EXPLORATORY STUDY ON INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY IN SINGAPORE: CASE-STUDY OF SUNGEI KADUT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

Abstract

This study investigates on the concepts of Industrial Ecology (IE) and Industrial Symbiosis within an Eco-Industrial Park setting and applies those concepts to the redesign of an existing industrial park in Sungei Kadut as a case-study. The opportunity for introducing these concepts is made possible by the advent of technology and paradigm shift in the meaning of industrialization. Singapore has reached a new level of industrialization whereby environmental concerns has increased its significance. This is evidenced by the newer industrial parks like The One-North and Tuas Recycling Park , which leads to the scope of this exploratory study, that is to test the feasibility of retrofitting an existing industrial park into an Eco-Industrial Park (EIP). Having analyzed the relationship between companies, the study made a proposal of an industrial symbiotic network based on the results of the findings of the existing companies in Sungei Kadut Industrial Park. An industrial partnership was proposed which includes an auto parts company, cement production plant, wood-related companies, paper recycling company, civil engineering company, concrete recycling plant, wood recycling plant and a plastics recycling plant under the proposed industrial symbiosis network. It then furthers the possibility of expansion by identifying other uses outside the industrial park by including a horticultural-based company outside the industrial park in its symbiotic exchange. The results of the study demonstrate that it is possible to retrofit and in doing so, the IE paradigm can be worked into existing landscape and bring Singapore's industrialization towards sustainable development.