Cora Environment Brand Launch Ceremony - Mr Zaqy Mohamad

1. Good morning. I’m very pleased to join you today for the official launch of Cora Environment — a new name, and a new identity, for what many of us have known as SembWaste or Sembcorp Environment.

2. Today marks an important milestone. But more than that — it marks a bold step forward. A step that reflects the organisation’s transformation, its growing role in the sustainability space, and its ambition to lead the way forward.

3. Cora Environment is a major player in Singapore’s environmental services sector. You run one of the largest waste collection fleets in the country. You operate an energy-from-waste plant and one of only three Materials Recovery Facilities. Every day, you serve over 440,000 households and trade premises.

4. Beyond these daily operations, Cora Environment has been forming strategic partnerships with other recycling service providers. Through the Closed-Loop Partners Network launched last year, Cora is working with others to pursue resource circularity, by bridging the supply and demand gap for recycled feedstock at the system level – helping us move towards a Zero Waste future.

5. As Mr Lee shared earlier, this rebranding is more than just a new name or logo. It’s a chance to reflect — to take stock of the journey so far, and to sharpen your focus on what lies ahead. I’m heartened to see Cora taking this opportunity seriously. With today’s brand launch, you’re signalling your renewed commitment to transformation, to innovation, and to creating meaningful impact in Singapore and beyond.

Building a Circular Economy

6. Let me share why this matters so much to Singapore’s future. Semakau Landfill, our only landfill, is already more than half full. It is estimated to reach maximum capacity in just ten more years if we continue at our current waste disposal rates. This is why Singapore must build a circular economy — one where we reduce waste, extend product life cycles, and keep materials in use for as long as possible - so that we keep products in use and out of the landfill for as long as possible.

7. Our environmental services industry plays a crucial role as we seek to transform our waste management ecosystem. This vital industry employs thousands of workers across a wide range of companies, from large-scale waste management operators to specialised firms developing innovative solutions for resource recovery. They may not always be in the spotlight, but they play a critical role in keeping Singapore clean and green.

Driving Industry Transformation

8. We must continue to make progress in our zero waste journey, and the Government has been investing in technological innovation and workforce development, and strong partnerships remain key for our environmental services industry to thrive.

9. In 2022, we launched the $80 million Closing the Resource Loop initiative to support R&D in areas like plastics recovery, e-waste and food waste valorisation. As an example, in waste treatment, the initiative supports innovation to valorise food waste to help us produce higher value products and support circularity. 

10. At the company level, I’m glad to see efforts already underway. Cora’s Energy-from-Waste facility is a good example — where waste is turned into steam which is then supplied to industrial businesses on Jurong Island. This reduces carbon emissions by 50%, compared to traditional coal-fired steam plants.

11. Today, I am encouraged to hear of Cora’s new $200 million investment that Mr Lee just announced, which will further contribute to the industry’s transformation. Besides enhancing waste and recycling infrastructure, it will spur the growth in energy recovery and catalyse more waste-to-resource innovations. This is a strong show of confidence — in the industry’s future and in your role as an industry leader. Beyond infrastructure, this investment can drive new innovations in energy recovery and support our broader transition to a low-carbon, circular economy.

12. Cora is not alone in this space. Other industry players are also doing their part. To reduce contamination of recyclables, several Public Waste Collectors have deployed technology to support segregated collection of recyclables. 800Super has introduced smart recycling boxes. Cora’s own REhub bins use technology to track recycling habits, reduce contamination and even reward users. These solutions come with built-in digital capabilities that track data to facilitate more efficient waste collection operations or awards points to users for depositing recyclables separately. 

13. These are practical solutions. And they also reflect a mindset shift — to use data, digital tools and partnerships to change behaviours, improve outcomes and raise public confidence. As we take collective action for sustainability as a nation, I look forward to the industry’s continued leadership and support in our zero waste journey.

Conclusion

14. Let me close by coming back to today’s launch.

15. The launch of Cora Environment — isn’t just about a brand refresh. Let it be a rallying call to inspire your employees, your partners and the public - to be part of a greater mission. We look forward to this new chapter of Cora Environment. Let’s continue to work together to shape a zero waste future for Singapore.

16. Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to Cora Environment and all your partners. Singapore’s sustainability journey is a collective effort. The Government cannot do it alone. We need industry leaders like you to step forward – to reimagine, to transform and to bring the ecosystem together – to achieve our mission together. Together, I am confident that we can build a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Singapore for generations to come. Thank you.