Green is gold for earth-friendly firms
The humble paper food container won a top environmental award.
Sun, Jun 15, 2008
The Straits Times
The humble paper food container won a top environmental award on Wednesday. Microwave Packaging, the company that developed the eco-friendly replacement for plastic and styrofoam takeaway containers, was one of four firms honoured at the Singapore Green Summit.
Here are the three others.
Hotel recycles materials
Singapore Environmental Achievement Award
What award is for:
Excellence in environmental management practices
Top achiever: Property developer CapitaLand
What it did:
- Used a tracking system to assess the environmental performance of 150 properties worldwide. The system examined aspects such as energy and water use, waste generation and carbon dioxide emissions
- To cut down on energy and water use, the company made it compulsory for all its properties to have eco-friendly features. They include systems that collect rainwater, solar-powered lighting and carbon monoxide monitors
- Installed waterless urinals
- Preserved and relocated trees on its properties
- Educated children on environmental conservation with outdoor activities
Property developer collects rainwater, preserves trees
Singapore Environmental Achievement Award
What award is for:
Excellence in environmental management practices
Merit winner: Grand Hyatt Hotel Singapore
What it did:
- Overhauled its air-conditioning and ventilation systems to make them more efficient
- Installed automated taps in common restrooms to save water
- Recycled materials like used print cartridges, newspapers and boxes
- Recycled water used for laundry
- Recovered condensation from air-conditioning systems
- Installed solar films, which help keep guest rooms cool
- Used motion-activated lights
Ship interior-design firm turns off its air-cons at 6pm
Inaugural Efficiently Developing Growing Enterprise (Edge) Award
What award is for:
It recognises small- and medium-size businesses that invest in energy efficiency and environmentally friendly technology
Winner: Ship interior-design and refurbishment company Marc-Plan
What it did:
- Incoming faxes are stored on the company's server and circulated through e-mail, saving paper and ink
- Old office furniture is refurbished and used at the firm's offshore factory
- Employees are encouraged to turn off their PCs at the end of the day
- Office air-conditioning units are switched off at 6pm
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Jun 13, 2008