Following the announcement of the joint venture framework between ecoWise and Rong-Yao Fisheries Pte. Ltd. on 8 December 2017, ecoWise announced the exercise was completed on 10 January 2018. The objective of the joint venture is to develop a high-tech integrated sustainable aqua and agricultural park in Singapore which put together and demonstrate high-tech aqua and agricultural technologies. The Park's demonstration of sustainable practices exemplifies the strong commitment in building a circular economy, which the Group believes to be the future of aquaculture and agriculture.

As a testimony for our strong expertise in project development and O&M management for biomass power-plant, ecoWise clinched a DBO contract by Garden’s by the Bay in November 2009 to construct and operate the Energy Resource Centre for 15 years. This iconic biomass tri-generation (electricity, heating and cooling) power-plant, built with the intention of providing renewable energy to power and cool the 2 giant dome conservatories of the Gardens runs entirely on biomass fuel. The efficient management of biomass resources, effective recycling of power-plant by-products (eg, ashes) and the concept of sustainability cycles in energy and resources (zero-waste concept) has collectively earned the power-plant the prestigious Asean Energy Awards in 1st Runner-Up position in October 2015. The biomass power-plant has also since then received many visitors from both Government bodies and private organizations, many of which have expressed their interests to learn and co-develop such facilities with ecoWise.

In response to a bid for the Nation’s increasing demand for construction materials and a looming ‘sand crisis’, extensive research has been undertaken by the Group and construction materials manufacturer, Lafarge Holcim to explore the recycling and re-purposing of the washed copper slag as an alternative ingredient to construction sand for ready-mix concrete. (structural and non-structural applications) The research paid off when relevant Singapore authorities (including the Building and Construction Authority as well as the National Environment Agency) have no objection to the use processed copper slag for such intended purpose.

The raving success of the sustainable construction material propelled the formation of the Joint Venture company (made up of ecoWise and Lafarge Holcim), Geocycle Singapore Pte Ltd in January 2008. By the October of the same year, Geocycle Singapore officially opens a new plant in Sungei Kadut, Singapore. With a processing capacity of 360,000 tonnes per year, the plant is the largest copper slag processing plant in Singapore.

In response to the growing relevance of technology and its inter-dependence with the environmental industry, the Group also formed ecoWise Solutions Pte Ltd to carry out the business of developing as well as commercializing sustainable, ecological-friendly technologies and solutions. The Group also embarked on a research in recycling horticultural waste into compost, organic fertilizer and briquette. Our compost and fertilizer products, produced from our patented ecoACT^TM composting technology, subsequently received the Singapore Green Label accreditation as “100% Natural Organic Fertilizer” in 2006, demonstrating our continued pursue of technology excellence. BJTT was also renamed Bee Joo Environmental Pte Ltd to reflect the Group’s emphasis on providing resource management and environmental solutions.

In 2004, under the stewardship of the then Board of Directors and Management Team, ecoWise expanded its business through its foray into the Renewable Energy segment, particularly in Biomass derived clean energy. ecoWise ordered the Group’s first biomass fired 1MW co-generation power plant in its Sungei Kadut factory which was subsequently commissioned in 2005. By November 2007, explorations on carbon credits development and trading proved successful when ecoWise (under its wholly-owned subsidiary, BJI) became the first Singapore registered company to sign Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement to sell carbon credits.

In the same year, BJI has also secured a Letter of Approval from Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) in the development of thermal energy recovery project for greenhouse gases reduction under the Kyoto Protocol. By December 2008, the project involving the recovery of thermal energy in the drying of spent grains and iso-tank heating has earned ecoWise the honour of being Singapore’s first United Nation CDM project.

Under Mr Lee and the Management’s guidance, the Group achieved new milestone when ecoWise Holdings Limited (incorporated as the investment holding company for Group) becomes listed on Singapore Stock Exchange SESDAQ in April 2003.

In 1991, the Company moved into its current factory at Sungei Kadut. Further investments were then made to enable automation and enhance the productivity of the recycling activitives. The investments bore fruits when the Company clinched its first term contract on disposal of used copper slag with Sembawang Shipyard and Singapore Technologies Shipbuilding & Engineering Limited (known today as Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd) respectively in subsequent years. The success of the copper slag processing and disposal business was further demonstrated when the BJI secured another major contract with Keppel Group in 2002. The commissioning of the S$0.6 million wood crushing machine has also opened up the market of wood and horticultural waste handling and biomass fuel production for the company in 2000.

In 1979, the company then-named Bee Joo Transport Co, was formed with a primary focus on the used copper slag recycling business. The company expanded 3 years later to welcome the addition of 3 new partners, taking on a new name of Bee Joo Trading Transport (“BJTT”) in response to a heightened demand for recycled copper slag. Owing further to increased emphasis on recycling activities, Bee Joo Industries (“BJI”) was later formed with a primary interest in recycling business while BJTT remains the core provider of transport services relating to cooper slag and industrial waste.