Recognised as a “City in a Garden,” Singapore is well known for putting sustainability and eco-urban development at the forefront of innovation. Local neighbourhoods follow suit and drive zero-waste practices to promote living sustainably in Singapore.
A modern metropolis pioneering sustainability in Asia, Singapore has established a robust and diversified infrastructure to work towards a greener ecosystem. The city-state has built itself quite a reputation for its wireless structures and connectivity, as well as growing green finance and investment opportunities. In addition, the state is now looking at developing a promising future for environmental conservation and biodiversity through new innovations and eco-smart infrastructure.
In 2021, the nation announced its roadmap to sustainability and green living, with up to SG$180 million set aside for an Enterprise Sustainability Program. The initiative realigns support towards building sustainability in Singapore companies, primarily small-medium enterprises (SMEs) aspiring to explore their true capabilities and scout new possibilities in their respective industries.
A growing number of eco-friendly businesses and startups in the neighbourhood have influential contributors to the nation’s sustainable goals. Read on to learn about the work these businesses are doing to promote living sustainably in Singapore’s local community, and how to get involved.
Sustainable Restaurants
Open Farm Community
Located in the trendy neighbourhood of Dempsey Hill, Open Farm Community is a hidden gem tucked away in an urban farm that was awarded the 2021 MICHELIN Plate distinction, as it not only embraces a holistic and mindful approach to its food concepts but also epitomises fusion dishes, capturing global palettes.
Serving innovative and wholesome fusion dishes all made using locally-grown and sustaining produce, the unique dining space offers a one-of-a-kind experience. With authenticity and transparency being the key to their services, the urban farm and restaurant set a precedent in the locavore movement. Open Farm Community has proudly sustained its food autonomy, as the space continues to present organic, gluten-free, and vegan options, as well as other eco-friendly products for purchase at the location.
Insider’s Tip: Visit on a Sunday to enjoy Open Farm Community’s special weekend brunch.
Address: 130E Minden Road, Singapore 248819
Open from: Mon-Fri 12pm – 3pm, 6pm-11pm; Sat-Sun 11am-4pm, 6pm-11pm
The Salad Shop
With a mission to maintain a low carbon footprint and down-to-earth practices, The Salad Shop is a one-stop destination for those looking to invest in eco-conscious eating. A quick-bite salad station in Singapore, it has a variety of sustainable ingredients and healthy recipes such as mixed fruit bowls, the Turkish Breakfast, and many more refreshing dishes. The eco-food stop’s streamlined operation cuts down plastic usage and replaces it with wooden cutlery and compostable food bowls. The Salad Shop continues to reinvent and innovate within its menu, aiming to offer some of the least carbon-intensive options in its delicious selection of deliciously healthy breakfasts, wraps, and bowls for customers to choose from.
Insider’s Tip: Feeling adventurous? Try the Omakase box, for the pantry chef to decide the specials for you! In a rush? Place an order on Oddle prior to pick up to save time.
Address: 80 Raffles Place, #01-20, UOB Plaza 2 Singapore 048624
Open from: Mon-Fri 11am-4:30pm
Sustainable Groceries
Unpackt
Singapore’s first to initiate a zero-waste bulk food grocery store, Unpackt is the favoured location for many sustainably-minded shoppers. From a simple homegrown enterprise to a leader of eco-grocery shopping in the neighbourhood, Unpackt works to remodel consumer habits of purchasing bulk groceries by enabling a smart selection of food products based on our daily necessities and intake. Unlike a traditional marketplace, Unpackt provides an open and calm space stocked with only the finest foods and groceries. Amongst its long list of sustainable grocery selections, customers can choose from daily confectionaries to locally sourced herbs and spices, alongside other beauty and household essentials.
Insider’s Tip: Spend some at the store to get well-acquainted with your local green circular network. Bring your own bag or containers for an authentic zero-waste grocery shopping experience.
Address: 6 Jln Kuras, Singapore 577724
Open from: Tues-Sun 10am–7pm
Avo & Co
A farm-to-door delivery service provider, Avo & Co taps into an emerging market as it aspires to make fresh eco-friendly produce widely available and affordable for locals. With sustainability at its core, Avo & Co commits to securing the freshest harvested vegetables, fruits, as well as pasta and chicken, from reliable and sustainable sources. Most of its organic produce is locally grown or imported from nearby countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia. Customers are presented with a variety of shopping options, most popularly a la carte. In addition to that, they offer weekly subscriptions to assorted seasonal boxes.
Avo & Co also offers plenty of information on the fresh produce available to educate customers and enable smart food solutions.
