How sustainable practices protect Asia’s natural resources and help drive the bioeconomy
- RGE, focused on plantation management, helps lead the way with its commitment to develop clean, renewable, low-waste resources
- The Singapore-headquartered group’s production-protection model invests in conservation and ecosystem restoration
Asia’s wealth of natural resources puts the region in prime position to advance the goals and benefits of the bioeconomy by balancing ongoing production needs with farsighted care for the environment.
In doing so, the basic aim is to create fully functioning models of sustainable development in different sectors, using science and technology to understand and manage biological resources and steadily move the world towards a more circular, low-carbon economy.
Taking this approach makes it possible to establish various types of closed-loop operations where forests, rivers, fish, crops, livestock and even microorganisms can still be used to produce food, energy, and raw materials for industry.
However, it is done in harmony with nature, with a deliberate view to avoiding overexploitation, protecting native flora and fauna, recognising the interests of local communities, and taking concrete steps to combat climate change.
Leading the way through coordinated efforts is RGE, the resources and manufacturing group which has its headquarters in Singapore and extensive operations in countries including Indonesia, China and Brazil.
Much of the group’s activity is centred on managing forestry and oil palm plantations, with the resulting products – which include everything from paper, tissue and surgical masks to soap, cooking oil and clothes – being used every day by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
