Sustainability
Unsustainability in Sustainable Urban Farming: Paradox of Apollo Aquaculture Group (AAG)
Nigel PHANG and LIM Beng Chong
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2024-007
Pub. Date: AUG-2024
Category: Sustainability
Case Length: 23 pages
Abstract: Apollo Aquaculture Group (AAG) is a Singapore-based high-tech aquaculture company specializing in both ornamental fish and seafood production. Founded by Eric Ng, AAG evolved from his father's ornamental fish business into urban vertical fish farming. AAG became a symbol of innovation in the aquaculture industry that contributed to Singapore's "30 by 30" food security vision, which is aimed at meeting 30% of the nation's nutritional needs through local food production by 2030. This case explores the challenges faced by AAG and the broader sustainable urban fish farming industry, providing valuable insights into innovation, sustainability, and economic viability in aquaculture.
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Towards a Net Zero Future: The Digital Transformation of Johnson Controls
SIA Siew Kien, Alvin NG, Ronald HEE
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2022-007
Pub. Date: AUG-2022
Category: Sustainability
Case Length: 12 pages
Abstract: The built environment accounted for 39% of all carbon emissions globally. American building technology giant, Johnson Controls International (JCI), recognized the huge business opportunity for sustainable solutions and
reinvented itself, aspiring to become a digital industrial platform for smart building management. This process resulted in OpenBlue, moving the company from manufacturing building controls products to providing predictive analytics and smart facilities.
The company was now able to provide outcome-based solutions, and “net zero buildings as a service”. How would JCI seize new market opportunities towards a net-zero future? What could it do to stay ahead of the competition?
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Race and Rise Against the Tide: Sustainable Development for Singapore
Koh Cheng Boon, Stephen Chua Chong Wei
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2022-003
Pub. Date: MAR-2022
Category: Sustainability
Case Length: 14 pages
Abstract: Singapore's rapid economic growth over a mere 56 years was a testament to her foresight in economic development. While economic development was critical, the nation reached a point where it needed to balance the triple
bottom line (TBL) of profit, people, and the planet. To address this complex issue, Singapore sought to blaze a new path that balanced the triple bottom line. Tensions between the three aspects in Singapore’s sustainability push posed several
challenges. The main question was, how should we manage the scenario of rising sea levels against the backdrop of multitudinous possibilities and uncertainties?
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FRESH: Evolving Its Business Model
Sarah Cheah, Gayathiri D/O Sivaraj, Colin Lim, Benjamin Smith
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2022-001
Pub. Date: JAN-2022
Category: Sustainability
Case Length: 15 pages
Abstract: Concerns over decreasing global food security had been growing worldwide due to factors ranging from growing population and demand for food to declining levels of arable land due to urbanisation and climate change. FRESH
was a research centre launched by the Singapore government in 2021 to foster public-private partnership to build up local food safety science and R&D capabilities to support the safety assessment of novel food ranging from plant-based and cell-based
meat to microbial and insect protein. FRESH had to decide between two options for its future business model—remain as a public-funded institution or become a corporatised entity.
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SimplyGood: From a Mission to Rescue Waste to a Passion for Reducing Single-use Plastics
Tania Nagpaul and Koh Cheng Boon
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2021-011
Pub. Date: NOV-2021
Category: Sustainability
Case Length: 9 pages
Abstract: SimplyGood is a sustainable consumer brand reinventing the homecare & cleaning industry, founded by a homegrown entrepreneur; Mr. Jeremy Lee (29) in 2021. SimplyGood is a successful spin off from his previous venture
UglyGood he cofounded in 2017 which focuses on turning fruit waste into products such as cleaning agents, essential oils, and animal feed. UglyGood has since been acquired. SimplyGood aspires to replace the hefty plastic bottles of household cleaning
detergent by their ecologically and space friendly plant based ‘cleaning tablets’. Importantly, SimplyGood produces the dehydrated cleaning tablets using only non-toxic plant-based ingredients.
What are some of the challenges SimplyGood faced? How does SimplyGood apply the triple bottom line to her business? What are the motivating factors/drivers for Jeremy? What are the five-year plans for SimplyGood?
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How Many Bottom Lines is One Life Worth?
D. Krishna Bhaskar, Vivek Choudhary
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2021-010
Pub. Date: NOV-2021
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Business & Government, Non-profits, Strategy
Case Length: 10 pages
Abstract: After two decades of insufficient work, scarce revenue, and meagre lifestyles, the weaver community of Sircilla was plagued with financial instability. To generate more income, these weavers invested in new weaving machinery.
Whilst the looms increased their production of cloth, sales remained stagnant with no market for this increased production. This lethal combination of financial hardship and desperation left the community in much distress, resulting in suicides. This
case study discusses this below-the-bottom-of-the-pyramid situation and the interventions that worked. It also provides students with the opportunity to experience policy makers' dilemmas through an analytical exercise.
