The greening of our lifestyle at home, work and play is crucial to the sustainability of our environment. It also makes business sense.

Every effort counts when it comes to protect our planet for future generations.

Global warming, pollution and loss of biodiversity have been attributed to an increase in human activities and negligent acts, causing harm to the environment.

The report issued in February 2007 by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change attests to this. It stated, “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal”, and highlighted that human activities have played a significant part in overloading the atmosphere with carbon dioxide.

These and many other environmental issues now top global agendas as people become more aware of the effects of global warming and its impact on their lives and on those of future generations.

Keppel is committed to pursue green strategies and processes in our businesses and encourage our people to adopt a green lifestyle.

Green practices at work

More than supporting the green movement, the Keppel Group has been implementing green strategies and practices in our business operations.

In developing property, we take great care to improve the quality of life while minimising the ecological impact.

Keppel Land’s latest developments The Tresor and Marina Bay Residences were conferred the Green Mark Gold Awards by the Singapore Building and Construction Authority for environment-friendly building practices and innovative green features.

Keppel Land is also redeveloping a new Grade A office building known as Ocean Financial Centre on the site of the former Ocean Building. It will be state-of-the-art in green and environment-friendly qualities featuring the largest solar panel system and the first hybrid chilled water system in Singapore.

Keppel Land plans to introduce green building technologies for all its new property development designs and rigorously conduct energy audits on current buildings to better manage them in a cost and energy efficient way. It also aims to obtain ISO 14001 Environment Management System (EMS) certification for its commercial and residential operations by end 2008.

Keppel Integrated Engineering (KIE), whose main business is environmental engineering, is focusing its research and development on energy-efficient recycling technologies for solid waste and wastewater. It is committed to reduce its carbon footprint and improve energy and process efficiency through value engineering.

A significant milestone achieved in 2007 was the adoption of a green blueprint for its businesses. This was followed up with workshops to seek employee feedback and promote ownership of the plan. Amidst its support of various community sustainability projects such as the ‘Bring Your Own Bag Day’, the company also held the Inaugural KIE Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Convention in October 2007 for employees and partners.

During the year, its Environmental Division, Keppel Seghers Engineering Singapore, achieved certification for ISO 14001 EMS.

In 2008, as KIE presses on to cultivate an eco-mindset in its employees, it is also rolling out green initiatives for its overseas operations. Another initiative would be implementing a ‘preference for eco-compliant vendor/supplier’ during tender evaluation.

A concept plan to irrigate and transform the surrounding area of the Doha North Sewage Treatment Works plant into an EcoPark was unveiled during the Foundation Stone Unveiling Ceremony in January 2008. The proposed EcoPark, if approved, is expected to be the first-of-its-kind to provide a green space for the local community to learn, work and play.

Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), led by Keppel FELS, has been conducting its steel blasting in chambers since 1997. Keppel FELS and Keppel Shipyard have long been certified with Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 and ISO 14000 EMS respectively. Keppel FELS Brasil has attained both certifications.

Keppel Shipyard took a step further to set up an Environmental Task Force in June 2007 dedicated to monitor environmental issues. In the US, Keppel AmFELS has conformed to Texas State Air Quality Permit and Federal Operating Permit requirements.

SPC’s co-owned Singapore Refining Company initiated a project to increase production of ultra low sulphur diesel or ‘clean fuels’ of Euro-IV standard by 2009. SPC’s Jalan Buroh station offers the cleaner Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to motorists with cars that can use CNG. Currently, there are about 500 CNG cars on Singapore roads, and the number is expected to grow with increasing environmental awareness.

Framework for a green culture

“Green practices are the new business imperative. We must set a clear direction, such as an environmental framework, to guide the Group in taking strategic strides to play our part in protecting the environment and our businesses. I urge Keppelites to zealously embrace every green effort and make it your way of life. Only then can we sustain our businesses and create greater shareholder value.”
- Mr Lim Chee Onn Executive Chairman, Keppel Corp

To further consolidate and align the Group’s myriad of green initiatives and provide a clear strategic direction, Keppel Corporation is planning to set up an Environmental Steering Committee (ESC) aimed at developing a Group-wide Environmental Masterplan. Members of the ESC are expected to comprise managing directors and chief executive officers of the business units as well as Group Corporate Communications and Group Human Resources.

The Environmental Masterplan would set out the Group’s green vision, policies, directions and framework for the next five to 10 years. The framework would outline how Keppel could create a sustainable business culture through corporate environmental governance and practices, efficient use of energy, conservation of resources, identification of new business opportunities in environmental technologies and involvement of employees in environment protection activities.

