Ching Hwee Tan

As long as we continue to buy the new and discard the old, we cannot create a sustainable virtuous cycle. We must change the paradigm if we are to change the world.

I have been in the business of buying over preowned devices, repairing them, and selling them off to others who might have use for them for over a decade. While we are able to keep devices away from landfills and incinerators for the time being, over time, I started to wonder how much of a positive impact we are making in the grand scheme of things.

This was the question that started a community, and hopefully, it will become a movement that will move us all Toward a Zero E-Waste World. Myhalo is the idea that devices should be fully utilised before they are up-cycled. As long as a smartphone is left unused in a drawer somewhere, there is a potential utility that is being wasted, “E-Wastage”.

I believe that no one should own devices, just like these days, no one seeks to own blu-rays or DVDs. By having a community that embraces the extension of the usability lifespan of a device, we can significantly lessen the environmental impact we are currently exacting on Mother Earth.

With over a decade deeply involved in the trading of pre-owned devices and its repairs, I am passionate about elevating this value chain to one that can one day allow us to “harness all objects” onto a lifespan extending virtuous cycle.

If you are also passionate about pivoting your community to redefine their relationships with their physical possessions by extending their useful life, do reach out to me, and I would love to connect!

• Council Member, Association of Small & Medium Enterprises
• Harmony Action Group, Association of Small & Medium Enterprises
• Circularity WorkGroup Member, SGTech
• Founding Member, Romanian Chamber of Commerce