DBS launches new alternate site at Jurong hub, rallies 300 SMEs and partners to adopt sustainable business operations
New DBS Asia Gateway enables bank to maintain high levels of operational resiliency and better serve customers while greening its operations
Over 300 business owners and industry partners joined the half-day event which was headlined by a fireside chat between Guest-of-Honour Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Education, and Sustainability and the Environment, and Tan Su Shan, DBS CEO. Both leaders covered a broad range of topics including Singapore’s continued commitment to sustainability, how SMEs can balance the long-term goal of reducing carbon emissions with short-term cost considerations, as well as the business advantages SMEs can gain from adopting regenerative practices.
Derrick Goh, Group Chief Operating Officer, DBS, said, “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.”
SMEs also had the opportunity to connect with over 20 exhibitors showcasing innovative regenerative products and solutions. Among them were MYCL, which develops mycelium-based leather for everyday goods such as such as book covers, bags as well as building composites, and AlterPacks, which upcycles spent wheat into certified, high-performance compostable materials. Both MYCL and AlterPacks are DBS customers and previously received the DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant to help scale their operations. Quotes from both can be found in Annex A.
DBS Regenerative Festival part of One Bank effort to help SMEs adopt sustainability practices
The DBS Regenerative Festival is one of many initiatives that DBS has launched to help SMEs in Singapore integrate sustainability into their business models, which in recent years include:
- In April 2024, DBS partnered Enterprise Singapore to launch the ESG Ready Programme to help SMEs become future-ready by building capability and capacity in sustainability, with over 180 SMEs benefitting to date.
- DBS also partnered the National Sustainable Procurement Roundtable (NSPR) that same month to launch a guide with practical insights on how SMEs can adopt sustainable procurement practices for a competitive edge.
- In May 2025, DBS, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Ernst & Young and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), joined forces to launch Singapore’s first decarbonisation playbook for the manufacturing sector. The playbook aims to benefit over 5,000 manufacturers across Singapore, as well as 1,600 learners from NYP’s full-time and continuing education programmes – equipping both today’s businesses and tomorrow’s workforce to take meaningful climate action.
Jerald Tew, Director of Spin Fans, a DBS customer, said, “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.”
DBS Asia Gateway unveiled as a showcase of regenerative practices in action
In conjunction with the event, the bank officially opened the doors to its new DBS Asia Gateway (DAG) office at Perennial Business City (PBC). Originally located at Toh Guan Road, DAG was designed to operate as a live parallel site under the bank’s business continuity plan to reinforce its operational resiliency and uninterrupted delivery of its global operations. Being in Jurong also allows the bank to better serve its customers in Singapore’s west.
DAG’s move to PBC, the first BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy Business Park in Jurong Lake District, underscored the bank’s commitment to managing the environmental footprint of its workspaces. Going beyond leveraging PBC’s inherent sustainability features, DBS incorporated circular economy practices when fitting out DAG, which include using reclaimed materials, upcycled elements and restorative strategies to reduce waste and extend resource lifecycles:
- Reclaimed wood was used to craft over 800 tabletops, while bamboo – a fast-growing and lower-carbon alternative to hardwood – was used to craft the office’s meeting tables.
- Recycled materials such as wooden crates, coffee bean bags, old workstation tabletops, discarded timber pallets, compressed glass and plastic were used for various functional purposes such as seating and storage.
- Cooling systems in the office comprise a combination of active chilled beams and passive displacement cooling, using chilled water, airflow and smart sensors. The systems have been achieving 20% better energy performance than the BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low energy building standards – one of the highest industry benchmarks.
Guests of the DBS Regenerative Festival were invited to tour DAG to pick up practical tips on how regenerative practices can be incorporated into office designs.
DAG houses about 1,000 employees from the bank’s Operations Group.
Annex A – Exhibitor Quotes
Karen Cheah, Founder & CEO, AlterPacks – “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, CEO & Co-founder, MYCL – “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.”
[1]Launched in 2024, the first edition of the DBS Regenerative Festival brought together procurement managers from members of the National Sustainable Procurement Roundtable (NSPR) to drive awareness of regenerative procurement practices and to connect procurement managers with businesses that offer regenerative products and solutions. NSPR currently counts over 30 corporates as its members including founding members DBS, Mandai Wildlife Group, Singtel and StarHub.
About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia“ award by Global Finance for 16 consecutive years from 2009 to 2024.
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.
DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.