Evonik’s Leonard Teo leads with purpose

As sustainability and energy manager at Evonik Methionine SEA (EMSEA), Leonard Teo has been at the forefront of the company’s efforts to cut emissions and improve efficiency.

To this end, he works closely with government agencies and industry bodies on issues such as energy and water conservation, renewable energy, carbon tax, and grants, while representing the company on national sustainability matters.

Within EMSEA, he leads a cross-functional energy management team that looks for ways to cut energy use through ongoing optimisation and improvement projects. Teo also assesses new technologies and business opportunities, ensuring that innovative solutions are applied to improve efficiency, lower emissions, and strengthen the company’s long-term sustainability.

These efforts helped the company reduce its Scope 1 emissions by 9.4 per cent per unit product in 2024, relative to a 2021 baseline.

One of the most complex sustainability initiatives he led was a long-term power purchase agreement to install a 2.2-megawatt peak rooftop hybrid Rooftop-Ground Mount solar system on site. This project enabled EMSEA to achieve both its sustainability and business goals while making use of existing land onsite.

Concluding the deal required Teo to bridge the gap between engineering and commercial stakeholders.

“I spent time understanding their perspectives and aligning them around a shared vision. By clearly articulating the enterprise value, not just in terms of value optimisation but also long-term strategic positioning and sustainability benefits, I was able to gain the endorsement from management and move the project forward successfully,” says Teo.
 

Indeed, aligning different functions at EMSEA towards a common sustainability goal has been key to this success.

“Securing alignment across functions for energy projects requires more than coordination. It calls for credibility, empathy, and clear communication. I begin by building strong relationships with stakeholders. Understanding their individual priorities and constraints helps create trust and opens the door to meaningful collaboration,” he explains.

Teo’s efforts have helped advance the company’s sustainability efforts while elevating his profile as a leader in energy management. At the Energy Efficiency National Partnership Awards 2025, he was recognised with the Outstanding Energy, Greenhouse Gas Manager Award.

Teo also champions capability building at EMSEA. He sees workshops and training as powerful tools to embed energy awareness into daily operations.

“Workshops spark ideas. They break groupthink, and bring fresh perspectives from across the organisation. Beyond the main goals of the workshop, the generation of excitement as well as positivity in improving energy performance is a key factor for the continual improvement of energy,” he says.

His influence extends outside the company. By speaking at industry forums and contributing to the Singapore Chemical Industry Council’s Sustainability Committee, he exchanges insights with peers across the sector. These engagements, he says, help identify shared challenges and encourage more ambitious industry-wide solutions.

Looking ahead, Teo expects renewable energy, circular energy, and chemicals parks, as well as carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) to be key trends for the chemical industry in the next decade. He believes that CCU, in particular, has the potential to transform climate action as profoundly as past breakthroughs.

By combining technical expertise and a collaborative approach, Teo has helped EMSEA advance towards its decarbonisation goals while inspiring colleagues and peers alike.
 

Source: The Business Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.