Studies & Research

We partner with Higher Education Institutions and conduct studies on sustainability and circularity in the education system.

Calendar of Projects & Activities

Higher Education Institutions play a crucial role in advancing sustainable development and greening education through research and innovation. We collaborate with HEIs on research projects that advance circular education systems and partner with students to co-develop innovative digital solutions for schools, parents and communities.

Ongoing and Upcoming Studies & Research

SMU Final Year Project

SMU Final Year Student Project: Circular Marketplace

01 Jun 2026 – 30 Oct 2026

Singapore Management University (SMU)

SMU Final Year Project

SMU Final Year Student Project: Circular Connections – A Platform for Programmes, Volunteers and Impact

01 Jun 2026 – 30 Oct 2026

Singapore Management University (SMU)

Insight Reports

Study on Sustainability Activities by PSGs - Go Green PSGs 2026: Insights from Schools and PSG Chairpersons

01 Jan 2026 – 30 Apr 2026

Singapore Management University (SMU)

Parent Support Groups (PSGs) play an important role in shaping school communities and supporting sustainability efforts across Singapore. From recycling and repurposing initiatives to environmental education activities, greener transport campaigns and community engagement projects, many PSGs are actively contributing towards a more sustainable future. To better understand these efforts, The Circular Classroom partnered with Singapore Management University (SMU) and SMU-X on the "Go Green PSGs – Mapping Sustainable Practices Across Singapore Schools" project as part of Go Green SG 2026. Conducted in 2026, the study engaged PSG leaders from schools across Singapore to document and map sustainability initiatives led or supported by Parent Support Groups. Through surveys and interviews, the project explored the types of activities implemented, the motivations behind them, challenges encountered, and opportunities for future growth and collaboration. The findings provided valuable insights into the diversity of sustainability practices taking place in school communities and highlight opportunities for peer learning, collaboration and knowledge sharing among schools and PSGs. The study contributed to ongoing efforts to strengthen sustainability education and community action, while supporting the objectives of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and Go Green SG. Read the full report here and explore the key findings below. Schools that joined the study: - Anderson Serangoon Junior College - Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) - Beatty Secondary School - Changkat Primary School - Chua Chu Kang Primary School - Chung Cheng High School (Main) - Dazhong Primary School - Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) - Gongshang Primary School - Lianhua Primary School - Manjusri Secondary School - Maris Stella High School (Primary and Secondary) - Mayflower Primary School - Mee Toh School - Methodist Girls' School (Primary) - Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) - North View Primary School - Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) - Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary) - Pei Chun Public School - Qihua Primary School - River Valley Primary School - Rosyth School - St Patrick's School - Victoria School - West View Primary School - Westwood Secondary School - Yangzheng Primary School - Yishun Primary School - Yu Neng Primary School - Yusof Ishak Secondary School

Read report →

Study on School Uniforms and Sustainable Consumption: Insights from Parents and Students

01 Aug 2023 – 30 Jun 2024

Singapore Management University (SMU)

School uniforms are an essential part of student life, yet thousands of uniforms are discarded each year when students outgrow them or graduate. To better understand attitudes towards school uniform reuse and broader sustainable consumption practices, The Circular Classroom partnered with students from Singapore Management University (SMU) on a study involving parents and students across Singapore. The survey, conducted over two semesters from August 2023 to June 2024, explored purchasing habits, uniform ownership, disposal practices, awareness of sustainability issues, and willingness to participate in circular initiatives such as donating, reusing and repurposing pre-loved uniforms. It also examined how school communities perceive responsible consumption and their role in reducing waste. The findings provided valuable insights into current behaviours and identify opportunities to strengthen uniform reuse programmes, sustainability education and community engagement. By providing a better understanding of how families manage school uniforms and other everyday consumption decisions, the study also contributed to efforts to reduce textile waste, advance circularity in education and support the goals of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Read the full report here and explore the key findings below. Schools that joined the study: - Anderson Serangoon Junior College - Canberra Primary School - Cedar Girls Secondary School - Changkat Primary School - East Spring Primary School - Gan Eng Seng Primary School - Hua Yi Secondary School - Naval Base Primary School - Princess Elizabeth Primary School - Rosyth School - Sembawang Primary School - St Andrew's School (Junior) - Tampines Meridian Junior College - Tao Nan School - Victoria Junior College - Xingnan Primary School - Yishun Secondary School

Read report →

Past Studies and Research

Filters

Type

Name of Organisation

Year

YYYY

Type

Name of Organisation

Year

YYYY

Showing 1–4 of 11 activities

Per page

SMU Final Year Project

SMU Final Year Student Project 2025: Green Routes to Learning: Driving Change in Reducing School Commuting Emission

01 Jan 2026 – 01 May 2026

Singapore Management University (SMU)

