DBS has launched the second edition of its DBS Regenerative Festival, an event aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore adopt sustainable business practices. More than 300 business owners and industry partners attended the half-day festival, which featured a discussion between Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Education, and Sustainability and the Environment, and Tan Su Shan, CEO of DBS. The conversation covered topics such as Singapore’s commitment to sustainability, how SMEs can manage carbon reduction goals alongside cost concerns, and the potential business benefits of regenerative practices.
Derrick Goh, Group Chief Operating Officer at DBS, announced the opening of a new alternate office at DBS Asia Gateway (DAG), located in Jurong. “We are pleased to announce our new alternate office at DBS Asia Gateway (DAG) which enhances our operational resiliency and ability to maintain high levels of reliability for our customers globally. Being in Jurong also allows us to better serve our customers in the western part of Singapore. Additionally, DAG has several innovations that allow us to further our sustainability objectives through the way we operate. As part of our support for the Singapore Green Plan 2030, we have been partnering SMEs on their sustainability journeys and have launched several initiatives to support businesses on this front. We are hosting the DBS Regenerative Festival at DAG today as a continuation of these efforts,” Goh said.
At the event, more than 20 exhibitors presented regenerative products and solutions. Among them were MYCL, which creates mycelium-based leather for items like book covers and bags as well as building materials; and AlterPacks, which turns spent wheat into compostable materials. Both companies are customers of DBS and recipients of the DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant.
The festival is one initiative among several by DBS to help local SMEs incorporate sustainability into their operations. In April 2024, DBS worked with Enterprise Singapore to launch the ESG Ready Programme—over 180 SMEs have participated so far—to help build capabilities in sustainability (https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/news-and-resources/news/press-releases/2024/singapore-smes-to-get-help-to-build-capabilities-in-environmental-social-and-governance-esg). That same month, DBS partnered with the National Sustainable Procurement Roundtable (NSPR) to produce a guide offering practical advice on sustainable procurement practices for SMEs (https://www.nsp-roundtable.org/resources). In May 2025, together with partners including Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Ernst & Young, and Singapore Manufacturing Federation, DBS released Singapore’s first decarbonisation playbook for manufacturers—a resource expected to benefit over 5,000 manufacturers across Singapore as well as NYP students.
Jerald Tew from Spin Fans commented on his company’s experience: “Sustainability is a foundational pillar of Spin’s business. We were already exploring ways to be more sustainable and joining the ESG Ready Programme last year helped supercharge this effort by accelerating how we translate ideas into action. By tapping DBS’ expertise and support under the programme, we mapped out an achievable carbon pathway, identified practical solutions, and built a plan that fits our business. The DBS Regenerative Festival today has opened doors for us to connect with other SMEs and vendors in the sustainability ecosystem, as well as share best practices and knowledge on our respective sustainability journeys.”
The new DAG office was officially opened during the event at Perennial Business City (PBC), marking its move from Toh Guan Road. The site is designed as a live parallel location under bank continuity plans to ensure uninterrupted global operations. Its location in Jurong improves service access for clients in western Singapore.
DBS emphasized environmental considerations in designing DAG’s workspace by using reclaimed wood for tabletops; bamboo—a fast-growing alternative—for meeting tables; recycled materials like old crates or pallets for furniture; compressed glass; plastic; coffee bean bags; chilled beams; passive displacement cooling systems; smart sensors; all contributing towards energy efficiency that exceeds industry standards set by BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification.
Guests toured DAG during the festival to learn about integrating regenerative features into office environments.
Karen Cheah from AlterPacks said: “DBS has been more than a bank. They’ve opened doors, amplified our story, and supported our growth as a company with impact at its core. Their partnership shows how financial institutions can empower businesses to turn waste into resources and make circular solutions mainstream. This support has enabled us to extend our innovation into new verticals of application.”
Adi R. Nugroho from MYCL added: “DBS and the DBS Foundation have been instrumental in our journey at MYCLfrom the very start, catalysing our growth by openingdoors tonew opportunitiesand strengtheningour commitment to sustainable innovation. With their support, we’ve been able to scaleour mushroom-based material solutions while staying true to our mission of helping people transition to circular economy by providing sustainable and high performance biomaterial. DBS’ belief in our vision shows that innovative businesses can help solve complex environmental challenges.”
The first edition of this festival was held in 2024 with procurement managers from NSPR member organizations participating.