TURNING TEXTILE UPCYCLING INTO COMMUNITY IMPACT
Offsetting Your Public Sustainability Initiative
Cost with the SG Eco Fund
Receive up to 80% funding for sustainability projects that involve the community
The SG Eco Fund is a S$50 million government initiative set up to back local, ground-up sustainability projects. As textile waste is a major environmental priority in Singapore, the fund is highly accessible to independent fashion brands and designers who want to use their skills and creativity for the greater good of the community.
If your project involves the community in diverting garments, deadstock or scrap fabrics from the landfill, the fund covers up to 80% of your supportable operational costs. This includes professional fees, venue hire, project logistics, and marketing production costs for the initiative.
231,000 tonnes
of textile and leather waste was produced in Singapore in 2025
6 tonnes (2.6%)
was recycled
Source: National Environment Agency (NEA), 2026
Eligibility Criteria
How to Qualify for SG Eco Fund?
As your circular solution partner, we help you structure the project correctly from brainstorming stage and ensure you have the best chance of eligibility.
To qualify for funding, the SG Eco Fund requires that your project
- Produces measurable results in textile waste reduction
- Engages the community through inspiration, education and enablement of of action
Here are examples of what qualifies and what does not:
| What Qualifies | What Doesn’t Qualify |
|---|---|
| Open-access public events where any local resident, including your customers, can register to participate. | Closed-door events strictly for your current customers or email subscribers. |
| Upcycling workshops where participants get hands-on experience repurposing scrap materials into functional items. | Invite-only capsule previews, media launches or PR trunk shows for your upcycled collection. |
| Workshops at your studio space where your team helps participants assemble a repair kit and learn repair techniques they can use at home without sewing machines. | Studio tours where you give a one-way presentation of your sustainability journey and showcase sustainability practices. |
| Hosting an open clothing repair hub or visible mending session that teaches artful ways to extend the life of clothing. | Free repair or alteration services offered exclusively for your own customers and your brand’s apparel. |
| Creating printed instructions or video to guide participants upcycling at home. | Paid social media ads to get views for your upcycling instruction video |
| Rental of textile collection bins for your collection drive. | Door gifts and catering for participants participating in your collection drive. |
APPLYING FOR THE SG ECO FUND
Funding Categories & Application Timeline
There are two funding categories with different caps and evaluation cycles, both providing up to 80% co-funding of supportable costs.
To be eligible, it is important that your project does not start before your grant application is officially approved. You should not sign contracts or make payments to vendors before funding is confirmed.
| Sprout Category (Up to $30,000) | Main Category ($30,000 to $1M) |
|---|---|
| Ideal for: Designers or fashion brands launching short-term community activations such as public textile collection drives or upcycling workshops at their stores or in the neighbourhood. | Ideal for: Fashion brands or groups of brands running long-term, recurring community upcycling programmes or those involving multiple locations. |
| Timeline: Applications close 3 times a year, on 30 April, 31 August, and 31 December, with approved projects starting three months later. | Timeline: Applications run once a year between 1 May and 31 August, with all approved projects starting from 1 April of the following year. |
OUR SERVICE
How We Support Your Application
We do not apply on your behalf, and application outcome is determined by the Evaluation Committee. Instead, we help you plan and present your project for the best chance of securing grant funding.
Project Planning
We help shape your creative vision and community engagement ideas into a project plan that aligns with the grant eligibility criteria.
Proposal Preparation
We provide you with itemised project quotations, timelines of activities, environmental targets, and community engagement targets to drop into your application.
Result Tracking
During the project, we handle the tracking of committed metrics, implement course corrections if results fall short of commitment, and supply you with the data required for your reimbursement claim at the approved milestones.
Have an upcycling idea that can benefit the community?
Share it with us and we can help you structure your project idea before grant application.
FAQ
Yes, this is encouraged! Larger groups can amplify community reach. You can partner with other designers, brands, or even individuals and organisations outside the fashion industry. Just note that one main party must be designated to lead the application and act as the primary contact. Get inspiration from past SG Eco Fund recipients here.
Yes, to a certain extent. The SG Eco Fund supports financially sustainable projects. Generating revenue from your initiative is allowed. However, it needs to be a community-first project and not a commercially driven one.
No. While upcycling workshops are highly relevant for fashion brands and creative designers, any initiative that reduces textile waste can be eligible. Other examples include setting up mending hubs, repair labs, public collection drives, or even wearing “trash” while picking up litters to raise awareness like what a past SG Eco Fund awardee did.
It depends on whether you receive funding as an individual or organisation. In Singapore, grants given to a registered business to offset operating expenses are generally considered taxable income under IRAS rules. However, grants received by individuals for non-commercial, community-centric initiatives are typically non-taxable, provided you are not operating as a sole proprietorship for personal profit.
There is no financial risk, as long as you don’t sign contracts or make payments to your vendors before funding is confirmed. You can also revise the concept for the next funding cycle or run it as a private brand initiative.