“We, as a society, need to identify redundant plastic and eliminate them from use altogether.” – Oh Chu Xian
It’s tempting to say that Oh Chu Xian, founder of deep-tech startup Magorium, is paving the way to a more sustainable Singapore. Or feel the urge to expound on how she’s taken the road less travelled by striking out with her sister in a field typically dominated by hardened businessmen and stubborn pragmatists. In reality, neither of the two expressions (nor a variety of other road-associated aphorisms) would do justice to the veritable ingenuity of NewBitumen, a sustainable road construction material developed by Oh and her team.
NewBitumen is made with plastic waste that is broken down via a process called depolymerisation. With this sustainable material, Magorium hopes that it will replace traditional bitumen,which is dependent on huge resources and fossil fuels to manufacture.
Although the solution sounds practical and elegant to our ears, Oh will attest that getting industry veterans to buy into new ideas can be an unyielding roadblock. Under her stewardship, though, Magorium has gotten over the hump through sheer determination. After rounds of being turned away, Oh secured the company’s first project in 2020—laying the driveway of a factory’s carpark.
Since then, she and Magorium have gone from strength to strength, earning recognition and support from Singapore’s Ministry of Sustainability and Environment, Enterprise Singapore, and DBS Foundation. With more than 8000 kg of plastic waste converted into roads so far, we may soon find the roads we travel most paved with sustainability in mind.
How do you approach professional roadblocks?
I find a broader perspective helps me to see setbacks as temporary and surmountable challenges. Every setback is an opportunity to learn, and so I focus on the lessons that can be drawn from them.
What project are you most excited about right now?
One of our most exciting projects currently is with CapitaLand. We’re engaging with malls to collect plastic waste, diverting it into roads at CapitaLand premises.
How do you balance your professional and personal life?
It is not easy to have a work-life balance when running a startup and this is something that I have accepted. Rather than aiming to achieve a balance at this point, I feel it is more important to prevent a professional burnout.
What values are most important to you and why?
Loyalty, because it is a vital aspect of driving the collective success of a budding company. Teamwork and mutual support are critical in creating a supportive and committed environment.
What is one thing everyone should experience at least once in their life?
Surviving through a difficult period. Navigating through challenging times helps in developing life perspectives, essential problem solving skills, and overall personal growth.
