myhalo Founder Tan Ching Hwee shares insights on The Straits Times podcast “In Your Opinion.”
Our founder, Tan Ching Hwee, was recently featured on The Straits Times podcast In Your Opinion, where he joined Lionel Dorai, Executive Director of Zero Waste SG, to discuss Singapore’s growing throwaway culture and how we can all play a part in reducing e-waste.

The conversation explored how habits such as frequent phone upgrades and fast fashion contribute to unnecessary waste, and how small changes in mindset can make a big difference.

At myhalo, we focus on creating innovative ways to extend the lifespan of devices. Our platform helps users repair, reuse, and trade in their tech responsibly. Beyond this, we also work downstream to donate functional devices to communities in need, and to ensure that around 42% of devices are put back into the circular economy, even when they were originally meant for recycling.

During the discussion, Ching Hwee shared his thoughts on how we can make technology more sustainable:

• Mobile phone batteries can be replaced. A simple repair can often extend a device’s life by several years.
• We use only a small fraction of a phone’s potential. Today, less than ten percent of a smartphone’s original functions—such as calling and SMS—are actively used. Repurposing the rest could unlock new value.
• Laptops can last for many years with proper care. Ching Hwee shared that he still uses his 2013 i7 third-generation desktop, and it continues to run efficiently—a reminder that technology, when maintained well, has a much longer lifespan than most people think.

Listen to the full episode:
How iPhones and fast fashion spur the throwaway culture