it for their new office building
• Siloso Beach Resort – Minimising the impact of the resort operations and preserving the natural environment

SEC-Senoko Energy Green Innovation Product Award

• Winrigo (S) Pte Ltd – Recycling of plastics and producing bio-composite made from polypropylene and rice husk fibre

SEAA Merit Award

• CDL; EnGro; Keppel Land; NatSteel; Panasonic; and ST Marine

At the award presentation ceremony, Ms Isabella Loh, Chairman of SEC, shared SEC’s new vision:

To be the preferred non-government organisation partner for communities, businesses and governments to achieve best-in-class sustainable city development in Singapore and beyond.

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