While some companies tag on green initiatives as part of their corporate social responsibility spiel, Rigel Technology, a green restroom provider, not only bases its business model on it, the company says that its model is viable, and indeed profitable.
The company, which opened its doors in 1991, is the brain child of Christopher Ng, managing director at Rigel Technology.
He says: ‘I lived in a kampung in Malaysia when I was young, so I have always been close to nature. As I came of age and started to develop a business, I understood the importance of fulfilling our corporate social responsibility to the environment that has nurtured our growth.’
The company made a splash in this field, promulgating green restrooms even before the green movement became popular in 2003, says Mr Ng.
‘The restroom is the most understated, yet most frequented enclave in a building,’ he says. ‘If everyone can play a part to waste less water or optimise energy usage every time one answers nature’s call, the cumulative results can go a long way to protect and enhance the sustainability of our natural resources.’
If you think this reeks of mere idealistic fervour, Mr Ng is quick to point out that this has been a lucrative field for the company.
‘By going green, we managed to tap the business potential of the LOHAS (Lifestyle of health and sustainability) market, which is estimated to be worth US$29 billion worldwide,’ he says.
‘Although there isn’t any LOHAS survey conducted in Singapore, it is estimated that seven out of 10 homebuyers will consider purchasing eco-friendly homes, which must of course include green restrooms,’ he adds.
While he concedes that Singapore is still quite new to the concept of green restroom technology, he notes that there has been an increased emphasis on green building development in recent years, in the form of the the Building and Construction Authority’s target of greening 80 per cent of Singapore’s buildings by 2030, and the Singapore Green Building Council which was set up in 2009 to profile Singapore as a leading sustainable hub.
To ensure that the company is at the top of their game, Mr Ng says that Rigel channels $1 million into their research and development programmes yearly, to spur continuous innovation.
The company is working on a solar power generator for its faucets and urinals, which will store electrical energy in rechargeable battery packs for powering sensor systems and flushing activation.
Low maintenance
Not only does this result in energy reduction, the self-sustaining device ensures that maintenance is kept to the bare minimum, adds Mr Ng.
Already a well-established player in the commercial sector, having outfitted Changi Airport and Marina Bay Sands, among others, with their restroom fittings, Rigel has turned its attention to flushing out the competition in the residential sector.
To that end, Rigel developed an integrated water recycle cistern in closed coupled water closet in collaboration with the Housing and Development Board.
The built-in wash basin is positioned above the cistern, so that waste water from the basin can be channelled back to the wash closet’s tank for flushing. In this way, up to 30 per cent of water is conserved, says Mr Ng.
In addition, Rigel has launched its themed restroom collection comprising the V series, in a bid to capture a larger portion of the residential market.
‘We recently launched our V series of water closets, basins, mixers and accessories together with a commercial range of urinals and flush valves, portraying distinctive triangular shapes from every angle,’ says Mr Ng.
More than just an aesthetic function, the streamlined design translates to fewer corners for dirt to be accumulated and greater water efficiency, he adds.
Their CSR model is not limited to the local market.
In 2009, Rigel started marketing its toilet- on-wheels with the World Toilet Organization to third world countries.
Since renamed the SOW series, it consists of a squat toilet, a compost chamber and a urine collector, which is sold close to cost price to the local people.
After six weeks, the collected waste can be composted for reuse as fertiliser. The aim is to improve environmental and economic sustainability, through farmers who are able to convert discharged waste materials into fertiliser and subsequently sell the recycled fertiliser for regular income.
Empowerment
‘Rigel’s CSR model adopted in these underprivileged communities is driven by empowerment and not sympathy,’ says Mr Ng. ‘We believe villagers who find themselves victims of poor health and hygiene due to the lack of proper sanitation can only change their lives and the environment for the better when we help them to help themselves.’
A global player, Rigel ships its toilets to China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Middle East, among other countries.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Mr Ng has set his company the ambitious goal of conquering the Middle East market, which is characterised by having one of the most stringent flushing requirements in the world, stipulating that one kilogramme of waste be cleared with a single flush.
‘To meet the standards of this market, Rigel will have to improve our flushing force by three to four times. Currently, we are planning to develop washdown models to replace the more commonly accepted siphonic-based flushing systems that are not water efficient,’ he says.
‘Once our R&D efforts prove successful, we will be able to integrate water efficiency with flushing efficiency at a higher level, create another milestone that will open up more markets for us, and set future benchmarks in the Middle East.’
