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  Business Times 6 Apr 07
Still cold to green products here
By Matthew Phan

THE Singapore market is generally less receptive to green products than other developed markets, even though the government has pushed for more environment-friendly practices, says a maker of eco-friendly carpets.

'Singapore is unusual at the moment,' says Rob Coombs, president and CEO of Interface Asia Pacific. 'There aren't many countries where legislation is leading but not yet feeding through in terms of demand. The wider marketplace is not as enthusiastic as in Japan, Australia, the US and parts of Europe.'

But this could well change with upcoming legislation, says Mr Coombs, who was in town with other executives for an international real estate summit, where they discussed sustainability issues in infrastructure management in Asia.

Referring to news last month that the Building Control Act (BCA) will be amended, Mr Coombs says that in Singapore, unlike in most other countries, 'legislation is coming through that will compel buildings to meet certain criteria'.

Last month, Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu said at a seminar on green buildings that the government was considering amending the BCA to impose minimum requirements for sustainability on buildings.

Carpet is the second most significant material used in a multi-storey office building - after concrete - so making the carpet more efficiently helps reduce a building's impact as a whole, according to Mr Coombs.

Interface, which buys carbon credits to offset any greenhouse gas emitted during its manufacturing process, started using renewable materials and managing its carpets' life cycles in 1994. It has since saved about US$336 million from waste reduction and cut its greenhouse gas emissions 60 per cent.

In Singapore, where Interface has had an office for 30 years, its customers include ABN- Amro, Barclays and Singapore Management University.

The Singapore market for modular carpeting, though small at US$25 million, has been growing about 10 per cent a year, says Mr Coombs. The Asia-Pacific market is worth about US$700 million and has been growing about 8 per cent a year. In particular, the China market - now the world's fourth-largest for modular carpeting - has been growing about 15 per cent a year. The South-east Asian market is also 'large', says Mr Coombs.

Singapore and Hong Kong are Interface's two key markets in the region, though it has also done well in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Sustainable products are in greater demand in mature markets, says Mr Coombs. 'But I don't think there is anywhere in the world where customers will pay more for environment -friendly products. Certainly not in Asia.'
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