Hong Kong authorities announced that it will kick off its waste-charging scheme for residents on August 1, pushing back the start date of the initiative by four months to give the public time to understand how it will work. However, the programme will apply to government departments from April 1, which will conduct pilot tests that will serve as demonstrations for the public.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Tse Chin-wan, said, “Many people expressed their concern to me, that the general public do not understand how waste-charging will be implemented. I believe that it is just a responsible act for us to put more time into the education so that when we implement waste-charging, it will be implemented successfully and smoothly,” said Tse.

Under the Municipal Solid Waste Charging scheme, Hongkongers will need to use prepaid, government-approved trash bags to dispose of their garbage, and must pay HK$0.11 for each litre of garbage they get rid of. The bags will come in nine different sizes, ranging from 3 litres to 100 litres in capacity, and each one will cost anything from HK$0.30 to HK$11.

The bags will be available at supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies, and retailers can even sell them to customers to double as carry bags before they use them to dispose of their trash later. Residents who wish to get rid of big items that do not fit into these authorised bags must stick a special label on them, priced at HK$11, and take them to specific collection points for disposal.

The government hopes that the waste-charging scheme will reduce the amount of rubbish that makes its way to the city’s landfills, which as of 2021 was 1.53 kg/person in Hong Kong. Authorities will fine anyone who fails to use these designated bags and labels HK$1,500, while those who use public waste bins to get rid of their trash must pay a penalty of HK$3,000.

Hong Kong authorities have introduced several measures to cut down the negative impact of waste and plastic on the environment — most notably by charging customers for plastic bags they use at stores or to make online purchases, and doubling the fines for littering. The next big move will come on April 22, 2024, when the ban on single-use plastics at restaurants and hotels comes into effect.

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According to official data, plastic is the second-largest contributor to Hong Kong’s municipal solid waste, with 2,369 tonnes per day ending up in landfills. The forthcoming restrictions on the use of throwaway plastics — which will be implemented in two phases — is intended to reduce these figures. Read on to find out what exactly the Hong Kong plastic ban will cover, what the penalties will be, and whether there are any exemptions.

What plastic products does the ban cover in Phase 1?

From April 22, restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell or give out single-use forks, knives, spoons, straws, stirrers, plastic toothpicks, and food sticks to dine-in and takeaway customers. The move will also extend to throwaway plastic cups, cup lids, food containers and their covers — but only for sit-down diners, not patrons who place takeaway orders. The ban also applies to all tableware made out of expanded polystyrene (EPS). In addition, the manufacture, sale, and free distribution of oxo-degradable plastics — usually found in dry-cleaning bags, utensils and compostable plastic bags — will also be prohibited.

In addition, hotels and guest houses can no longer provide complimentary disposable toiletries — think toothbrushes with plastic handles, toothpaste with plastic packaging, shower caps, razors, cotton buds, nail files, and combs. This also applies to throwaway plastic bottles that hotels use for drinking water, shampoo, body wash, conditioners, body lotions, and hand sanitisers. Other items that will come under the ban include items that have non-plastic alternatives, such balloon sticks, inflatable cheer sticks, glow sticks, party hats, and umbrella bags.

Which throwaway plastics will be included in Phase 2?

The date for Phase 2 has not been confirmed, but it will begin sometime in 2025. Once this happens, restaurants will be prohibited from selling or handing out disposable plastic cups, cup lids, food containers and their covers to both dine-in and takeaway customers. Multipack rings for canned drinks, disposable tablecloths, plastic-stemmed dental floss, and ear buds will also not be available once Phase 2 comes into effect next year. 

What are the fines and are there any exemptions?

The new regulations only apply to businesses with an online and physical presence, not members of the public. The penalties range from HK$2,000-HK$100,000. However, the first six months is an “adaptation period” during which businesses will not be fined if they violate the new rules, but will be issued warnings instead. The government has requested restaurants across the city to switch to substitutes such as plant fibre or paper as soon as they can, and has set up an online platform for them to source the alternatives they need.

Both sit-down and takeaway diners will still get plastic cutlery and utensils if they come as part of pre-packaged food, such as beverages with plastic straws or ice cream cups with plastic spoons. Disposable gloves, straws, and other single-use plastics are also excluded from the ban as long as they are used for medical purposes. Patients and inmates at hospital wards or correctional facilities will be served meals with throwaway cutlery and tableware due to medical and security needs.

How does this differ from the waste-charging scheme?

Hong Kong’s Municipal Solid Waste Charging programme will begin on August 1, and will require all residents and businesses in the city to use prepaid, government-approved trash bags to get rid of their garbage. They must pay HK$0.11 for each litre of garbage they discard in bags that will come in nine different sizes, ranging from 3 litres to 100 litres in capacity and costing HK$0.30-HK$11.

The waste-charging scheme was supposed to begin on April 1, 2024, but was delayed by four months so that the public could get a full understanding of the initiative before it comes into effect. At present, government departments across the city are following the programme on a trial basis.

