Environment council aims to double number of firms with 'eco certs'

Singapore Environment Council aims to boost green office practices     
Published in the Straits Times on Feb 25, 2012

By Carolyn Khew

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) hopes to double the number of companies certified for environmentally friendly practices by the year end. To date, 110 firms have received the Eco-Office certification, with 30 getting the nod last year. The initiative was launched in June 2002 by the council and real estate developer City Developments.

Background story

Started in 2007, it hopes to create awareness and encourage companies here to conserve energy in conjunction with World Environment Day on June 5. Said Ms Wong Yee Thing, senior executive of regional environmental management group at Ricoh Asia Pacific: 'We want to target organisations because most energy is consumed in offices. By reaching out to organisations, we're also influencing more people to save energy.'

To mark its 10th anniversary, an event was held at City Square Mall - Singapore's first eco-friendly shopping centre - on Thursday, where Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan presented certificates to organisations that had received the Eco-Office label last year.