The framework would also chart areas such as partnerships with government agencies, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), vendors and suppliers through sponsorship and participation in environment-protection projects and educational programmes. Environmental compliance certification of the Group’s businesses is yet another aspect.

A working group led by KIE and Environmental Champions from the various business units has been set up. These Environmental Champions would form taskforces to support the units’ CEOs to educate, promote and implement green programmes at the business unit level.

Towards primarily educating and raising awareness of environmental sustainability, Keppel also supported several key green initiatives in 2007.

Caring for the environment

On 6 June 2007, we became the first private organisation to support the National Environment Agency's (NEA) ‘Bring Your Own Bag Day’ by partnering NTUC FairPrice to give out 100,000 reusable bags at its supermarkets. Over a hundred Keppelites volunteered as Green Ambassadors at various NTUC FairPrice outlets to encourage shoppers to use the reusable bags for their shopping. Within the Group, reusable bags were distributed and the message was reinforced.

In doing our part to preserve our environment, Keppel launched the first Coral Nursery Project in Singapore at a site off Pulau Semakau on 30 July 2007 together with National University of Singapore (NUS), National Parks Board and NEA. Ms Grace Fu, Minister of State for National Development officiated at the launch of the coral nursery.

This is Singapore’s first corporate-sponsored marine environmental initiative, the first of its kind in the region and part of a national effort to conserve the coral cover in Singapore. Keppel is sponsoring $250,000 over two years towards the project.

Keppelites with diving experiences participated as Volunteer Divers under the auspices of Keppel Volunteers (KV), an employee-driven Corporate Social Responsibility group. The Volunteer Divers will support the efforts to nurture and re-grow the coral fragments. Together with the National University of Singapore, they will help monitor the progress of the coral nursery. Volunteer Divers have begun deploying nursery tables into the sea and conducting monthly cleaning and brushing of tables to remove fouling organisms.

Another programme that Keppel sponsored was the Corporate Environmental Outreach (CEO) Run held on 17 November 2007 at Pulau Semakau. Organised by NEA, Keppel sponsored $70,000 and participated with several corporations in the inaugural run event. Funds raised were channelled to six local environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Keppel was the first private organisation to buy 500 tote bags from the Tanglin-Cairnhill Citizens Consultancy Committee under the ‘Make Your Own Bag’ project to help low-come families. The materials were recycled from old PVC event banners.

At the B4E Global Business Summit for the Environment held in April 2007, Keppel participated as a supporting sponsor. Hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme and The Global Compact, this was Asia’s first major international conference for corporations, governments and NGOs to discuss initiatives to create a greener future.

Keppel was the exclusive sponsor for the telecast of Life in the Undergrowth, a highly acclaimed five-part documentary produced by the BBC, and presented by world-renowned David Attenborough. The series, which took two years to produce, explores the spectacular micro universe of invertebrates and covered the forests across the Amazon to Costa Rica, Australia, Malaysia, Hungary and Switzerland.

Keppel Corporation is a Founding Sponsor of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) for two years. The SIWW is a five-day international event to be held from 23 to 27 July 2008. Government, industry representatives and specialists would meet to discuss the theme Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities.

On World Environment Day, Keppel Land held a series of green initiatives and events to raise awareness of environment and energy conservation for staff and tenants. Employees were also given reusable bags and urged to use less plastic bags. A Green Living exhibition was held to emphasise the importance of going green.

SPC participated in MediaCorp’s six-part documentary series, Saving Gaia, which premiered on ChannelNewsAsia on 23 July 2007. This series examined the ways in which Asian countries are addressing issues on global warming and climate change.

Keppel Shipyard participated in NEA’s Annual Clean & Green Week Schools Carnival. It hosted students from Chung Cheng High School (Main) on a tour to showcase the green initiatives at the yard. This is the fourth year that Keppel Shipyard is supporting the school’s green education for its students.

Keppel Batangas Shipyard and Keppel Cebu Shipyard contributed to the ‘Tree for Life Project’ under the Green Philippines Programme initiated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The project was aimed at planting 20 million trees all over the archipelago from July to November 2007. Keppel Batangas gave 1,400 seedlings of various fruit and non-fruit bearing trees to DENR while Keppel Cebu planted 100 seedlings inside its shipyard compound.

The two yards also participated in the 22nd Annual International Coastal Cleanup on 15 September 2007. Yard volunteers picked up trash along the coastlines of Batangas and Cebu to help preserve the local marine life.

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