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Anyone who needs to recycle their trees before January 3 or between January 8 and 20, 2024, can take them to Y·PARK between 9am and 6pm, from Monday to Saturday. The trees collected as part of this initiative, along with other yard waste, will either be reused, made into recycled products, or upcycled into decorations, wooden furniture, and wood art products, among other items.

Those who take their trees to the collection points should first remove all lighting, plastic stands, decorations, and tape from them. In addition, the Environmental Protection Department recommends that small plants like poinsettias should be replanted, and that artificial Christmas trees and other Yuletide decorations be reused.

Hongkongers who take their natural trees to the Central Collection Point or a recycling station will get an e-certificate, while those who take their trees to recycling stations will get a gift while stocks last.

Header image credits: arlutz73 via Flickr

Under the impending ban, restaurants will also be prohibited from providing patrons plastic cups and cup lids, food containers and their covers to diners. In addition, hotels will not be allowed to stock their rooms with free plastic toiletries, umbrella covers, toothbrushes, and cotton buds. The ban will also cover inflatable cheer sticks, glow sticks, and party hats.

Some exceptions to the ban include disposable plastic straws already attached to beverage cartons or single-use plastic cutlery inside cup noodles and ice cream cups. Restaurants can also provide or sell plastic straws to diners who have medical needs.

No date has been set for when the ban will come into force, but government proposals state that it will happen in late 2023 or early 2024.

The measure against single-use plastics in restaurants is part of a two-step programme to stop restaurants from providing or selling customers all forms of disposable tableware. In early 2025, authorities plan to extend the ban to takeaway food as well.

According to government data, there were 2,300 tonnes of waste plastic in the city’s landfills in 2021, which accounted for 21% of total municipal solid waste. Plastic or polyfoam tableware made up 10% of this waste.

The Hong Kong government has recently doubled down on reducing the use of plastic in the city. In December 2022, authorities increased the fees charged for plastic bags from HK$0.5 to HK$1. This levy applies to mail-order and online retailers as well.

In addition, shoppers no longer get free bags for food and drinks that come in sealed packaging, or fruit and vegetables wrapped in cling film or tissue.

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The SAR’s comprehensive public transport network — which includes trains, trams, buses, ferries, light rail, and taxis — scored 8.82 on the index, which takes into account average public transport cost, transport options, public transport stops, and the number of electric vehicles and eco-friendly transport options.

The city with the world’s best public transport options is Paris, which scored a 10 on the index, followed by Stockholm (9.41). The only other Asian city to make it to the list is Singapore, which scored 4.12.

Hong Kong also has the distinction of having the most electric vehicles per 100,00 people — 58,754 . However, the survey also noted that the SAR does not have e-scooter schemes or shared bikes, and has strict laws about the use of e-scooters on carriageways, pavements, and cycle tracks.

The city also fares well in terms of affordability, with an average ticket cost of £1.22 (HK$12.11) placing it at No. 5 in the rankings, which is reasonable considering that the Hong Kong is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

However, the survey noted that while Hong Kong’s rail network is reliable and that it has a high number of buses operating in the city (1,767 per million people), there is no form of 24/7 public transport.

Buenos Aires emerged as the city with the cheapest fares at £0.12 (HK$1.19) per ticket, while New York City has the most shared bikes of all the cities surveyed — 25,247. 

Stockholm, despite having the most expensive public transport at an average of £3.03 (HK$30.5) per ticket, scored well on the index overall because of its system’s accessibility and high number of electric vehicles.

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The unfortunate fact is that in today’s hyper-globalized world, the processes used to source, transport, and sell energy, food, fashion, technology parts (among the most polluting industries ranked in a report released by The Eco Experts), happen on a huge scale that has drastic ethical implications for the environment and people involved. Every purchase made perpetuates these impacts. It’s time to take a closer look at the true cost of the gems we wear.

Negative environmental impacts of gemstone mining

Precious gemstones are mined in various ways, ranging from informal artisanal mining to technical methods that are resource- and energy-heavy. The main gemstone mining methods are surface mining (including open-pit and strip mining), underground mining (including tunnelling and chambering), and alluvial mining (that is, panning and dry digging). Below, we dig deep into the most detrimental mining environmental effects.

Human exploitation

Human exploitation such as forced labour and child labour is an all-too-common effect of gemstone mining. Many mining operations take place in developing countries where gem deposits are plentiful. These workers are often subjected to unregulated working conditions and low pay. Besides violating fair trade principles, there are even cases where the extraction of certain gems funds terrorist and guerilla activity, such as in the case of blood diamonds.

The negative impacts of mining on the environment are also felt by the human communities living near mining sites, who can experience increased air pollution and water scarcity as a result of mining operations.

Water contamination

Water contamination is another major mining side effect. The process of extracting gems often involves the use of toxic chemicals like cyanide, ammonium nitrate, and fuel oil (ANFO), which leak into nearby water sources. This can lead to potentially life-threatening health consequences for both humans and wildlife, including contamination of drinking water and alluvial fish habitats, as well as disruption of aquatic ecosystems.

