Susan Chong

Founder & CEO, Greenphyto

EMBA, Class of 2012

Susan Chong isn’t just a businesswoman; she’s a sustainability warrior who has committed professionally to the cause of sustainability and innovation, in terms of environmentally friendly packaging and agriculture technology. 

Susan’s championing of sustainable causes and innovation dates to the year 2002 when she founded Greenpac – a company that specialises in the re-engineering, design, and distribution of innovative, environmentally friendly packaging products and solutions. Back then, Greenpac was a one-man operation. Susan would cold-call potential customers, only to be told that they were more concerned about keeping the cost of their packaging as low as possible, rather than saving the environment. But Susan did not give up and persisted to explain her vision of sustainable packaging to such prospects, and at the same time, convincing them that being lean and green will bring about cost savings. Under her leadership, Greenpac eventually grew into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, serving Fortune 500 clients and earning over 50 industry awards and certifications. 

During her time at Greenpac, Susan realised that an even greater issue needed to be addressed – food security. With global warming affecting food security around the world, Susan felt that she had a part to play in improving the current food situation. It was with this in mind that she founded a new company, Greenphyto, in 2014. At Greenphyto, Susan leads her team to secure sustainable food supplies through advanced, automated and climate-resilient farming solutions. Today, the company is set to launch one of the world’s largest and tallest controlled environment agriculture facility in Singapore. With her determination to contribute greatly to this sector, Susan exited Greenpac in July 2021 to fully focus on improving food security globally. 

Susan’s extensive contributions to sustainability and agriculture innovation has won her multiple accolades – Ernst & Young Singapore awarded her the coveted EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 title for Sustainable Packaging Solutions, and she was also conferred the prestigious Eminent Business Alumni Awards 2016 by NUS Business School. She was also recognised by Her World Singapore Magazine as Woman of the Year in 2019. These recognitions have solidified her position as a pioneer in the field. 

Susan’s impact extends far beyond the walls of Greenpac and Greenphyto as she actively participates in shaping Singapore’s future. She has served on various government agency boards, including the National Environment Agency, SkillsFuture Singapore Agency, Gardens by the Bay, and the Singapore Business Federation Foundation. These positions showcase her commitment to fostering a culture of sustainability across diverse sectors.