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Uniseal stands out as a trailblazer for environmental sustainability in Singapore’s construction sector. Starting as a waterproofing specialist in 1998, the company has pivoted towards green construction solutions that not only address the challenges of the industry but also contribute significantly to environmental conservation.
Over the years, Uniseal’s 100% recycled products, ranging from green roofs, green walls, stormwater management systems, green engineering and ecological management systems, have gained global recognition, reaching over 30 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the USA. The company also works with a diverse clientele ranging from building owners and construction companies to trading companies and licensees.
Read Also: 5 Ways Companies Can Go Green (And Be Part Of The Singapore Green Plan 2030)
The Plastic Predicament: Engineering Innovative Green Solutions To Reduce Waste
The omnipresence of plastic waste poses a global challenge. Recognising this problem, Uniseal saw an opportunity to make a positive impact. Leveraging its expertise, the company explored innovative ways to repurpose plastic waste within the construction sector, particularly in designing green recycled products and solutions that conserve the environment.
Backed by a steadfast green ambition, Uniseal’s urban greenery, ecological management, and landscape engineering systems, are made from 100% recycled plastic waste that is designed, developed, and manufactured in-house. As such, it has full control over the quality, price, and immediate availability of its products, giving it a competitive advantage over rivals with longer lead time for inventory.
Today, Uniseal’s portfolio of over 100 products and diversified geographical equips the team with a deeper appreciation of green solutions – acknowledging that what works well in one country might need adaption in another due to different weather conditions and greenery requirements.
Uniseal Founder and CEO, James Lim (2nd from left), exhibiting its green solution products at the Landscape Architecture Awards Ceremony 2017
(All images provided by Uniseal)
One of Uniseal’s latest innovations, GrasCell® RC1000, is a testament to its unwavering pursuit of better specification, lower cost, user-friendliness, creativity, and innovation. This unique product serves multiple applications, including stormwater management, tree root protection, logistics pallets, double-slab formwork structures, and raised floor systems. A multi-tier structure formed by this product has an extremely high compressive strength of 60 tonnes/m2 and above, allowing fire engines to safely drive through this structure installed underneath the road.
This product can also be used to form a water detention/retention tank system to control and manage rainwater runoff and thus mitigate flooding issues. Uniseal has collaborated closely with foreign designers, contractors, or licensees to complete various green solutions projects overseas, such as Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) in Malaysia, Vietnamese-German University in Vietnam, Hong Kong International Airport, Daan Forest Park in Taiwan, SM Keppel Mall in Philippines, Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel in Thailand, and more.
Top: Uniseal’s GrasCell® RC1000
Bottom: Uniseal’s PlanterCell® SW Tank 1000
Circular Model Integration: Recycling Construction Waste Into Useful Products
Uniseal’s commitment to sustainability extends to embracing a circular economy model, minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency. In this model, the company emphasises not only creating products from recycled plastic but also incorporating recyclability into their designs.
By adopting circular principles, Uniseal aims to shift away from the linear “take, make, dispose” approach, creating a continuous loop where materials are reused and recycled, thereby reducing the overall environmental impact.
Take-Back Program: Reclaiming Products That Would Have Become Waste
Uniseal’s commitment to the circular economy model is also evident in its take-back program for used products. This program encourages customers to return end-of-life products or materials to Uniseal for a fee, diverting them from landfills and facilitating proper recycling.
By actively participating in the extended lifecycle of its products, Uniseal ensures responsible disposal and promotes the sustainable management of resources. The implementation of the circular model and take-back program underscores Uniseal’s dedication to closing the loop on plastic waste, providing a holistic solution to the challenges posed by the plastic predicament.
Putting Singapore’s Green Construction Sector On The World Map
Uniseal has recently founded the Circular Cities Summit (CCS), with strong support and collaboration from Knauf Insulation. The inaugural summit (CCS 1.0) was held in Singapore in November 2023, bringing together close to 20 Ambassadors and foreign ministerial representatives, industry leaders, professionals, experts, and entrepreneurs from around the world to discuss the future of circularity and sustainability.
Uniseal’s Founder and CEO, James Lim (10th from left), standing alongside key attendees at the inaugural Circular Cities Summit (CCS).
The summit garnered a strong endorsement from four distinguished international professional organisations: International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), and World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WEFO), and International Union of Architects (UIA), underscoring their collective commitment to leadership and collaboration in shaping a circular and sustainable future.
Concurrently, the formation of a high-level Circular Cities Network (CCN) has also been initiated to facilitate continuous engagement in discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaborative opportunities among the stakeholders.
Leading Singapore’s Construction Industry On The Green Path
Uniseal’s journey from a waterproofing specialist to a pioneer in sustainable construction solutions exemplifies its engineering innovation and commitment to environmental stewardship.
By turning plastic waste into eco-friendly green solutions, Uniseal has not only set a benchmark in Singapore’s construction sector but has also inspired the industry to embrace sustainability as a core principle. As the company continues to lead the way, its impact on reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental responsibility serves as a beacon for sustainable practices in the construction sector.
Uniseal’s Green Wall project
Its emphasis on circular construction methods, coupled with innovative and cost-effective solutions, aligns well with the long-term policies of both corporates and countries.
Uniseal’s international expansion has also equipped it to understand environmental constraints across varied geographies – thinking outside the box for creative solutions. Ultimately, businesses such as Uniseal represent one side of the sustainability push; construction companies and end-users need to prioritise green solutions.
Projects like The Greenhouse building at Dulwich College (Singapore) spotlight the entire value chain – underscoring the urgency to not just Do Well and Do Good, but to Do Now as well.
Building owners, such as Dulwich College (Singapore), must be committed to investing and maintaining a green building, working with green architects, engineers, main contractors and material suppliers such as Uniseal.
Indeed, Uniseal played a part in The Greenhouse building. Several of its products and solutions, such as waterproofing, drainage cells, artificial turf, and H2O-R panels that shaped the green roof, were incorporated into the new $60 million net-zero energy building. The project was supported with green financing and transition advisory, led by OCBC.
Read Also: Moulding Global Citizens: How Dulwich College (Singapore) Marries Creativity & Sustainability In Their Classrooms