Carbon emissions

Another significant environmental effect of gem mining is the CO2 emissions. The use of heavy machinery and equipment in mining operations typically relies on fossil fuels, which leads to the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. Additionally, the transportation of gemstones from mining sites to end consumers through trucks and airplanes further exacerbates GHG emissions.

Animal habitat destruction

Next, mining operations often encroaches on wildlife habitats and disrupts delicate native ecosystems. This can lead to the displacement of animals, loss of biodiversity, and complete destruction of natural habitats. In some cases, mining operations can even lead to the extinction of certain species. Especially for this reason, it’s essential for mining operations to incorporate environmental rehabilitation and/or decarbonization programmes.

Danger to worker health

Endangerment to worker health is another major ethical concern in the gemstone mining industry. The effects of mining on human health include miners being exposed to inorganic lead (resulting in anaemia, among other conditions), manganese, and mercury. This has been proven to lead to long-term health consequences resulting from prolonged exposure to toxicants, which actually accumulate in the body.

The precarious environments of mines themselves can be immediately dangerous to workers. They risk injuries from falls, cave-ins, equipment accidents, or even explosions.

Unregulated working conditions can also be prevalent in small-scale mining sites, with limited access to clean water, sanitation facilities, personal protective equipment, and medical care leading to health issues in the long-term.

Does mining have any positive effects?

Mining of precious minerals can contribute to economic growth and creating jobs in local communities. Some mining companies work to adopt more sustainable and responsible practices, which can help mitigate the negative environmental and social impacts of mining, or even create a positive net effect.

However, these positive effects of mining must be weighed against the negative. It’s generally agreed that mining will always be accompanied by negative impacts, and that the most that players in the gem industry can do is minimise their footprint as much as possible. Alternatives to unethically mined gemstones include:

• heirloom gems;
• gems mined in small-scale operations;
• buying from jewellers that openly disclose the traceability of their products;
• lab gemstones.

Precious gems of most varieties can be created in a laboratory, where they can be grown to size specification and can be more eye-clean than mined stones, at a significantly lower price point. Of course, it’s important to note that not all man-made gems are unquestionably better for the environment – it’s still important to do your due diligence as a shopper. For instance, one way is to check what type of energy the sustainable gemstone provider uses and see how renewable or clean that energy is.

Meet BIRON®

BIRON® is a brand under Inter-Pacific, a company based in Hong Kong that produces and sources exquisite lab-grown coloured gemstones and diamonds. They support ethical jewellery brands and other sustainable businesses through gemstone sourcing, as well as cutting and polishing services. Visit their website to learn more about their work in making cruelty-free gems accessible to all types of brands.

• Website: https://biron-gems.com/
• Email: hello@biron-gems.com
• Phone number: +852 2898 1178

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The SAR has been working towards the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. As part of this goal, in July 2021, authorities announced the four routes that will be covered in the trial: Central-Tsim Sha Tsui by Star Ferry, North Point-Hung Hom by Sun Ferry Services, Sai Wan Ho-Kwun Tong by Coral Sea Ferry Service, and Fortune Ferry’s Water Taxi between Kai Tak, Hung Hom, Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and West Kowloon.

In addition, the government will introduce 700 electric buses and 3,000 electric taxis by 2027. “We will earmark $200 million under the New Energy Transport Fund for progressively commencing trials of hydrogen fuel cell electric double-deck buses and heavy vehicles within this year in collaboration with franchised bus companies and other stakeholders,” said Chan.

Authorities approved the trial of four e-taxis in May 2022, and the first electric double-decker bus service in the city began the following month.

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Man-made gems such as lab-created diamonds are up to 10 times cheaper than natural fancy colour gems, according to a Global Diamond Report commissioned by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre.

Growing demand for eco-friendly gemstones

In 2022, leading fashion jewellery houses like Pandora have added more created gemstones to their repertoire, further pushing against the stigma associated with man-made gems. As the terms ‘imitation’ and ‘synthetic’ phase out, interest grows among price-conscious and ESG-conscious millennials.

Precious stones from luxury brands are out of reach for ~95% of consumers. Lab-grown gemstones take less energy, and cleaner energy to produce than mined gems. On top of this, they are:

• less brittle (due to fewer inclusions/fractures produced in a lab environment);
• less susceptible to cracks;
• more affordable;
• in limitless supply;
• have strong quality control;
• customizable.

The birth of BIRON®

Mr. Louis Lo, a gemstone specialist trading in gemstones was asked in 2012 by a client, a brand that uses lab-grown gemstones in its products, to source good quality created emeralds. This turned out to be very difficult as suppliers of lab-grown emeralds were providing stones of very diverse qualities. Mr. Lo therefore decided to develop his own proprietary technology, enlisting the help of geologist and chemist Artur Birkner. (The trademark’s name comes from combining part of his collaborator’s surname and the end of the word ‘hexagon’, which is the shape of emeralds’ crystal structure.)

