Local startup boosts upcycling of plastic waste in Singapore

Semula Pte, a newcomer in the local plastic recycling industry in Singapore, focuses on reimagining plastic waste. It has adopted a unique process to transform discarded HDPE plastic waste into a reusable alternative material, reducing the need to rely on new resources.

Collaborating with Roger&Sons, a Singaporean furniture brand, Semula created café furniture from used HDPE milk bottles collected from Foreword Coffee Roasters’ for its own outlet at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore.

Tables and stools at Foreword Coffee Roasters’ outlet are made from used HDPE milk bottles.

This collaboration showcased how plastic waste can be turned into unique creations. Until now, Foreword Coffee continues to provide Semula with empty plastic bottles to turn into alternative material which can be introduced into the marketplace.

“We believe that long lasting change can happen when we band together to create a collective conscience and take responsibility for our environment, for the sake of our present and future generations,” said Jeryl Yep, Product Innovation Lead and Co-founder.

(From left) Sam Ran Boolsambatra (Director), Tay Sok Leng (Managing Director) and Jeryl Yep (Product Innovation Lead) from Semula.

In June 2033, Semula won the Grand Prize award in the annual Singapore Design Awards organized by the Design Business Chamber Singapore. The company also received the Sg Eco Fund set up by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment to support projects that put forward environmental sustainability and involve the community.

Not limited to production of its upcycled Semula plastic and finished products, Semula also offers talk on building environmental and sustainability awareness, hands-on upcycling workshops to create memorabilia from plastic waste and nature trails through some of Singapore’s parks and nature reserves.