Recognising not all venues fit neatly into a single category such as “office” or “manufacturing plant”, the Eco Spaces certification was launched in August 2025 to address the unique needs of mixed-use venues, ranging from Institutes of Higher Learning, MICE premises to Places of Worship.
Eco Spaces offers an inclusive and comprehensive approach to certification. It focuses not only on operations and infrastructure within specific spaces, but also on shared areas and transitional zones often overlooked.
Building on the success of SEC’s established Eco-Certifications, Eco Spaces aspires to become the leading certification for all venue spaces. New modules are continually being developed to accommodate the evolving diversity of space types.
To get started, contact us at
info@sec.org.sg.
As the Singapore Environment Council takes the next step in refining our sustainability certifications, we are excited to share an important update on our Eco Certifications.
From
1 April 2026, we will transition our existing Eco Office, Eco Shop and Eco Manufacturing certifications into a single more flexible framework: Eco Spaces. Beyond certifying single-use spaces previously under the suite of Eco Certifications, Eco Spaces can certify mixed-use developments and other types of spaces (e.g. Place of Worship). This new approach better reflects how spaces are used today and gives you greater choice and control over what you certify. You choose which space types to include in your certification. Recognising that sustainability initiatives have different impact, Eco Spaces adopts a tiered structure with specific criteria at each tier from 1-Leaf to 4-Leaf. We have embarked on this change to 1) simplify and harmonise the framework, 2) increase flexibility across space types and 3) provide a clearer path for continuous improvement.
We have outlined key questions and answers below to help you understand what this transition means for you. We look forward to supporting you in this exciting next chapter and working together towards more sustainable spaces. If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to reach out.
Administrative Matters
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What if I currently hold a certification?
Your certification remains valid until your next renewal. Applications submitted by 31 March 2026 may still proceed under the current certification schemes.
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What happens at renewal?
From 1 April 2026, renewals will be under Eco Spaces, with updated pricing and tiering.
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Will fees change?
Yes. Pricing will be based on Gross Floor Area (GFA).
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Any action needed now?
No immediate action. We recommend attending the webinar or reaching out if you have questions.
Certification Process
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Which modules apply to us?
You can choose which modules to include based on the spaces in your venue. Eco Office, Eco Shop and Eco Manufacturing are now modules under Eco Spaces.
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Are there new criteria or stricter benchmarks?
Yes, some criteria have been added while others have been removed. Requirements have been updated to align with the latest sustainability standards (e.g. Singapore Standard TR 130). The benchmarks for 3-Leaf and 4-Leaf are slightly more stringent, so scores and tiers may change at the time of renewal. The criteria are tiered, with a clear pathway for improvement.
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Are there new audit or documentation requirements?
Audit processes remain largely the same but the list of document required are slightly different due to changes in the criteria.
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Is it still a tiering system?
Eco Spaces continues to use a tiered (Leaf) rating system from 1-Leaf to 4-Leaf.
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Is SEC planning to develop more modules?
Yes, SEC is open to partnering to co-develop additional modules (e.g., IHLs, healthcare, and warehouses). Do contact us if you would like to be involved.