2nd Keynote Address by Mr Kelvin Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Building and Construction Authority, at the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) Charles Rudd Distinguished Global Lectures 2025

Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Engineering a Sustainable Future: Embracing Circular Economy and Resilience in the Built Environment

Introduction

1. Good morning. Today, I am very honoured to be here, and I would like to thank the organising committee for the invitation. To all the engineers, I would like to wish you a happy World Engineering Day in advance.

2. Today, I will be focusing on two key topics which are very relevant to the built environment sector, they are “circular economy” and “resilient future”.

3. According to the Waste and Recycling Statistics published by the National Environment Agency (NEA), 832 thousand tonnes of Construction and Demolition waste were generated in 2023, making up 12% of the total waste generated in Singapore. Fundamentally, the concept of "circular economy" focuses on the elimination of waste. From the data, it is evident that the “circular economy” approach is not just applicable but essential for the built environment sector.

4. A "resilient future" refers to the ability of communities to withstand and recover from various challenges and shocks. One of the pressing issues we face today is climate change. According to the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction published in 2024 by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, buildings were responsible for 34% of global energy demand and 37% of energy and process-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. Given the high energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions, our actions in the built environment sector can have a significant impact on the resilience of communities around the world.

BCA’s ongoing efforts

5. Against this backdrop, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is spearheading efforts to drive the "Circular Economy" and "Resilient Future" initiatives.

Advanced Manufacturing and Assembly

6. For example, we have been working with the industry to transform the way we build in Singapore, towards the objectives of improved productivity, resilience and sustainability as outlined in the Built Environment Industry Transformation Map. Under the key transformation area of Advanced Manufacturing and Assembly, we are pushing for more construction work to be carried out in off-site facilities where there is greater scope for automation, thereby improving productivity and reducing wastage.

7. In November last year, the Jurong Port Integrated Construction Park (ICP) was launched. Not only does it complement our effort in promoting Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, it also reduces carbon footprint by bringing related construction facilities together in one location.

8. To further improve operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, the ICP uses an automated conveyancing system to transport sand and granite directly from the wharf to the storage areas and Ready-Mixed Concrete (RMC) batching plants, which results in an additional saving of more than a million truck-trips each year.

Green Building Standards

9. We have also taken the lead in setting standards to promote sustainability, particularly in the area of green buildings. Together with the Singapore Green Building Council, we launched the Singapore Green Building Masterplan in 2021. Building on the success of the earlier editions, it aims to deliver three key targets of “80-80-80 in 2030”, that is, 80% of buildings by Gross Floor Area (GFA) to be green, 80% of new developments by GFA to be Super Low Energy (SLE) buildings and 80% improvement in energy efficiency (from 2005 levels) for best-in-class green buildings.

10. One of the cornerstones of our green building strategy is the BCA Green Mark Scheme. Since its launch in 2005, it has provided a comprehensive framework for assessing the overall environmental performance of buildings, as well as promoting sustainable design and best practices in construction and operations.

11. The scheme has progressively evolved to serve as a crucial yardstick for the built environment as Singapore pursues sustainable development. Today, buildings with at least 60% energy improvement compared to the 2005 standards are certified as “Super Low Energy”. In addition, the scheme recognises exemplary performance in areas of resilience and circularity, through the award of Resilience and Carbon Badges.

Demolition Protocol

12. We are also responsible for developing the Demolition Protocol, which is a set of procedures to guide contractors in the demolition process. It consists of (1) the Pre-Demolition Audit - which identifies materials that can be recovered for recycling, (2) Sequential Demolition - where the demolition process is done in phases to minimise contamination risk, and finally (3) Site Waste Management Plan - where all demolition materials are sorted into different groups on-site.

13. By clearly outlining these processes, it aims to maximise the recovery of waste materials for reusing or recycling. And there have been encouraging results. Remember the 832 thousand tonnes of Construction and Demolition waste generated in 2023? According to the waste management statistics published by the National Environment Agency (NEA), the recycling rate for Construction and Demolition waste stands at an impressive 99%, which is equivalent to 828 thousand tonnes.

Role of engineers in the Built Environment sector

14. Now I would like to shift my attention to the engineers in the built environment sector. You have and can continue to play a major role in promoting sustainability and resilience.

Design phase

15. Let me share with you a short video on the Penguin Cove at Bird Paradise. For those who are unaware, this is an attraction in Singapore which showcases a diverse range of bird species in a naturalistic setting.

16. This is just a segment of the video. For the full version, you can visit our BuildSG microsite, where you can find useful information and interesting media content that showcase the built environment sector.

17. In the video you have just seen, you would notice the water management and energy efficiency initiatives that were incorporated into the design of the Penguin Cove. In light of the challenges posed by climate change, today’s engineers must take a holistic approach when evaluating the environmental impact of their designs. For example, they should consider the carbon footprint throughout the lifecycle of a project, including the carbon embedded in building materials and the emissions linked to the building's operation.

Construction phase

18. During the construction phase, engineers can opt for sustainable materials and technologies that contribute to lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions. For example, concrete is an essential material used in the construction of buildings and infrastructure. However, the manufacture of conventional concrete is also carbon-intensive.

19. A company that is at the forefront of producing low-carbon concrete is Pan United. Their team of material engineers and researchers employs innovative carbon capture and utilisation technologies to produce carbon mineralised concrete. Such advancements not only support our de-carbonisation objectives but also enhance the potential of our built environment to act as a carbon sink thereby contributing to the circularity of carbon.

Operation phase

20. For completed buildings, engineers play a vital role in integrating smart technologies to enhance operational efficiency. By using smart devices, sensors, and software, you can track and analyse the energy usage patterns and develop ways to optimise the buildings’ energy efficiency. As highlighted in the BCA’s Guide to Smart FM, buildings can achieve substantial energy savings through such a Smart Energy Management strategy. These include reductions of 9% to 15% in chiller plant energy usage and 42% to 49% in Air Handling Unit energy consumption.

Sustaining the momentum for transformation

21. Through our collective efforts, we have made significant progress in reducing the environmental impact of our sector. However, there is still much work to be done. How can we sustain this momentum moving forward?

Talent attraction

22. First and foremost, we need a pipeline of passionate engineers to continue making our world better! To inspire talents to join the built environment sector, we have embarked on a branding campaign. The theme “We are never done Building Singapore” reflects the endless contributions of built environment professionals, including engineers, to the development of Singapore. If you come across our campaign materials in public areas such as MRT stations and bus shelters, please help to spread the word around!

23. Industry stakeholders also have a vital role to play. For a start, you can help to promote our branding materials to a wider audience. An example is the BuildSG microsite which I mentioned to you earlier. You can also share with us interesting projects or promising engineers so that we can publicise them, or organise learning journeys for students to gain a better understanding of our work and hopefully inspire them to join our sector in future. It is only through our collective efforts that our message can be amplified.

Conclusion

24. In conclusion, engineers are essential in addressing the global challenges we face today. In the built environment sector, your impact spans every phase of the development journey, from design and construction to operation and demolition. Collectively, we have made considerable strides in reducing the environmental impact of our sector.

25. To sustain this momentum, we must intensify our efforts to attract more young talents to our sector.

26. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to our continued collaboration in building a sustainable and resilient future.