Long-term collaboration will see the sustainability-focused community campus through to its completion scheduled for 2017

Singapore, 7 November 2016. AkzoNobel, a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals, announced today that it will provide sustainable coatings for non-profit social enterprise Ground-Up Initiative’s facilities in a long-term partnership that will see the eco-site through to its completion.

Buildings at Kampung Kampus (former Bottle Tree Park), the organization’s 26,000sqm sustainability-focused campus, will feature eco-products and expertise from AkzoNobel. This includes Ground-Up Initiative’s “Heartquarters” office and training building which is set to be Singapore’s only other net zero energy building, three container classrooms, and other outdoor infrastructure.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Ground-Up Initiative whose cause is in line with AkzoNobel’s global Human Cities initiative, which is to help urban areas adapt to rapid urbanization,” said Mr Ton Büchner, AkzoNobel’s CEO who made the announcement during the company’s Destination Planet Possible staff community program at Kampung Kampus.

“Protecting the facilities in this inspiring environment at Kampung Kampus with our sustainable coatings and expertise complements our Planet Possible philosophy of creating more with fewer resources,” he added.

Netherlands-based Mr Büchner, along with co-host Mr Henry Kwek, MP for Nee Soon GRC, also led close to 400 AkzoNobel staff, family members and business partners in planting 51 trees in celebration of Singapore’s 51st birthday. The group also engaged in various eco-focused activities such as garden herb potting.

Energy-saving coatings

The net zero energy building which houses the “Heartquarters” is endorsed by the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC), and has completed phase one of its construction. It is coated with AkzoNobel’s heat-reflective and anti-bacteria coatings that are certified by the Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) labelling scheme, adding value to the building’s Green Mark Platinum target.

The Dulux Professional Weathershieldcoatings with patented Keep Cool Technology by AkzoNobel, which are used on the exterior of the building, are also Singapore Green Label certified products that can reduce surface temperatures by up to 5°C. This keeps the interiors cool, and leads to significant power savings for air conditioning and fans.

AkzoNobel also collaborated with the local artists at Mural Lingo, an arts, education and publishing platform, to cover three container classrooms at Kampung Kampus in vibrant sunflower murals.

Kampung Kampus, which spans across more than four football fields, is an educational campus dedicated to sustainable living, community building, and nurturing resilient society leaders. It is home to four social initiatives, each with a different purpose:

- WOW Kampung – a social enterprise for experiential environmental education and character development for students and teachers

- Touchwood – encourages practical craft skills such as carpentry

- Guild – focuses on technological innovations for a sustainable community

- Farmily – which encourages a healthy lifestyle and extra income for the elderly through urban farming

Currently, 65% of Kampung Kampus is now up and running, including the Ground-Up Initiative’s zero energy office building, the making space and an outdoor learning space by the ponds. The site is targeted to be completed by 2017.

For media enquiries, please contact:

AkzoNobel Communications

South East & South Asia, Middle East, Australasia & Africa

Ng Yen Tze

T: +65 9852 6316

E: ng.yen.tze@akzonobel.com

Huntington Communications

Mavis Ang / BlessAnn Luah

T: 6339 2883

E: mavis.ang@huntington.com.sg / blessann.luah@huntington.com.sg