Environmental Changemakers Advance Singapore's Sustainable Future

Record nominations signal growing public passion for sustainability

18 August 2026 – Today, 14 individuals were presented with the EcoFriend Awards by the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu, for their exceptional contributions towards a more sustainable and resilient Singapore. In her address at the 17^th edition of the biennial awards ceremony organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA), Minister Fu highlighted that every Singaporean has a stake in the nation’s environmental future, emphasising climate adaptation as a key priority for Singapore’s long-term sustainable development.

2.           The EcoFriend Awards honours individuals from various sectors [1] and backgrounds for their selfless dedication and outstanding efforts in shaping Singapore into a sustainable home. This year’s awards saw nominations exceeding 500 for the first time in more than a decade. The strong response of 510 nominations reflected heightened public consciousness and commitment to sustainable living, a testament to how the EcoFriend Awards has grown since its inception in 2007 into a trusted platform for recognising environmental excellence and stewardship.

3.           With 186 Eco-Heroes commended to date, NEA continues to support recipients post-award, including connecting them with like-minded partners and facilitating potential collaborations through NEA’s people, public, and private (3P) network. Recipients are also invited to apply for funding under NEA’s Partnership Fund, with grants of up to $30,000 or 80 per cent of supportable costs to scale their projects and amplify environmental change. More information about this grant can be found at https://go.gov.sg/neapf.

Leveraging deep-tech, ground-up efforts, and artificial intelligence to champion sustainability

4.           For the complete list of 17^th EcoFriend Awards recipients, please refer to Annex A. Some recipients for this year include:

• Carlo Charles is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Flint, a Singapore deep-tech startup developing cellulose-based batteries as a sustainable alternative to conventional lithium batteries. Operating from its office and lab in Singapore, Flint produces around five million batteries annually and has earned international recognition for its innovative battery technology, which has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%. Designed for use in everyday devices such as keyboards, computer mice and wearables, Flint's batteries demonstrate how Singapore-grown innovation can advance cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
  
• Iswandie Wanhar founded the Tampines West Green Action for Communities (GAC) in 2023. As its Founding Chairman, GAC has grown into a thriving resident-led movement that has engaged over 1,000 residents through litter-picking drives, composting workshops, beach cleanups and nature walks, supported by partnerships with NEA, the Public Hygiene Council and other national agencies. Beyond engaging residents, Iswandie has built a strong network of trained environmental champions who are empowered to lead future sustainability initiatives.
  
• Ong Xuan Wan is the Head of Department of Science and Head of Greenovators Applied Learning Programme (ALP) at Dazhong Primary School. She designed the school-wide programme to empower students to identify environmental issues, develop green solutions and advocate for sustainable practices through maker-based projects and overseas immersion trips. Xuan Wan also conceptualised hands-on outdoor learning journeys incorporating artificial intelligence and virtual reality to connect sustainability concepts to real world challenges, nurturing a strong pipeline of young eco-stewards.
  

“We First” spirit: past recipients pay it forward

5.           Past recipients of the EcoFriend Awards continue to give back through mentorship of the next generation of eco-champions, exemplifying the “We First” spirit of looking beyond self-interest towards a shared, greener future. Mr Veerappan Swaminathan, Ms Pek Hai Lin, Ms Samantha Thian and Mr Loo Deliang, who received the Awards in 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2022 respectively, are currently YOUth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Advisors under NEA’s YES Leaders Programme. Joining them as new Advisors are Mr Preston Wong, Mr Ernest Goh, Mr Tan Shi Zhou and Mr Carlo Charles who received the EcoFriend Awards in 2022, 2024, 2024 and 2026 respectively.

6.           Beyond mentorship, past recipients also continue to contribute through community engagement and public outreach. Ms Nuryanee Anisah, a 2024 EcoFriend Awards recipient and Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Commenhers LLP, continues to support NEA’s public outreach efforts. She actively participates in initiatives such as the Say YES to Waste Less campaign. She is also a booth partner at NEA’s events where she engages the public on sustainable fashion and the importance of reducing and recycling.

7.           The sustained efforts of past recipients demonstrate that lasting environmental change is built not on individual efforts alone, but on the shared commitment for a cleaner and greener future. NEA would also like to recognise all past nominees and the many individuals whose efforts, big or small, move Singapore towards the Singapore Green Plan 2030 goals. It is this collective spirit that will carry our sustainability journey forward.

8.           Members of the public who wish to nominate individuals for the next EcoFriend Awards may visit https://go.gov.sg/efa for more information when nominations open in 2027.

[1] The different sectors include the private, public, non-government and grassroots volunteers, educational institutions, and students and youth.