Together, the duo built on the hydrothermal process, one of the processes used to make lab-created gems, and developed a formula that enabled the production of lab-grown emerald, which is now the signature product under the BIRON® trademark. Their labs still use this process today to create their signature BIRON® emerald, which is nearly indistinguishable from the most sought-after emeralds in the world: Colombian green emeralds.

They now work with over 500 clients around the world, providing sustainably grown gemstones to world-class jewellers and luxury retail brands.

About BIRON® ethical gemstones

The BIRON® trademark now covers seven varieties of beautiful, limpid (that is, watery and transparent) lab-made coloured gemstones: emeralds, rubies, blue sapphires, padparadschas, alexandrite, diamond, and opal.

The two main technologies/methods used to produce synthetic gemstones are:

• High pressure and high temperature (HPHT)
• Chemical vapour deposition (CVD)

HPHT uses intense pressure and temperature to imitate deep-earth conditions, while CVD vaporizes molecules that attach to a gemstone seed, occurring at a lower pressure and temperature. The first method results in a created gemstone in (length of time) while the second method takes two to four weeks.

What sets gems covered by the BIRON® mark apart

Man-made gemstones covered by the BIRON® combines the unique qualities of minimal colour variance, consistent gem vibrancy, and in-house stone cutting by expert craftsmen. What’s more, their created stones can be grown with inclusions to more closely resemble natural stones. The ethical gem provider creates its own created stones and also sources them from responsible sources worldwide, offering expert advice for fine jewellery setting.

Meet BIRON®

• Website: https://biron-gems.com/
• Phone number: +852 2898 1178
• Email: hello@biron-gems.com

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As Fabiana González, co-founder and procurement expert at sustainable fashion designer curator Vipop, puts it: “Everyone is greenwashing now because it’s a trend. That adds value to the pricepoint, like if it’s expensive, of course, it’s because it’s sustainable.”

What are the environmental impacts of the fashion industry?

Fast fashion has contributed to this: a 2022 report states that clothing utilization (that is, the number of times a garment is worn before being discarded) has fallen by 40% in the past 15 years. The fashion industry also:

• Creates landfill waste. 85% of textiles end up in the landfill
• Causes microplastic leeching from the washing of certain fabric types
• Uses a lot of water and releases toxins into the environment from factories

Unfortunately, profit will always be king. It costs more to produce eco-friendly apparel for a number of reasons: higher quality, rarer fabrics; proper worker compensation; more time spent on clothing construction; fewer garments get sold because of the emphasis on wearing the same clothes more often; the cost of getting eco-related certifications. Brands simply have too little incentive to commit to earth-friendly production when greenwashing sells well. It’s up to shoppers to keep brands accountable for their claims – and this starts with knowing how to identify truly ethical fashion.

The signs of greenwashing

Greenwashing most often looks like visually pleasing, eco-friendly-looking packaging (nature imagery, symbols that look like official certifications, paper packaging), ambiguous green-speak like “organic” and “recycled”, and nice-sounding, unfounded claims like “now made with 50% more sustainable fabrics” without more figures to back them up.

From Vipop’s boutique in Hong Kong’s Central district, Fabiana sees how shops claiming to sell ethical clothing source from non-ethical places, cut off the original tags, and place ‘conscious’ virtue-signaling labels on their products.   Other ways that clothing brands greenwash is the ‘Lesser of Two Evils’ fallacy such as H&M’s in-store garment recycling bins (which in some people’s opinions just encourage more guilt-free purchasing), hidden trade-offs such as a label touting “Made from recycled fabrics” without stating how much of the garment is actually made from rescued materials, and selective disclosure where brands push an eco-conscious claim without disclosing that the rest of their garment-making process is still environmentally damaging.

In May 2022, Bonaqua launched a ‘label-less plastic water bottle’ campaign. The bottles were marketed as supposedly more eco-friendly because they no longer had the plastic film label and were made from recycled rPET. But they were single-use plastic bottles nonetheless.

Tips for finding genuine sustainable clothing brands

“It would be a lie if any company says they are 100% eco-friendly,” Fabiana says. From fabric and trim sourcing, pattern making to cutting, manufacturing, and shipping garments, it’s difficult to have a completely eco-friendly process. Instead, Fabiana emphasizes that the important thing is regularly re-evaluating and striving to be incrementally more sustainable in these aspects over time: “Eco-friendly is wider, bigger. We are moving towards that, [for example] shipping with companies that use vegetable fuels in the future.”

For Venezuelan natives Fabiana and co-founder Lenia Perez (who’s also a fashion designer), it was a natural step from their upbringing in the South American country towards eco-friendly clothing because of the inherently slow nature of artisanship in the culture: “In South America, the old techniques itself have this water-saving, low waste quality because there are no factories involved. They take colours from plants to dye garments. [Latin American fashion designers] are very sustainability-driven, and they simply do it out of being conscious.”  

