Evonik enters partnership with Singapore's Housing Development Board

• Singapore’s Housing & Development Board (HDB) to tap Evonik’s technological expertise on resource efficiency.
• Evonik’s CALOSTAT®, a building material that can help to keep the heat out, will be one of the products to be explored.
• The collaboration will help achieve greener and more sustainable public housing in the country.

Evonik and the Housing & Development Board of Singapore (HDB) have inked a strategic partnership to develop innovative and sustainable building solutions for the Republic’s urban future. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was witnessed by Mr. Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance, during the Urban Sustainability R&D Congress 2019 on July 23.

The partnership will enable Evonik to contribute to Singapore’s vision to become a smart and sustainable city-state, by mobilizing its technical expertise on resource efficiency technologies. Peter Meinshausen, Regional President of Evonik Asia Pacific South shared that the signing of the MOU is an important stepping stone to establish a long-term relationship with HDB. “We are delighted to start our collaboration with HDB as it allows us to directly address the needs of the local market. I am convinced that this will also provide a strategic framework for furthering our capabilities to bring innovative solutions in Singapore and beyond.”

To kickstart the collaboration, HDB will begin to explore the use of Evonik’s CALOSTAT®, a high-performance insulation material that can offer a superior heat protection for buildings in tropical climate like Singapore. Combined with the best insulation values, fire protection and sustainability, CALOSTAT® will potentially reduce the heat gain in the building during daylight while offering best in class fire protection. This will also enable the buildings to become more sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

“HDB is constantly seeking new solutions to enhance Singapore’s living environment,” said Dr. Cheong Koon Hean, Chief Executive Officer of HDB. “With the rising urban challenges including climate change, further actions need to be taken to achieve a more sustainable living space. Therefore, working hand in hand with industry partners such as Evonik is a step in that direction”

HDB is the statutory board of the Ministry of National Development in Singapore, responsible for planning and developing Singapore's public housing estates, including recreational and social amenities for residents’ convenience. Currently with more than 1 million HDB flats in 23 towns and 3 estates across the island in Singapore, these public housing are home to over 80% of Singapore's resident population, with about 90% of these resident households owning their home.