On the Path to Sustainability

Speakers and panellists at the seminar (from left): Mr Bay Meng Yi (Singapore Environment Council (SEC) Director), Mr Soh Wai Wah (Singapore Polytechnic (SP) CEO and Principal), Ms Aileen Tan (Singtel Group CPO and CSO), Mr Lee Cheh

Hsien (Sentosa Assistant CE (Corporate and Sustainability Group)), Ms Stephanie Dickson (The Wedge Asia Founder), Mr Hong Tin Wei (Grant Thornton Singapore Director) and Mr Cheang Kok Chung (SEC Executive Director).

By Kok Jia Yuan, Kevin

If you’ve ever tried persuading your family, friends or colleagues to adopt more sustainable practices, you’re likely familiar with the resistance or indifference that often follows.

So, how do we get more people to embrace sustainability? In support of Go Green SG 2025, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) discussed this very question at their seminar, “Getting Employees on Board the Sustainability Journey”. But even though it was targeted at employers, there were takeaways for the average person too. Here is what I learnt from the event:

1. Know Your Audience

During the panel discussion, the speakers shared their insights on engaging different stakeholders.

The panellists sharing their experiences in getting stakeholders on board the sustainability journey.

There are usually three groups of people: those already on board, those who are resistant, and those somewhere in between. For the latter two, we need to understand what would drive them towards sustainability. It could be about their legacy, financial returns or personal values. Understanding your audience helps shape more effective conversations as we persuade and journey alongside them.

Mr Soh Wai Wah sharing about SP’s journey towards sustainability.

Mr Soh Wai Wah, CEO and Principal of SP, also utilised this approach for his team. He appealed to their calling as educators, encouraging them to lead by example for their students.

2. It’s About Building Momentum

A common question many ask is “Am I really making a difference?” Individual actions can seem miniscule compared to the scale of global warming. But as Dr Sharon Lim, Course Chair of the Diploma in Biomedical Science at SP, points out, “individual actions matter, even the small ones.” For example, SP staff made it a habit to switch off their multi-plug adaptors when not in use. While this action may not have drastically reduced their emissions, it served a more powerful purpose: building and sustaining momentum.

Every action reinforces a commitment to sustainability. This, in turn, fosters collaboration, like office discussions about whether all the lights needed to be switched on. Hence, while our individual actions may not significantly reduce our emissions, we should not downplay their effect in making sustainability second nature to us.

Sustainability Learning Journey guide Dr Charles Chia (in black) and Mr Ho Chii Wen (in blue) taking questions from participants.

Your next question might then be: “Well… how do I build or sustain momentum?”

Here are a few tips shared at the event:

- Ownership. Allow room for people to come up with their own ideas. Mr Stanley Chan, SEC Deputy Director Communities and Communications, shared that when people can “see, do and reflect for themselves, the message becomes more meaningful, memorable and impactful.”

- Gamification. You can inject elements of fun to make sustainability more engaging. For example, if you have children, you can create a friendly competition of who recycled the most in a month.

Final Thoughts

Sustainability is not only about adopting better technologies and policies - it also requires a shift in our mindset. By understanding our audience and sustaining momentum through small yet purposeful actions, we can inspire more lasting changes in mindsets and behaviours in those around us.