1. Specific sustainability initiatives

One way to identify clothing brands that are really walking the eco-friendly talk is to look out for the fashion designers that are innovating (like Vipop brand Baobab, which makes their resortwear from infinitely reusable nylon fabric called ECONYL derived from recycled fishing nets), re-evaluating to improve their carbon footprint, and even offsetting impacts on the environment in other ways, whether that be environmental initiatives or relatively more eco-friendly practices in other parts of the manufacturing process.

2. Transparency

Keep an eye out for clear and detailed claims, i.e. transparency about how the apparel is made. “Just stepping into a shop, you would never know the difference. Especially if it’s a multi-brand store.” (Which VIpop’s concept store, Artezano, is.) Beyond looking at apparel labels, Fabiana suggests digging into the specific brand’s website for traceability information, sometimes called the “chain of custody”. This can highlight how workers are treated, the sources of fabrics and designs, and more and provide hints about the sustainability profile. Vague claims and lack of transparency i.e. missing details, are no-nos.

3. Labels with sustainability info

The best way to identify a fashion brand that’s committed to sustainability behind closed doors? “If a brand claims to be sustainable, but there’s no more information on the label or website, that’s a red flag. That’s the number one sign of greenwashing.”

Taking steps towards 100% circular fashion

It’ll take discerning customers who aren’t willing to sacrifice safe working conditions and environmental degradation for more brands to start prioritizing environmentally-conscious practices, because that’s the only way brands will start seeing lower profits. There are at least two parts in this process: knowing how to identify deceptive ‘conscious fashion’ marketing and deciding that it’s important to buy from brands that are actively working towards being ‘more sustainable’, whether that’s shipping with a company that flies with vegetable fuels or sourcing products from designers that make their own fabrics. “There are people doing [sustainable clothing] out of passion and people doing it because it’s a trend. But it doesn’t matter where the motivation comes from, as long as they do it well.”

Meet Vipop

• Website: www.vipop.com
• Email: info@vipop.com
• Address: G/F, 52-54 Graham St, SoHo, Hong Kong  

Image credits: Joan Wong via The HK HUB

What is greenwashing?

Greenwashing is the action to mislead the public or media by falsely representing a person, a company, or a product as being environmentally responsible, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. In short, it’s when we as consumers are led to believe that a product or service is better for the environment than it really is.

Often, greenwashing is done subtly by the use of nebulous terms, such as ’sustainable’ or ‘green’. These concepts are used purposely due to a lack of global standards, legislation, and regulation around what constitutes an eco-friendly product. This insinuation that a product or service is environmentally or ethically superior influences purchasing behaviour.

As ethical and environmental issues become more important to many consumers, brands are ensuring they do all they can to appeal to this growing market, often not through real action and changing behaviour, but clever marketing.

How did the term ‘greenwashing’ come about?

Greenwashing is not a new phrase; the term was coined in 1986 by environmentalist Jay Westervelt in an essay he wrote which exemplified how an American hotel’s marketing campaign deliberately deceived its patrons. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, it was frequently used to describe a deliberate strategy that oil, automotive, and chemical companies used to mislead consumers. But in the last 20 years, the term has become synonymous with the fashion industry and even more recently with the advent of ESG, the finance sector.

Greenwashing as a marketing strategy

In short, companies use greenwashing as a marketing strategy to increase sales. As society becomes more aware of the need to consume more consciously, the ability to influence shoppers who are more environmentally-minded increases. By appealing to those consumers, through insincere or inaccurate claims, some businesses (often those with vast customer reach) can sway or convert shoppers to buy their product or services because of their alleged care for the environment. As a result, they gain a competitive advantage over their rivals and increase market share or sales.

The use of natural colours, paper packaging, and the inclusion of animals or nature are commonly used as deliberate marketing ploy to give the impression that a product is more environmentally responsible than it actually is.

This strategy plays on the lack of clarity and regulation globally, and frequently the marketing claims leave a lot of room for interpretation. Words and images are purposely vague, and at times misleading, to target buyers who just want to ‘do the right thing’.

While greenwashing is not illegal, many countries are stepping up regulation to prevent business from making false or misleading claims. In France legislation has recently been passed to hold companies accountable, with penalties that include fines and a public correction. In an effort to further reduce greenwashing by companies, the European Commission have initiated a consultation, proposing the introduction of standard measurables to substantiate a company’s environmental claim. The aim is to ensure they are reliable, comparable, and verifiable across the EU, these measurables would be applicable for companies exporting from Hong Kong to the EU.  

In Hong Kong, greenwashing is often discussed in the context of financial services. As ESG investing grows, so does the risk of greenwashing in this sector.  Alexander Chan, Head of ESG Client Strategy, Asia Pacific at Invesco says, “Greenwashing activity over time could result in the loss of investor confidence in ESG investing and more importantly become a distraction to making actual ESG and climate progress.”