Every day, thousands of students travel to and from school across Singapore. Whether by walking, cycling, public transport or private vehicles, these daily journeys collectively contribute to the nation's carbon footprint. While families make commuting decisions based on safety, convenience, schedules and other practical considerations, there is often limited visibility into the environmental impact of these choices. To better understand school commuting patterns and support more sustainable travel habits, a team of final-year students from Singapore Management University (SMU) partnered with The Circular Classroom (TCC) to develop “Greener Routes”, a digital platform that empowers schools, parents and students to track and better understand the carbon footprint of their daily journeys. Aligned with the Green Commutes pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which aims to achieve a 75% public transport peak-period modal share by 2030, the project explored how small changes in everyday travel can contribute to broader national sustainability goals. Greener Routes combines data collection, emissions estimation and visualisation tools within a single platform. Schools and Parent Support Groups (PSGs) can gather valuable insights into commuting behaviours, while parents, students and members of the public can use an interactive simulator to compare transport options and explore lower-carbon alternatives for their daily journeys. Beyond the technology itself, the project highlights the power of collaboration between education institutions and students in tackling real-world sustainability challenges. Through research, innovation and community engagement, the initiative contributes to a growing body of knowledge that can help schools, communities and policymakers better understand the role of commuting behaviours in Singapore's sustainability journey. A heartfelt Thank You to the SMU student team for their dedication, creativity and commitment throughout this project: Amos Chan, Sandra Tan, Zhi Xuan Yep, Cedric Lim, An Yu Leong, and Wen Han. Their work has helped transform an important idea into a platform that empowers students, parents and schools to make more informed and environmentally conscious commuting choices. We look forward to launching this feature on our website early next year.

SMU Final Year Project

SMU Final Year Student Project: EcoTrack: Building digital infrastructure for Greener Schools

01 Jan 2026 – 01 May 2026

Singapore Management University (SMU)

Every year, around 90,000 students graduate from Singapore's Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Junior Colleges. Along with this milestone comes a less visible challenge: more than 500,000 school uniforms that are no longer needed. While some uniforms find a second home, many eventually end up as waste. Since 2023, The Circular Classroom (TCC) has been working with close to 100 schools and Parent Support Groups (PSGs) across Singapore to give pre-loved uniforms a meaningful second life. Through uniform donation drives, repurposing workshops and sustainability outreach programmes, thousands of students, parents and community members have been engaged in circular economy practices. As our network continues to grow, so does the need for smarter ways to manage and track uniforms throughout their journey. To support this vision, a team of final-year students from Singapore Management University (SMU) partnered with TCC to develop a first-of-its-kind Uniform Inventory Management System (UIMS). The platform helps schools and PSGs digitally manage uniform donation drives, track collections and inventory, and monitor how uniforms are redistributed or repurposed. Interactive dashboards provide clear insights into environmental impact, while built-in forecasting and planning tools support better decision-making and help maximise textile waste reduction. Beyond improving day-to-day operations, the project laid the foundation for a scalable national system that could one day support schools across Singapore. By strengthening transparency, impact measurement and resource efficiency, the platform contributes towards the goals of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This collaboration demonstrated the important role Higher Education Institutions play in advancing sustainability through innovation. By applying their technical expertise to a real-world environmental challenge, the students helped create a practical solution that supports circularity in education and strengthens Singapore's transition towards a more sustainable future. A heartfelt Thank You to the SMU student team for their dedication, creativity and commitment throughout this project: Chua Heok Kang Dylan, Hansen Lim Ke Xuan, Juay Kai Xun, Fern Khong Kham, Samuel James Tan Yong Wei and Wah Zhee Jin Ethan. Their commitments and contributions helped build an important foundation for the future of school uniform circularity in Singapore.

SMU-X and Go Green SG Survey

SMU-X Course Teambuilding and Leadership 2026/01 Go Green PSGs 2026: Mapping of Sustainability Activities of PSGs with SMU-X January to April 2026

01 Jan 2026 – 30 Apr 2026

Singapore Management University (SMU)

In 2026, The Circular Classroom (TCC) collaborated with Singapore Management University (SMU) and SMU-X on a project titled “Go Green PSGs – Mapping Sustainable Practices Across Singapore Schools”. The project was organised in support of Go Green SG 2026 – the annual nation-wide initiative led by the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment to rally citizens, organisations and the community to take collective action towards a more environmentally sustainable Singapore. Parent Support Groups (PSGs) play a vital role in shaping school communities. Across Singapore, many PSGs contribute to sustainability initiatives such as recycling and repurposing drives, eco-friendly school events, environmental education activities, and greener transport campaigns. This SMU-X project aimed to better understand and document these efforts through surveys and interviews with PSG leaders, creating a nationwide overview of parent-supported sustainability practices. The project mapped PSG-led initiatives, analysed emerging patterns, and developed an insights report on the various sustainability activities including recommendations for the future. The findings could be used to support MOE, MSE, schools, and PSGs in exploring opportunities for collaboration and peer learning, while advancing the goals of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and the Go Green SG movement led by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. SMU-X students and TCC invited over 330 schools and PSG leaders to participate in this initiative. The survey was intended for (Co-)Chairpersons to complete on behalf of their PSGs. Read the insight report here.

Guest Speaker Engagement

Guest Speaker at SMU-Course on Environmental Policy and Politics in 2025

21 Oct 2025

Singapore Management University (SMU)

In October 2025, we were deligthed to return as guest speakers to the PPPM201 Environmental Policy class at the Singapore Management University - School of Social Sciences. Invited by Dr Jude H. Kurniawan, the session focused on connecting environmental policy theory with real-world circular economy practice. Through discussion and case examples from our work in schools and communities, students explored how policy frameworks translate into everyday decisions around consumption, waste reduction, and textile circularity. A key reflection from the session was that sustainability is not only about innovative solutions, but also about mindful choices — including opting for pre-loved items where possible. The exchange with both local and international students created a rich dialogue on how individual behaviour, institutions, and policy intersect. It once again highlighted how academic insight and practical implementation can strengthen one another in advancing circularity.