As a Knowledge Partner for the upcoming The Edge Singapore Sustainable Construction Symposium 2026, SGBC recognises that the industry is at a pivotal moment: the traditional trade-off between cost, deadlines, quality, and sustainability is no longer acceptable — or necessary.
Here are some key takeaways from industry leaders featured in this article from The Edge Singapore:
- Sustainability as a core design driver – RSP’s Tan Sew Guan notes that material selection now considers embodied carbon and life-cycle impact, not just strength and durability.
- The ‘golden quadrilateral’ is achievable – Kajima’s Suren explains that shifting from site-based building to factory-controlled manufacturing (DfMA) allows all four priorities — cost, schedule, quality, and sustainability — to be satisfied simultaneously.
- Profitability and sustainability must coexist – SGBC Board Member Farizan d’Avezac de Moran emphasises that global carbon declaration is becoming a licence to operate. No amount of external persuasion works unless owners and developers believe in the value of sustainability themselves.
- Early planning is the key – Eastern Industries’ Matti Mikkola adds that when projects are designed with prefabrication in mind from day one, waste is reduced, timelines shorten, and cost efficiency improves — naturally.
At SGBC, we view sustainability not as an additional constraint, but as a practical enabler of better project delivery. The standards we establish today will shape the performance of our built environment for decades to come. We look forward to deeper discussions on these themes at the Sustainable Construction Symposium 2026 on 29 April 2026 at Pan Pacific Orchard.
Read the full article here (first published in The Edge Singapore on 17 April 2026).