In order to give this a legal framework, standards and regulation is needed alongside international collaboration.

Examples of greenwashing companies

Greenwashing is prevalent in all sectors, from fashion and beauty to F&B and finance. The aviation industry hit the headlines in Hong Kong in early 2022 for alleged greenwashing over airport investment. Reclaim Finance, a Paris based climate campaigner has criticised the issuance of a green bond for this project, saying it raised “serious climate and biodiversity-related risks.”

Another example of companies greenwashing is McDonald’s, which was heavily criticised in 2019 when they replaced single-use plastic straws with paper ones in a bid to appear more environmentally responsible. The reality was that the straws were non-recyclable, they had simply moved from one non-sustainable practice to another, hoping that the use of paper would appease those wanting to reduce landfill.

Fashion, especially fast fashion, is notorious for greenwashing. A 2021 report from the Changing Markets Foundation looked at clothing from major high-street fashion brands to check the truthfulness of their sustainability claims. They found that 60% of these claims were misleading. H&M were found to be the worst offender with a shocking 96% of their claims not holding up.

How companies can actually be sustainable?

There is constant debate in apparel about what is sustainable, but the reality is complex and a whole range of factors make up the overall environment and social impact of production. From materials, to where and how it is produced, to the logistics and transportation. Unless a business is founded on a sustainable strategy and culture, it takes a lot of time and money to transition to a sustainable business. The bigger the company, the harder the transition becomes, with buy-in from all stakeholders and board being critical for success.

In beauty, the narrative is often that products are ‘green’ or ‘clean’. This unsubstantiated terminology gets people to buy into brands whose messaging is greener than their product. ‘No nasties’ is a great example of words that mean nothing, as is ‘chemical-free’.

Do we even care that we’re being greenwashed?

Many consumers do care that we’re being greenwashed, according to Brand Consultant of Side by Side, Charlotte Wilkinson says: “The more sustainably educated consumers become, the more discerning they become. Food, Fast Moving Consumer Goods and Clothing are the sectors where consumers are most sensitive to shopping with a sustainable mindset.”

Generally speaking, when we know we are being fooled, we become annoyed by that brand or company and we are less likely to shop with them again. The issue is often knowing what’s really green and what’s greenwashed. Many brands, at all spectrums of the market, have been accused of deliberately using vague or exaggerated language. Misinformation is rife and unfortunately, it comes down to you and me to delve behind the label and ask questions in order to see the full picture. Sadly, this takes time, effort, and resources that many of us just don’t have on a daily basis. As a result, consumers are left confused, frustrated, and vulnerable to misinformation.

With a retail career spanning twenty years, Sheryl has worked for some of the biggest brands across Buyers and Sourcing. Her increasing concern about the negative impact of the industry led her to write her debut book, Sustainably Stylish – A guide to curating a guilt-free wardrobe. Sheryl graduated from Hong Kong University with an Executive Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility and is passionate about making retail and life, in general, more sustainable.

Her everyday musings can be found on Instagram @makemywardrobework or on her website www.makemywardrobework.com.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The HK HUB.

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Women-centered and women-led

A fully female team co-founded and led by collection curators Lenia Perez and Fabiana Gonzalez, Vipop was formed around the idea of uplifting Latin American artisans whose craft are based in handmade, ancient, sustainable practices.

Each brand that Vipop works with prioritizes an eco-conscious approach, whether that means local production, zero waste processes, long-living pieces, carbon neutrality, vegan, organic, or recycled materials, or fair trade. The majority of these are women-owned ateliers that employ single mothers and indigenous peoples.

Some of these brands are well-known in the sandy paradises of Brazil and Miami but have passed under Asia’s radar.

Curating ethical Latin American resortwear and jewelry

Bright, unique statement lounging bikinis, dresses, sun hats, statement earrings, and vegan leather bags in Latino designs are chosen with the intent of looking different from anything you can find in local stores. What’s more, the pieces are classified as ‘affordable luxury’ to maximize accessibility.

All Vipop products are sourced in small batches, no more than 2-3 pieces. This often means that once a product sells out, it may never be available again.

Brands are vetted to ensure they aren’t greenwashing, but actually care about using indigenous, traditional techniques that work with the earth’s natural cycles. Baobab, for example, creates swimwear from fishing nets and plastic bottles rescued from the ocean in San Andrés, Colombia. One tree is planted for every swimsuit sold and money from sales goes towards restoring the San Adrés Coral Reef.

Wanahat (“wana” meaning “weave” in QueChua, Ecuador’s indigenous language) makes coquilla straw hats, known by many as the ‘Panama hat’, from an endemic palm species found only in the Ecuadorian cloud forest. These take anywhere from two days to three months to painstakingly weave.

Vipop’s boutique combines sustainable fashion and food

Boutique/café ARTEZANO opened in Central in March 2022 and combines sustainable fashion and sustainable food. In the cozy, sunlight-flooded space, you have Vipop’s collections on one side and an open kitchen on the other.

