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Archireef and Swire Bulk Launch Historic Coral Restoration Alliance in Asia

Archireef and Swire Bulk Launch Historic Coral Restoration Alliance in Asia

Archireef and Swire Bulk launch a nature-based coral restoration project with Singapore’s NParks and NUS, signaling a new era of marine conservation across Asia.

Singapore — In a landmark collaboration, Archireef, Swire Bulk, Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks), and the National University of Singapore’s Reef Ecology Lab have joined forces to spearhead a nature-based coral restoration research project. This initiative aims to rejuvenate marine biodiversity in Singapore and across Asia, marking a significant stride in environmental conservation efforts.

RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS

A Confluence of Innovation and Conservation

The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on April 24 at the HKSTP Pavilion during GITEX Asia 2025. This agreement sets the stage for deploying Archireef’s patented 3D-printed Reef Tiles™—crafted from eco-friendly terracotta clay—to facilitate coral growth in degraded marine environments. These tiles will be utilized in research efforts at Singapore’s Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, providing a scalable solution to coral reef restoration.

“Our technology offers a scalable, nature-based solution that not only aids in coral growth but also enhances biodiversity,”said Vriko Yu, CEO and co-founder of Archireef . “This research-focused project aims to restore corals and generate valuable data on coral growth and resilience under varying environmental conditions.”

Cross-Sector Collaboration for Marine Ecosystem Restoration

The significance of this alliance lies in its cross-sector strength. Swire Bulk, known for operating one of the most modern and fuel-efficient dry bulk fleets globally, brings not just maritime capacity but a sustainability mindset.

The project is not just about coral—it’s about the future of coastal cities, food security, and ecosystem resilience. Coral reefs support 25% of all marine species, protect shorelines, and drive local economies through tourism and fisheries. Yet, they are vanishing at alarming rates due to warming seas, pollution, and habitat destruction.

“This technology was made possible with support from the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS), a research facility of the University of Hong Kong. And today, Swire Bulk is leveraging this very technology to spearhead coral restoration efforts in Singapore. In a way, we have come full circle with this meaningful project. We are seeing global efforts to conserve and restore corals, and we are hopeful that through this partnership, we can contribute new findings from our research to the general pool, saving one coral at a time.”

Susana Germino, General Manager, Sustainability and Decarbonisation, Swire Bulk

The collaboration with NParks and the Reef Ecology Lab at NUS provides the scientific rigour essential for scalable impact. Researchers will focus on developing methodologies that combine marine biology with material science, creating nature-based solutions that can be replicated across the Asia-Pacific region.

The Bigger Picture: A New Model for Corporate-Nature Collaboration

This partnership illustrates how corporations and conservationists can co-create blue economy solutions that benefit both ecosystems and economies. As the global climate agenda increasingly turns to oceans for carbon sinks, biodiversity credits, and coastal resilience, collaborations like these set a new standard.

Archireef is already exploring biodiversity credit models derived from marine ecosystem restoration, a potential breakthrough in financing ocean conservation.

Coral reefs are a critical ecosystem that support an estimated one-quarter of marine species. Archireef’s coral restoration efforts in Singapore are valuable in advancing the country closer to its goal of transplanting corals onto its reefs over the next 10 years and beyond through the 100k Corals Initiative led by the National Parks Board of Singapore. This initiative aims to establish new coral communities that will improve the ecological resilience and enhance our marine environment. We look forward to working with more partners on this meaningful cause to conserve Singapore’s natural heritage for future generations.

Dr Samantha Lai, Deputy Director (Coastal and Marine), National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board

Archireef is already exploring biodiversity credit models derived from marine ecosystem restoration, a potential breakthrough in financing ocean conservation.

Lead image courtesy of Archireef

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Archireef : Reviving Coral Reefs With 3D-Printed Tiles

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