About Us

About SL2

Sustainable Living Lab (SL2) is a sustainability consultancy and innovation lab founded in Singapore in 2011. Our expertise lies in building comprehensive sustainability strategies that leverage technologies across our clients’ businesses.

Our clients include several Governments, international development organisations, leading MNCs, and SMEs. Our expertise is in utilising technology as a lever for sustainability and following a community-driven approach to implementation.

We have a strong presence in Asia and beyond, with teams in Singapore, Indonesia, India, and the US. Our projects span 12 countries.

SL2 was established on the “Living Lab” concept, which are essentially open-innovation ecosystems driven by Public-Private-People partnerships.

Balancing economic growth with social and environmental sustainability is a wicked problem with no silver bullet solution. We are operating in an increasingly VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) environment with exponential advancements in technologies, and business at risk of disruption. Sustainability is the need of the hour, however, we do not view Sustainability as an afterthought or obligation, but as a business advantage and opportunity.

In addressing such wicked problems, where the causes and effects are interlinked, the problems are hard to define and constantly evolving – our Living Lab approach is a suitable model. We leverage our network in the public and private sector in providing our clients a springboard to test, implement and scale new ideas.

2011

SL2 Founded in Singapore. First makerspace in Singapore.

2013

Introduced the concept of hardware hackathons to Singapore. SL2 has since organised more than 45 such events for clients like Nanyang Technological University, A*STAR, Design Singapore Council, Nippon Closures and the Ministry of Defence.

2014

Set up Prototyping Lab @ National Design Centre, Singapore

2015

Awarded President’s Challenge Youth Social Enterprise of the Year.

2016

Launch of Community Lab@UWCSEA, the first maker space to offer electro-mechanical prototyping services

2018

Opened offices in India and Indonesia. Signing of MOU with UNDP for SDG Corporate Innovation Lab

2020

National Expansion of Repair Kopitiam to 15 locations.

NOW

Our Approach

Empowering Tomorrow with
Innovative Solutions

At SL2, we look to solve today’s problems with dynamic, future-proof, yet adaptable solutions. We look at sustainability from a human ingenuity and technology lens; one does not exist without the other, and we build practical solutions to balance economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

Changing Thinking for Sustainable Growth

In our pursuit, we leave behind traditional analogy-based thinking. Our approach avoids assumptions by digging into the core to overcome perceived obstacles.

Custom Solutions for a Lasting Impact

We draw from our local origins to shape unique ideas that match each client’s needs. With a steadfast focus on sustainability and business goals, we craft customised solutions that blend their vision with lasting environmental responsibility.

Living Lab

Pioneered by researchers at MIT, a Living Lab represents a user-centric research methodology for sensing, prototyping, validating and refining complex solutions in real-life contexts. By approaching it as an open-innovation ecosystem, concurrent research is integrated with the innovation processes within a Public-Private-People partnership.

How it comes together: Technology + Innovation Process + User Groups