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By introducing charcoal soap, our team will be able to eliminate also being a project that involved students from the Institute
the company's cost of purchasing plastic-bottled cleaning of Technical Education College East (ITE CE), fostered a hands-
agents. To reemphasise, the company will also be able to save on learning experience and equipped students with the skills
on (0.16m3 * 12) = 1.92 m3 of water annually, which is used to tackle real-world environmental challenges. By engaging
for cooling the burnt charcoal waste after cooking as reported in activities such as ash collection, analysis, and product
in the Environmental Aspects segment above. development, they acquire practical knowledge in chemistry,
engineering, and environmental science. More importantly,
it cultivated a sustainability mindset, recognising the value of
waste as a resource and the importance of systemic thinking
in addressing global challenges.

Table 4: Cost breakdown for eco-solution However, challenges such as inconsistent ash composition,
potential toxicity, and the need for standardised processing
Potential Carbon and Cost Savings for Singapore methods must be addressed to ensure scalability and safety.
For Peng Guan Ptd Ltd, taking the values from Figure 18, the Collaborative efforts between stakeholders—including
total annual CO2 emissions saved after implementing the researchers, government bodies and food stall operators —
eco-solution is (4807.5 + 4320) - 3365.27, which equates to are essential to overcoming these hurdles.
5,762.23kg. Using the same calculation methodology, the
total monetary cost saved annually will amount to $3624.87. In conclusion, the upcycling of burnt charcoal ash is a
With Peng Guan Pte Ltd considered a Small & Medium promising step toward achieving sustainability in urban
Enterprise (SME) in the meat jerky industry, there are environments. By turning waste into a resource, this initiative
approximately 20 other such SMEs in the sector, such as Bee exemplifies the transformative power of innovation in
Kim Heng Bak Kwa and Kim Hock Guan Bak Kwa. addressing environmental challenges. Moving forward,
continued investment in research and development will be
This would mean that the potential carbon and cost savings key to unlocking its full potential and integrating it seamlessly
for Singapore would equate to 115,244.6kg and $72,497.4, into sustainable development strategies.
respectively.

Conclusion
The upcycling of burnt charcoal ash from meat jerky companies
or hawkers represents a sustainable and innovative approach
to waste management. This report highlights the significant
potential of repurposing a commonly discarded byproduct
into valuable resources for diverse applications. By infusing
charcoal ash into materials like glycerin soap, the team was
able to reduce waste and contribute to a circular economy.
Environmental benefits are evident in the reduction of water
usage and the reduction of carbon emissions.
Social and economic advantages are equally compelling. The
upcycling process creates opportunities for small- and large-
scale industries to innovate and develop green products. This

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