Our Story
Turning Waste Into Opportunity
Semula was born from a genuine desire to inspire and create change. We saw plastic waste not as a burden but as a valuable resource that could be repurposed to create functional, beautiful products. Our name takes its cue from the Malay word “Semula” which means to rejuvenate, refresh, to go back to the beginning and start anew.
Our journey began with a simple idea: a group of friends, united by a deep passion for environmental action, decided to take things into their own hands.
How We Started
We founded Semula with a mission to help individuals and businesses adopt more sustainable ways of living, tackling plastic waste head-on and creating innovative solutions to divert it from landfills and incinerators.
What started as an initiative to address the growing waste crisis has evolved into more than just a recycling company, we are now a social enterprise with a purpose-driven vision to reimagine plastic, give it new life, and champion sustainability and a circular economy.
Meet Team Semula
Dedicated professionals driving our success
Co-Founder | Managing Director
Tay Sok Leng is a seasoned all-rounder with expertise in finance, corporate training, marketing and business development. She has held senior positions in large MNCs, local SMEs, non-profit and NGOs, covering a range of responsibilities including business partnerships, investment evaluation and optimisation, strategic management, treasury and tax.
Co-Founder | Product & Innovation Lead
Jeryl Yep continues to experiment with new design and applications for our recycled plastic, as well as exploring different and more efficient methods of mechanical recycling for type 2 plastic.
Co-Founder | Communications Lead
Sam Ran Boolsambatra brings with her years of experience in the communications industry, both as a journalist and as a PR consultant with large international agencies. She has managed local and global clients across industries, from healthcare to government, consumer and travel & tourism.
Semula Partners
Semula is supported by a small but growing group of friends, and partners who believe in taking action to promote sustainability and love for our natural environment.
Towards Zero Waste For A Better Future
We strive for waste reduction through innovative and local solutions.
Championing Zero Waste For A Sustainable Future
At Semula, we believe that the way we consume and generate waste is unsustainable and contributes to the ongoing destruction of our environment. This crisis has placed our planet in a vulnerable state, but we are committed to leading the change. As a social enterprise, we fully support Singapore's Zero Waste Masterplan, which aims to build a resource-efficient and climate-resilient nation by embracing a circular economy approach.
We actively tackle waste, particularly plastic, by giving it new purpose through locally sourced and innovative solutions. Our goal is to minimise the need for new resources, creating value from what others may consider waste. As change-makers, we focus on practical, sustainable solutions that address the environmental challenges we face.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goals 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, we work towards building a more sustainable and equitable future.
The Values That Drive Us
Integrity
We adhere to ethical principles in everything we do, fostering open communication and taking responsibility for our actions to inspire trust within our community.
Trust
Through honesty and transparency, we build confidence with everyone we collaborate with, ensuring they can depend on us to do what’s right.
Respect
We treat everyone equally, valuing diverse perspectives while refraining from imposing our own views on others.
Empathy
We aim to understand and respect others their feelings, beliefs, and challenges as they navigate their journey toward reducing their environmental impact.
Perseverance
We press on, no matter how daunting the task, because standing still in the face of environmental challenges is not an option.
Join Us In Creating A Plastic-Free Future
If you would like to collaborate, have a project for us or simply would like to learn more about us and what we do, such as plastic recycling or education on sustainability, please fill in the following details so that we can get back to you.