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At the Nexus of the Triple Bottom Line: Ya Kun Kaya Toast
Boey Yew Tung, Sharon Ng, Winson Ang, Lim Boon Chong
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2021-009
Pub. Date: OCT-2021
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Case Length: 15 pages
Abstract: Ya Kun was an Asian coffee chain known for its coffee, soft-boiled eggs and kaya toast with over 128 outlets in the Asia Pacific region. Simultaneously, consumers were increasingly aware of the impact of business practices
on the environment and society, and expecting actions from businesses to address them. Using the Triple Bottom Line framework, UN SDG8 and UN SDG12, the case presents some challenges and opportunities impacting Ya Kun amidst increasing attention on
sustainability. How should Ya Kun face these challenges and leverage on opportunities afforded by sustainable business practices to grow its regional F&B business?
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Wateroam: The Quest for Social Impact and Sustainability
Koh Cheng Boon, Shirley Koh, Foo Maw Der
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2021-002
Pub. Date: JUN-2021
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Entrepreneurship; Non-Profits; Strategy; Technology
Case Length: 11 pages
Abstract: The case follows the early journey of Wateroam, a start-up tackling the global problem of water scarcity by providing water filtration systems to the rural poor. Since its formation, the social enterprise has provided people in 14 countries with access to clean water. As a start-up, Wateroam faced challenges in funding, product innovation, sales and distribution. The company recently raised $600,000 in seed funding and poised to enter its next phase of growth. As CEO and co-founder, David Pong had to decide how to scale up Wateroam, balancing the double bottom line of profitability and social impact.
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Clearing the Air: Responding to the Southeast Asian Transboundary Haze Crises of 2013 and 2015
Khoo Hong Meng and Lim Wee Kiat
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2018-018
Pub. Date: AUG-2018
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Business and Government; Marketing; Non-Profits
Case Length: 26 pages
Abstract: Over 26 consecutive days from September to October, the transboundary haze of 2015 lingered in Southeast Asia. For Singapore, this episode was one of the city-state’s worst and most protracted pollution. The fires, originated mostly from Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia, also rendered two million hectares of land barren. This was a repeat of the haze pollution two years earlier. This case highlights the multifaceted sustainability challenges encountered in the quest for environmental protection and the resolution of transboundary haze in Southeast Asia.
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Charting a Path for a Renewable Energy Spinoff: The ERI@N Dilemma
A. Lee Gilbert, Yvonne Chong, Sheryl Lee and Mahesh Kumar
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2018-002
Pub. Date: AUG-2017
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Entrepreneurship; Technology
Case Length: 20 pages
Abstract: NTU’s Energy Research Institute (ERI@N) focuses on the applied R&D and commercialisation of innovative energy solutions to tackle emerging industry challenges. Two of its flagship programmes - EcoCampus and the Renewable Energy Integration Demonstrator Singapore (REIDS), are developing solutions for energy efficiency and renewable energy integration. By 2017, ERI@N had developed an energy controller that would act as the heart of a microgrid. What is the best path for ERI@N to introduce its microgrid to a rapidly evolving market for distributed energy resources (DER), and how would it sustain an early lead in affordable DER technology?
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Sembcorp Utilities: Powering Sustainable Growth in Emerging Markets
Yvonne Chong and A. Lee Gilbert
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2016-008
Pub. Date: APR-2017
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Strategy
Case Length: 18 pages
Abstract: Tang Kin Fei retired as group president and CEO in April 2017 after 30 years with Sembcorp Industries, a Singapore conglomerate with S$22 billion assets. Sembcorp’s global power portfolio had doubled in the last five years. Overseas operations accounted for 63% of the Utilities business net profit, which formed the bulk of group earnings in 2016. Rapidly developing economies, hungry for energy to fuel growth and urbanisation, were their key targets. However, there were increasing concerns on the execution risks and environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges involved. How would they manage the inherent risks and complexities of the emerging markets, namely India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China, albeit ripe with opportunities?
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ASEAN CSR Network
Chung Tuck Siong
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2016-006
Pub. Date: AUG-2016
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Strategy
Case Length: 7 pages
Abstract: ASEAN CSR Network, a non-government organization based in Singapore, pondered on how it could increase local business interests in sustainable business practices. How should the NGO go about persuading companies to adopt sustainable business practices?
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Wilmar International Limited: Managing Multiple Stakeholders in a Global Palm Oil Agribusiness Group
Wee Beng Geok, Geraldine Chen and Ivy Buche
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2010/12-004
Pub. Date: MAR-2012
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Strategy
Case Length: 26 pages
Abstract: In late 2010, Wilmar was expanding into sub-Saharan Africa, where many governments were keen to support the development of commercially managed large-scale oil palm projects. However, as in Asia, palm oil producers could expect to encounter pressure from environmental groups with regard to possible adverse effects. The challenge was to manage these initiatives and the environmentalists' demands for more sustainable operations.
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Hyflux Limited and Water Sustainability - Treading Blue Oceans
Wee Beng Geok, Ivy Buche, Mark Kroll and Timothy Chua
Case Ref No.: ABCC-2009/12-003
Pub. Date: MAR-2012
Category: Sustainability
Topic(s): Entrepreneurship; Strategy
Case Length: 27 pages
Abstract: In 2009, Hyflux was one of Asia's leading environmental water treatment companies with operations in Singapore, China, the Middle East, North Africa and India. Hyflux was planning to execute greenfield municipal projects in a far-flung continent and compete with other global water treatment companies. To respond to these challenges, Hyflux had to rapidly grow its human capital and organisational capabilities.
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