Head chef and Brazilian native Agnes Lessa makes seasonal dishes and daily fresh baked pastries, and visitors can browse Mediterranean and Middle Eastern grocery items from NOMINAL (who also supplies produce to Maison Libanaise) with an iced latte in hand.

The food shares many of Vipop’s values: artisanal, small batches, organic ingredients at friendly prices (you can find Lebanese and Ecuadorian wine for HK$70-HK$300 and a 1.5 litre of hand-pressed olive oil for just over HK$70).

Meet Vipop

• Website: www.vipop.com
• Email: info@vipop.com
• Address: G/F, 52-54 Graham St, SoHo, Hong Kong  

Image credits: Vipop

Fashion and accessories

Vipop is a Hong Kong-based sustainable fashion curator that sources resortwear, swimwear, dresses, and handcrafted jewelry from Latin American artisans.

Brands are carefully vetted through research and photographic evidence to ensure that they comply with one or multiple defined ethical fashion practices including local production and carbon neutrality. Vipop works with over 70 brands in Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, as well as international brands from the Netherlands and France that put sustainability at the forefront. These are primarily women-owned and employ single working mothers and members of marginalized communities in the local country.

From earrings made from upcycled Japanese glass to naturally dyed woven straw hats, swimsuits made from salvaged fishing nets and bags handwoven with ancient Colombian tribal techniques, they carry small batches of no more than 2-3 pieces of each product in their Central boutique, which is one-half sustainable clothing store and one-half Middle Eastern & Mediterranean luxury grocery store as well as being a hub for coffee and food (Artezano, 52-54 Graham St, Central).

Personal care products

For plant- and mineral-based products that are safe for you and kinder to the planet, check out Ecostore HK. From baby care to body care to home care, they have alternatives for many of your daily needs, inclusing various household items, laundry or dishwashes. Check out their amazing bar soaps, shampoos, and conditioners made in New Zealand with either FSC cardboard or sugar plastic packaging made from sugarcane. They also have 13 convenient refill locations in Hong Kong, as well as 11 stores where you can return Ecostore bottles for reuse.

Hong Kong-based brand Coconut Matter uses fair trade, organic virgin coconut oil as the base for many of their body and beauty products. Plastic-free, ethically made deodorant, body butter, body soap, and insect repellent are just some of the sustainable body care items that you can buy from this family-owned business. Find their products in O’Farm locations all over Hong Kong.

Another option is the well-loved Lush. With 9 stores across Hong Kong and Macau, you can always pop in and smell all their amazingly scented body care in mindful recyclable or compostable packaging. Whether you’re looking for bath bombs, body lotion, or dry shampoo made from simple, recognizable ingredients, you will surely find what you are looking for! As Lush is so well-known, they’re doing good work in helping make the journey towards plastic freedom smoother.

Beauty products

INUF (I Never Use Foundation) was founded in 2013 by Olivia Wong Chui and opened the doors of their brick and mortar store in Tsim Sha Tsui in 2015 (21/F Penthouse MW Plaza, 40 Kimberley Rd). It is a mindful and earth-conscious lifestyle brand that both collates organic brands from around the world and also creates their very own naturally-derived skincare products formulated to combat the effects of air pollution, which come in glass bottles or compostable materials with recycled paper labels.

For environmentally-friendly skincare and makeup, there is the online beauty boutique, Astrid Wylde. The Hong Kong-based online beauty boutique showcases a carefully curated selection of cruelty-free and luxurious clean beauty products. With vegan lipsticks from Axiology, organic cheek tints from Olio e Osso, and non-toxic nail paint from Sundays, this is a one-stop solution for all of your ecologically sound makeup needs.

Refillable makeup is another great way to reduce your plastic consumption, and Charlotte Tilbury offers a number of their products in refillable packaging. A number of their lip, brow, and bronzer products are built to withstand multiple refreshes, with refills available at in-person stores. For example, their Hot Lips 2 lipstick comes with collectable replenishable cases so that you only need one tube to try their 11 different shades.

Kitchen wear

You can find a number of plastic-free kitchen products at PureAll Solution. As a Hong Kong-based online store, they are on a mission to create long-term change with their bamboo lifestyle products while supporting local artisans and small companies. Their products always follow the ethos of sustainability, socio-economic well-being, natural raw-materials and plastic free packaging. Check out their bamboo plates and bowls, bamboo toothbrushes, or bamboo straws.

For another place to get long-term use daily reusables such as cutlery, mugs, and lunch bags made from earth-friendly materials, visit the ECO Concepts online store. They show clear, extensive research behind the materials they use to create high quality reusables. While they specialized in customization for companies wanting to release branded merchandise, you can also get one-offs for your own home!

Home goods

For everything bamboo, check out Bamboa Home. Bamboo not only releases 35% more oxygen than trees, it also matures in just 5 years compared to 30-40 years for trees, making it a great alternative for many of our day-to-day products. Bamboa makes the majority of their home products with this incredible sustainable resource – think toothbrushes, flasks, and even sleeping masks and bedsheets crafted from bamboo silk – there is a sustainable option for all your lifestyle needs. Visit them online or at their store in PMQ (S304, Tower A, 35 Aberdeen St).

