Under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, Singapore aims to reduce two-thirds of net carbon emissions from the schools sector and have at least 20 per cent of schools be carbon neutral.
The pair met when they were both members of the Parent Support Group (PSG) at Changkat Primary School, where their children were students. The German-born Nagarajan is a Singapore permanent resident, while Tinwala, who was born in India, is now a Singapore citizen.
“We joined the PSG to better understand the local education system and Singapore culture. We also wanted to connect with other parents,” said Tinwala, 43.
When two of their children graduated from Changkat Primary School in 2016 and 2022, leaving behind unused education materials and a stack of pre-loved school uniforms that could not be handed down to their siblings, the women thought of how they could collaborate with the school on sustainability initiatives.
TURNING SCHOOL SHORTS INTO TOTE BAGS
Following the study with SMU, “we decided to set up a social enterprise to turn the challenge of school materials and uniform waste into an opportunity that could benefit an environmental and social cause”, said Nagarajan, 46.
One of the initiatives by The Circular Classroom is to create unique upcycled products from pre-loved school uniforms.
They decided on school uniforms as students have a strong connection with these items of clothing. “School uniforms come in different colours and prints, and we can be more creative in repurposing them,” said Tinwala.
