Grundfos shares how businesses can achieve sustainable operations at Singapore Polytechnic forum

Singapore, 19 August 2022 – To encourage industry partners and business leaders to foster sustainable practices in their operations, global water solutions leader Grundfos today took part in a sustainability networking and knowledge-sharing forum titled “Values-Based Green Transition – For Singapore Businesses” organised by Singapore Polytechnic (SP), alongside SP’s other strategic partners. Supported by the Singapore Green Building Council, the event was officiated by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, and Ministry of Transport.

The thought leadership conference was a key platform that brought together the region’s foremost industry partners and business leaders who shared their expert knowledge and renewed their commitment on sustainability, as well as to charted tangible and achievable initiatives that combat climate change within their organisations.

Moderated by Philip Lim, CEO, Aquinas Global Mentor-at-Large, Audacity, panelists at the event included Dr Amy Khor; Mr Humphrey Lau, Head of Industry Sales, Grundfos; Mr Assar Qureshi, Regional Energy Counsellor, Danish Embassy; and Mr Atsushi Taira, Managing Director, Mistletoe Singapore Pte. Ltd, parent company of Audacity.

With a focus on knowledge sharing by environmental and industry leaders, the participants shared their goals and best practices in driving sustainability to align with Singapore Green Plan 2030, discussed the impacts of the value-based green transition on businesses, as well as how SP and its strategic partners have supported businesses in their sustainable development transformation.

Commenting on the conference, Mr Humphrey Lau, Head of Industry Sales, Grundfos, said, “Singapore’s sustainability milestones are high on the national agenda, and the manufacturing industry has an important role to play, being the most energy-intensive sector in Singapore. With sustainability being a key part of Grundfos’ DNA, we recognise that to achieve the needed progress we cannot work in silos. Partnerships between industry players and educational institutions like Singapore Polytechnic allow everyone to tap into important industry expertise, knowledge, best practices, and new innovation with a focus on energy and water efficiencies.”

“From there, we can then identify the key steps needed to advance Singapore’s sustainability efforts more effectively. Today’s robust discussion is a demonstration of this, and hopefully the insightful takeaways generated from today’s panel will spark some new ideas to help industries strengthen their business through sustainable operations,” he concluded.

The event also featured a tour of Grundfos’ demo truck, where guests were able to experience Grundfos’ range of world-class sustainable water technologies and understand how these solutions can help industries reduce their carbon footprint, from energy optimisation to improving the overall product sustainability with eco-design principles embedded through the entire product life cycle.

Moving Towards a Low-Carbon Future

During the event, SP also announced the set-up of its latest research centre – the Environmental Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Centre (ESEE). Singapore’s transition to a low-carbon economy is critical to ensure that the nation moves in tandem with the ongoing global efforts on sustainable development as well as to leverage new opportunities in the emerging green economy. As such, it is important to help enterprises and the workforce harness sustainability as a competitive advantage, invest in innovation and seize new growth opportunities in the green economy.

As a ‘one-stop centre’ to bridge this gap, the ESEE will support and streamline the green transition journey for large companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by offering a comprehensive suite of carbon emissions and carbon management consultancy services and solutions to industry partners. These include, among others, a sustainability programme to train them on sustainability, energy and carbon management, and masterclasses on best industry practices. The ESEE will be looking to collaborate with SMEs from the built environment, manufacturing, cold chain, food services and lifestyle, maritime and engineering services, and electric vehicles and land transport industries.

Additionally, the ESEE will leverage on the polytechnic’s extensive strategic network of industry partners and collaborators – through the SP Alliance & Network (SPAN) initiative which includes government agencies, companies, trade associations and chambers, and SP’s alumni community – to support corporations and SMEs in their climate action journey. EESE’s partnership with SPAN will empowers like-minded enterprises to share invaluable resources and knowledge, via a central hub to tackle teething issues such as operational costs and administrative processes, hence translating to more efficient work processes and lower costs in the transition towards sustainable operations.

Mr Soh Wai Wah, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of SP, said, “Decarbonisation is a top priority for Singapore today, and all enterprises have a vital role to play in transiting towards a low-carbon future. SP’s new Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Centre is the one-stop hub where SMEs can expand and deepen their knowledge and understanding of their sustainability strategies and challenges, and gain access to practical solutions to achieve their goals. Together, we will move them closer to net zero in their transformation journey in building greater business resilience as the world goes greener.”