What are some priority initiatives undertaken by SCIC?

Since the introduction of carbon tax regime for Singapore in 2019, SCIC has been proactively engaging the relevant statutory agencies (MTI, EDB and NEA) in the review processes to ensure appropriate policies are laid out to uphold the competitiveness of the industry as we aim for a lower carbon future.

Plastic waste management has been one of the most pressing issues at a global scale. As such, SCIC is playing its role in managing the plastic waste by staying in close consultations with NEA on initiatives such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Mandatory Packaging Framework (MPR) to develop suitable regulations that can be adopted by the industry. In addition, SCIC has also been collaborating with National Environment Agency (NEA) and Public Hygiene Council (PHC) on drives such as the “CLEAR SHORES, CLEAN WATERS” beach clean-up campaign and the sustainability conference, both of which are annual events that aim to raise greater awareness on plastic waste management and recycling. SCIC was also the co-founder of the Plastic Recycling Association of Singapore (PRAS), which provides a platform for joint efforts of recycling initiatives in Singapore.

SCIC and its member companies are involved in various activities and discussions with the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), an organization that has rallied over 90 member companies and works with companies across the globe with the ambitious goal of ending plastic waste. SCIC has also been the national administrator of Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), a program designed to achieve zero plastic pellet, flake and powder loss in operations across the plastic value chain by incorporating appropriate operational policies.

SCIC also supported Dow’s “Permanent Waste Collection Eco-System” by providing financial contribution to drive the initiative, which aims to collect used shoes in Singapore using Orange Bins and recycle them to produce sports infrastructure.

The Standards Development Organisation (SDO), a sub-group in SCIC, offered its share of support to the chemical sector by taking on the management of the Environment and Resources Standards Committee (ERSC) in 2019. ERSC upholds the development and adoption of standards for climate change mitigation and adaptation, circular economy, water management, sustainable energy, sustainable finance and clean technologies.

How is the industry performing two years since the start of the pandemic?

Many industries have faced unanticipated changes due to the pandemic and the chemical industry is no exception. On one end, Covid-19 caused the reduction in the demand for certain products, which ultimately caused an impact on the respective manufacturers. However, the increase in demand for essential materials such as medications, protective equipment, packaging boxes for food and items purchased via online platforms also allowed many chemical companies to successfully sustain themselves during this crisis. As the nation eases the safety regulations this year, chemical companies are commencing their offline meetings and events, which yield better results than simply conducting them online.

How do you note the impact of the pandemic in pushing the digital transformation agenda of chemical companies?

The pandemic has called for a transformation in the way the industry operates as restrictions in gatherings and working from home arrangements have increased dependency on virtual applications and the internet. This change accelerates the chemical sector’s transition to industry 4.0, which involves digitalization and innovation by involving automation and increased reliance on wireless operations. Chemical companies have also increased remote working via online applications, leveraged digital courses to upskill workers and incorporated greater levels of automation to deal with the impact of Covid. The two years of pandemic have enhanced the industry’s digital and innovative arsenal, which can be used to boost the output of the offline events in aspects such as marketing and better communication.