Insider’s Tip: To get started, try Avo & Co’s flagship seasonal package, the Signature Box, which contains exotic fruits and vegetables, bread, meat, milk, and eggs.
Website: avoandco.com
Sustainable Home and Lifestyle
The Sustainability Project
Adopting a fully sustainable lifestyle seems difficult to pursue many, where fast consumerism has heavily manipulated our shopping habits. Welcoming the slow movement in Singapore is the zero-waste lifestyle label, The Sustainability Project, inspiring and pushing for zero-waste practices through its versatile range of eco-friendly products.
The project started off as a sustainability blog to educate, lead by example, and transform through a shared passion and drive for low-carbon living and later on founded its very first zero-waste lifestyle store. The Sustainability Project believes it is essential to first address the core of a problem, consumer habits- rather than buying on impulse, they encourage customers to purchase consciously. Without a doubt, the place is a heaven for eco-friendly home and lifestyle goods, ranging from adorable bamboo cutlery sets, functional bento boxes and bags, to the vegan and organic body and skincare products.
Insider’s Tip: Join the sustainable workshops offered for an enlightening experience with skilled instructors. In the Coffee Grounds Soap Workshop, learn to repurpose leftover coffee grounds into eco-friendly soap bars!
Address: 21 Bukit Batok Cres, #06-78 Wcega Tower, Singapore 658065
Open (appointment basis only) from: Mon-Fri: 11am-6.30pm; Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm
The Social Space
The Social Space is a locally envisioned eco-friendly, multi-concept space, with an in-house cafe, nail salon, as well as a sustainable fashion boutique. The fair-trade retail concept creates a community through awareness, appreciation, and most importantly, accessibility, to embrace sustainable ways of life. The multi-store is a one-stop-destination for high-quality, fair-trade, and eco-friendly products, its diverse range includes home decor, personal care, and lifestyle, along with zero-waste bakes and edibles fresh from the pantry.
The refillery is a self-serve area at the store that allows customers to bring their own containers to stock up on household products from premium eco-brands. With two active locations, the concept continues to bring innovation and change to the retail landscape.
Insider’s Tip: While visiting The Social space, make a quick stop at its wholesome cafe for their delicious open-face toast. Enjoy 50% off all house drinks upon purchasing a reusable cup from their store.
Address: 333 Kreta Ayer Road #01-14, Singapore 080333 (click here for other locations)
Open from: 9am–5pm
The Green Collective SG
Hosting an ecosystem of eco-conscious businesses and consumers, The Green Collective SG is the first green department store in Singapore to fully embrace sustainability in its selection. The green collective features over 40 homegrown eco-conscious labels, and an eco-friendly collection ranging from homeware, fashion and apparel, cleaning and gardening supplies, to plant-based food, organic beauty and bath products, and even women’s menstrual care essentials. Collaborating with local businesses, it offers small-scale sustainable companies a platform and circle to extend their reach. New customers can also discover local eco-talents while fully immersing themselves in an authentic sustainable shopping experience, getting inspired to become change-makers themselves by making smart purchasing decisions.
Insider’s Tip: For small sustainable businesses and startups in Singapore, the green communal has a Pop-up Space for those interested in showcasing their products.
Address: #02-18, Funan Mall, 107 North Bridge Rd, 179105
Open from: 12pm– 9pm
Sustainable Fashion
Zerrin
Zerrin is a sustainability-minded multi-brand space based in Singapore, with a physical store The Lounge By Zerrin on the top floor of The Social Space, and a lifestyle magazine initiating socially-conscious conversations. The label has a great eye for style and substance, and a passion for sustainable size-inclusive designs, cultivating product innovation with the curation of young, refreshing, and conscious selections from emerging designers and indie brands.
Priding themselves on their sustainable fashion ecosystem, Zerrin works in alignment with the Better Brand Framework, strengthening transparency and traceability amongst their network. Spotlighting more than 55 fashion and lifestyle brands at their brick and mortar, the sustainable fashion destination diverse range includes some well-known local and international brands, such as Bare Skin, whose skincare beauty products are made in Singapore, Kibo a sustainable footwear label from Hong Kong, Maisha Concept, a Kenyan fashion wear startup, and many more.
Insider’s Tip: Visit the store to discover the emerging network of sustainable-minded labels from around the world. For more on incorporating conscious lifestyle practices tune in with their magazine to uncover compelling conversations with designers and artisans, on sustainability and more.
Address: 5 Straits View, Upstairs at The Social Space cafe, Singapore 018935
Open from: 11–6pm
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