Singapore’s youth believe that climate change and environmental sustainability are the most pressing challenges of the island country.

Industry impact on global warming

Sokwei Wong and Kai Lin Ong, students from Singapore’s Republic Polytechnic, were inspired to make a difference after the two learned about the impact of the leather industry on our environment. When converting raw materials into leather, the process consumes an unmeasurable amount of chemicals and produces hazardous pollutants.

Sokwei and Kai Lin started looking into ways to create a solution. One that is a sustainable, high-quality alternative for leather; even better if ethically-sourced. Food waste was the answer.

Turning food waste into leather

The two students decided to utilize food waste - of which Singapore has generated over 740,000 tons in 2019 alone - as the main source. After months of countless experiments, Sokwei and Kai Lin turned what could create environmental pollution into an all-vegan textile through biomaterial engineering.

Sokwei said, “SUSKIN is an all-vegan alternative to leather that is sustainable, durable, and ethically sourced. Our mission is to be at the forefront of innovation to offer high-quality, sustainable materials.”

Learning how to overcome

Both Sokwei and Kai Lin are Consumer Behavior and Research majors from Republic Polytechnic and did not have much scientific background. Although inspired with curiosity and the desire to make a different place for the environment, setbacks and the ups and downs were an unavoidable part of their journey.

“Our biggest turning point on participating in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is to never stop trying and to move forward even if we fail. To take those learning points to make a better attempt,” said Kai Lin.

Advancing their STEM knowledge and incorporating them into a solution is not the only thing Sokwei and Kai Lin learned. The two have taken a leap forward, taking a closer look at social issues around them and envisioning the ways they can make a meaningful impact in the community.