Sustainable Sentosa

Developing a Sustainable Leisure and Tourism Destination

SDC strives to develop the resort island as a leading leisure and tourism destination in a sustainable manner. While the past few decades have seen rapid changes to the island with extensive development works, many parts of Sentosa still retain the original tranquil and green environment.

This is because SDC has adopted a balanced and sustainable approach to the development and growth of Sentosa and constant attention has been paid to protecting the greenery, heritage and island charm.

The Sentosa Sustainability Plan

We have developed a comprehensive Sentosa Sustainability Plan with the following objectives in mind:

• Minimising the island’s carbon footprint
• Conserving its flora and fauna
• Developing itself as a hub for green projects
• Adopting responsible environmental standards and business practices

Key Accomplishments

Sentosa was shortlisted as a sustainable tourism destination finalist in the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) “Tourism for Tomorrow” Awards in 2013. Examples of other accomplishments include:

• The island being home to some 27 carefully-preserved heritage trees and over 30 conserved buildings
• Singapore’s only fully-restored military fort, Fort Siloso
• Several Green Mark-certified developments such as the Sentosa Cove Village, Palawan Kidz City, W Singapore-Sentosa Cove and Resorts World Sentosa
• An award-winning eco-hotel, Siloso Beach Resort
• Developing the Sentosa Boardwalk, which is a pedestrian walkway with various sustainability features to connect the island to the Singapore mainland
• Partnering MAKO Energy to harness tidal energy by installing turbines at Sentosa Boardwalk to convert the kinetic energy in flowing water into electricity for local use or for charging batteries
• Sentosa Express won the Special Award (Public Infrastructure) at the 2017 Skyrise Greenery Awards
• Running the annual island-wide “Sentosa Gives” corporate social responsibility week in September since 2011

The Fun Odyssea: Sentosa Celebrates the International Year of the Reef

To raise awareness for marine conservation and to encourage such efforts, 26 marine interest groups, conservation and research organisations including Our Singapore Reefs and Celebrating Singapore Shores linked up with SDC to jointly celebrate the third International Year of the Reef in Sentosa.

Held at the Palawan Pirate Ship from 17 to 18 March 2018, The Fun Odyssea was a free celebratory event that offered insights into Singapore’s shores, marine biodiversity and environmental issues through hands-on activities, interactive booths, and movie screenings.
The opening ceremony was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Guests at the event also had the chance to sign up for the free guided intertidal tours to the unique Siloso Headland, which is home to corals, seagrass, and a wide variety of marine life.

Protecting Endangered Hawksbill Turtles

SDC is proud to have played a key role in contributing to the world’s population of endangered Hawksbill turtles! Following the discovery of a nest at Tanjong Beach in November 2017, various measures were put in place to ensure the safety of the Hawksbill turtle nest, to protect the eggs from natural predators like monitor lizards and crabs. SDC further worked closely with the National Parks Board to monitor the eggs daily during their incubation period.

In January 2018, 111 endangered hawksbill turtles emerged from the nest and made their way into the waters! Another batch of 102 eggs hatched at Tanjong Beach in September 2018, while the latest batch of 100 hatchlings made their way into the sea in September 2019.

Natural Treasures of Sentosa

With 40 hectares of protected nature areas, more than 20 heritage trees, over 100 recorded bird species, and a variety of walking and cycling trails on the island, Sentosa is a haven for nature lovers. To bring guests closer to the island’s hidden gems, a slew of free nature activities was launched over the year, including the inaugural Siloso Headland Intertidal Programme.

The guided programme explores Tanjong Rimau – one of Singapore’s last remaining coastal cliffs and rocky shores. Home to corals, seagrass and a wide variety of marine wildlife, Tanjong Rimau also boasts beautiful landscapes with an original and ageold rock outcrop.

Protect and showcase island history and heritage assets

Singapore’s only fully-restored fort, Fort Siloso, and over 30 conserved buildings are found on the island. Pre-war buildings and unique structures are re-purposed to give a second lease of life. Some buildings were built by the British and date back to the late 1800s. Similarly, some of our iconic but defunct Sentosa monorail stations have been converted into hotels, restaurants, attractions and offices.

World Water Day

To mark World Water Day on 22 March 2018, the island’s iconic landmarks such as the Sentosa Merlion, Sentosa Gateway Towers, Resorts World Sentosa and Sentosa Boardwalk, were lit up in blue as a show of Sentosa’s commitment towards water sustainability and its support for water conservation. The United Nations has designated 22 March as World Water Day to focus global attention on the importance of water, a critical resource that should be cherished and protected.

Adopt environmentally-sustainable designs

The advent of green design has highlighted methods in minimising the damage dealt to the environment through various architectural and design solutions. Many of Sentosa’s buildings are Green Mark certified, which is awarded by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) to environmentally-friendly buildings.
In particular, the Sentosa Express clinched the Special Award (Public Infrastructure) at the 2017 Skyrise Greenery Awards. Conferred by the National Parks Board, the award recognises the innovative vertical greenwall system that is incorporated into the pillars of the Sentosa Express train track along the Sentosa Gateway. The vertical greenwall reduces the urban heat effect and blends in seamlessly with Sentosa's lush greenery and tropical environment, while also enhancing the biodiversity of the island.

Maximise efficiency in use of energy and other resources

Sentosa is exploring efficient and greener transportation methods which will reduce our carbon footprint, which includes building more sheltered walkways to encourage our visitors to explore the island by foot.

Maximise efficiency in use of energy and other resources

The island is well-positioned to be a “living laboratory” for test-bedding and green innovation. Research institutions, universities and companies are welcome to partner with us to experiment and test out suitable green ideas on the island.

In 2018, NYK and MTI Co. Ltd. reached an agreement to participate in a long-term demonstration of tidal energy that is sponsored by MAKO Energy Pte. Ltd. and SDC. This is the first demonstration of tidal energy to be undertaken in Singapore. MAKO Turbines installed under the Sentosa Boardwalk enables the testing of power generation efficiency, the cost of power generation and storage for a period of two years.

Promoting community-giving and encouraging corporate volunteerism

We educate students and the wider public about Sentosa’s sustainability efforts, as well as ensure that underprivileged Singaporeans have the opportunity to experience the island’s leisure offerings. Since 2011, the island community has come together in our “Sentosa Gives” initiative annually to welcome beneficiaries from various Voluntary Welfare Organisations and charities in Singapore, with beneficiaries treated to a day of fun and activities on Sentosa.

Build corporate culture of sustainability thinking

Staff campaigns and educational talks are regularly organised to spread awareness on environmental issues. These include inviting speakers from organisations such as the Nature Society (Singapore). We also have experiential activities, such as a regular litter picking programme called *Sentosa Embraces Litter Free (S.E.L.F)*, to encourage everyone to appreciate environmental issues and take personal responsibility.

Create fair and beneficial business practices towards labour and community

SDC implements best practices in labour conditions, human resource practices as well as corporate governance. We provide comprehensive benefits and good work-life balance to our employees, and endeavour to foster good relations with the labour unions.

We adopt ethical and transparent business practices when dealing with our Island Partners and other parties. As recognition of our ongoing efforts, SDC has won the Singapore Human Resources Institute’s annual Singapore HR Awards in various categories.

Generate economic benefits for Singapore and be financially sustainable

Since 1972, SDC’s mandate has been to develop and manage Sentosa as a leisure destination for locals and tourists. The annual island visitorship has grown steadily over the years to around 19 million.

The various businesses on the island have generated significant employment opportunities. SDC oversees the economic ecosystem on Sentosa and has various income sources to sustain operations and for re-investment back into the island.