Zurich and Singapore, 25 January 2024 — As part of its broader USD 500 million climate investment strategy aimed at actively reducing CO₂ emissions in Asia, responsAbility on behalf of investors invests USD 20 million in Singapore-based CleanEdge Resources. This investment will finance new projects across emerging markets in Asia, signifying a major step in responsAbility’s mission to mobilize capital and invest in solutions that generate positive societal and environmental impact in emerging markets. Headquartered in Singapore, CleanEdge Resources Pte Limited (CleanEdge) is a leading environmental company offering disruptive technologies for industrial wastewater treatment and waste-to-energy solutions with a focus on resource recovery and sustainability. Its subsidiary, Lars Enviro Pvt. Ltd., is a leading environmental engineering company in India with over 25 years of deep domain experience in the field of wastewater, water treatment and waste management having executed projects across 22 countries globally.

Trategic Expansion in Asia’s Clean Technology Sector

The investment from responsAbility will be used to expand CleanEdge’s portfolio of Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) projects in the industrial wastewater treatment and waste to energy sector across Asia. BOOT projects involve long-term contracts without any upfront capex from the customer. CleanEdge will finance, construct, own, and operate the project for the period of the contract and gets paid by the customer on a per unit of water treated or resource produced by the project.

Innovative Solutions for Critical Environmental Challenges

Wastewater from industrial processes poses a significant threat to our ecosystems, with pollutants and contaminants jeopardizing the delicate balance of our planet’s water resources. As industries confront the critical challenge of managing wastewater and its environmental impact, CleanEdge is working with corporates and industries to design and implement advanced, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to significantly reduce their freshwater consumption by recycling treated wastewater back into their processes. This is aligned with the efforts globally on the realization of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action.

Pioneering Environmental Solutions for a Sustainable Future

Raju Shukla, CleanEdge Founder and Chairman said, “We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership with responsAbility, a collaboration that aligns with our vision for innovation and growth in the industrial wastewater treatment and waste to energy sector. Industries today are increasingly focused on sustainable use of water and effective management of their wastewater and CleanEdge is proud to be working together with corporates in implementing advanced solutions to address the challenges. The investment from responsAbility will contribute directly to the achievement of our vital goal of fostering a more sustainable and equitable future for communities around the world.”

ResponsAbility’s Commitment to Reducing Carbon Emissions in Asia

Sameer Tirkar, Principal APAC for Climate Finance at responsAbility said, “We are thrilled to partner with CleanEdge as it is not just a financial investment; it is a commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and a cleaner, healthier future. CleanEdge is led by a strong management team with a deep understanding of the wastewater solutions required for their customers to increase sustainability in the supply chain. Together, we look forward to accelerating innovative solutions in wastewater treatment sector.”

Building on responsAbility’s Commitment to Climate Action

This investment in CleanEdge Resources aligns with responsAbility’s ongoing dedication to climate action in Asia, as evidenced by their announcement on 28 November 2023. In collaboration with Germany’s development bank KfW and the Dutch development bank FMO, responsAbility launched a USD 500 million climate investment strategy. This strategy, aimed at actively reducing CO₂ emissions in Asia, focuses on investments in low-emission technologies.

About CleanEdge Resources

Headquartered in Singapore, CleanEdge Resources is a leading environmental company offering disruptive technologies for industrial wastewater treatment and waste to energy solutions with a focus on resource recovery and sustainability.

We are fully committed to delivering innovative solutions and implementing them precisely to fulfil the needs of our clients with a strong focus on technical upgradation. Our aim is to create value for our customers by solving complex problems and designing integrated solutions to increase efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.

Our group company Lars Enviro Pvt. Ltd. is a leading environmental engineering company in India with over 25 years of deep domain experience in the field of wastewater, water treatment and waste management and has executed projects across 22 countries globally.

Leveraging decades of technical, commercial, and operational experience, financing expertise, and proven BOOT model of services, CleanEdge Resources aims to be the leading solutions provider across Asia, enabling clients to efficiently address the challenges of industrial wastewater treatment, resource recovery and sustainability.

About responsAbility Investments AG

responsAbility Investments AG is a leading impact asset manager specializing in private market investments across three investment themes to directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Financial Inclusion, to finance the growth of Micro & SMEs; Climate Finance, to contribute to a net zero pathway; and Sustainable Food, to sustainably feed an ever-growing population. All responsAbility investment solutions target specific measurable impact alongside market returns.

Since its inception in 2003, responsAbility has deployed over USD 14 billion in impact investments. With over 270 employees collaborating across eight offices, as of 1 October 2023 the company manages USD 4.7 billion in assets across approximately 270 portfolio companies in 72 countries. Since 2022 responsAbility is part of M&G plc, the international savings, and investments business, and contributes to enhancing M&G’s capabilities in impact investing.