A New Beginning
SembWaste and Sembcorp Environment are now Cora Environment
For decades, our ubiquitous green and blue bins have been a familiar sight across the island, with our established presence contributing to a robust and reliable waste management infrastructure in Singapore. Today, under the ownership of TBS Energi, we are evolving into Cora Environment, a refreshed brand with a deep legacy and a bold new vision.
CORA ENVIRONMENT: TURNING IDEALS INTO ACTION
As the saying goes “What’s discarded by some is cherished by others”. At its core, Cora Environment is committed to turning ideals into action – rethinking waste and inspiring everyone to see waste not as an end point, but as a valuable resource.
Every action matters, and each individual effort contributes to a greater collective impact. Together, we can close the loop by converting waste into resources and reducing the volume that ends up in landfills. In doing so, we can protect our one and only planet, ensuring that future generations can thrive.
Our name reflects this philosophy. “Cora” draws inspiration from the words: collaboration and heart. We put our people, our purpose and our planet at the heart of our work, repurposing waste and enabling our customers on their sustainability journeys in meaningful ways that change mindsets and uplift communities towards a sustainable future.
We bring our ideals to life through meaningful collaborations that advance circularity. One example is our pilot trials with SUTD and A*Star, where we are using AI to improve the accuracy of plastic waste sorting. The trained model can identify and sort plastics into seven distinct types, enhancing recycling efficiency.
Another partnership we have built is the Closed-Loop Partners Network, a first-of-its-kind network that fosters industry partnerships among recycling service providers. This network bridges the supply and demand gap for recycled feedstock and assures customers of responsible recycling practices with measurable long-term impact.
Most recently, we signed a Collaboration Agreement with Singapore Polytechnic, which will see us establish partnerships for hands-on projects and test-bedding initiatives that will accelerate digital transformation, sustainability innovation and talent development in our industry.
OFFICIAL BRAND LAUNCH
On 11 September 2025, we celebrated a major milestone: the official launch of our refreshed brand identity and a bold new vision to shape a future where zerowaste is not just an aspiration, but a reality.
We were honoured to have the event officiated by Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment & Ministry of Defence, who captured the essence of our renewed focus when he said:
“The official launch of Cora Environment marks a bold step forward. A step that reflects the organisation’s transformation, its growing role in the sustainability space, and its ambition to lead the way forward.”
Mr Lee Kok Kin, Group CEO of Cora Environment, also shared our vision with our guests:
“At Cora Environment, we believe waste is not an end point but a beginning – a resource with untapped potential, waiting to be transformed into value. However, tackling waste requires collective effort and we cannot achieve this vision alone. That is why collaboration is at the heart of Cora Environment.”
Besides partnerships, we are also strengthening community action through the Cora School Recycling League, launched in 2023. This flagship initiative has engaged over 400 schools to date, nurturing good recycling habits among youth and driving awareness from the ground up.
WHAT STAYS AND WHAT HAS CHANGED?
In the coming months, you will start to see our bins and trucks sporting a refreshed look, as we continue our mission of contributing to a robust and reliable waste management infrastructure in Singapore. While our name has changed, our management team remains the same – along with our governance, strategy, and unwavering commitment to our stakeholders.
Cora Environment will continue to uphold the waste management and recycling excellence we have built over the past 45 years, maintaining the strong track record that has earned your trust.