Lantau Island-based store Tong Fuker emphasizes the marriage of functionality and comfort with sustainable materials to reduce the amount of waste going into the ocean. Check out their biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes that can be personalized with your name and their multifunctional reusable facial rounds.

For all your bedding needs, there is Okooko by European Bedding. Besides being designed to be great for your back pain, their mattresses are also sourced from carbon-neutral certified suppliers. They use organic natural latex, along with other sustainable materials to ensure their impact on the planet is minimal.

A little bit of everything!

For a one-stop-shop for all your eco-friendly needs, you just need to visit Slowood. Hong Kong’s biggest eco store, with locations across Kennedy Town, Discovery Bay, and Sha Tin, Slowood is primarily a grocery store but they have a number of things to help you along your green journey. Their bulk food and refill stations include not just food, but also household basics like soap and laundry detergent. You can also find a number of personal care, beauty, and home products and if you’re lucky, you can spot some of their really cute food containers and vases.

An awesome zero waste-focused company is Live Zero, which has physical shops in Sai Ying Pun (33 High St) and Sai Kung (22 Yi Chun St). They store bulk food items ranging from coffee to candies to cereals. And they offer completely plastic-free home goods, such as cloth wipes, sponges, brushes, and candles. You can also find a number of essential reusable items including produce bags, lunch boxes, beeswax food wraps and coffee cups – all to help you ensure you’re sustainable on the go!

Finally, there is the online store, Delightfully Green, where they aim to be environmentally-friendly, healthy, and easy on the wallet. They have an eclectic assortment of products, including toothbrushes, masks, facial care, and upcycled clothes – you never know what you may find! They also have their Facebook community dedicated to sharing DIYs, tips, and news about how to start living a healthy, delightfully green life.

Header image credits: Anna Oliinyk via Unsplash

Sheryl said, “I’m a huge lover of fashion and shopping as a whole, but as someone who is employed by the sector and a consumer of it, I was becoming more and more disheartened by its slow progress towards a more sustainable and fairer approach. The ever-increasing mountain of textile waste headed to landfill left me frustrated.”

With over 20 years’ retail experience in fashion buying and textile procurement with a variety of global brands, Sheryl was well-placed to give her opinions and experience.

She continues, “I want readers to appreciate how important their behaviours are and that by making a few small changes they can have great impact and become a smarter shopper, in terms of clothing choices and financial impact. Many of us also have wardrobes full of clothes that we rarely wear, but there’s no need to carelessly discard them. There are lots of repurposing options out there. Everyone has it within them to create a stylish and sustainable wardrobe.”

About Sustainably Stylish

The 248-page hardback book is full of tips to help readers curate their own more sustainable style, and is also an education in how the industry works and explores ways in which it can evolve to become more sustainable. This is a must-read for those who want to curate a wardrobe that reflects their values and style, whilst better understanding what becoming a more conscious consumer entails.

Split into three sections that can be read in any order, the book covers everything from creating a personal style and editing your own wardrobe, to debating the merits of existing and innovative new materials, to simply understanding how fast fashion exploded and changed the industry forever. It doesn’t shy away from discussing and debating the social, economic, and environmental impact of the fashion sector and offers insight into the future of fashion.

The book demystifies sustainability within the fashion industry and offers a unique insight into how clothes are bought, worn, and discarded. Its informal chatty tone is relatable, and the pages are packed with tips and advice on becoming a stylish, savvy, and conscious consumer. Punctuated with inspiring and witty quotes and illustrations, it is littered with anecdotes which make it a relatable and personal read.

Sustainably Stylish – A guide to curating a guilt-free wardrobe is available in hardback
priced at $200. Available at The Lion Rock Press, Bookazine Stores, Retykle, Kidnapped Book Store, Hula, and Impact HK.

Read more from Sheryl on sustainability issues

With a retail career spanning twenty years, Sheryl has worked for some of the biggest brands across Buyers and Sourcing. Her increasing concern about the negative impact of the industry led her to write her debut book, Sustainably Stylish – A guide to curating a guilt-free wardrobe. Sheryl graduated from Hong Kong University with an Executive Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility and is passionate about making retail and life, in general, more sustainable.

Her everyday musings can be found on Instagram @makemywardrobework or on her website www.makemywardrobework.com.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The HK HUB.

Header image credits: Sheryl Bolden / pixelshot via Canva

Find Harmony, The Eco-Friendly Way

17-year-old Theo Robinson, founder of KaiJai sustainable yoga mats (kai means ‘ocean’ in Hawaiian or ‘recovery’ in Japanese, jai means ‘victory’ in Hindi), felt that the eco-friendly label on products had become a selling point rather than a commitment. He watched his yoga teacher mom buy branded clothes and yoga equipment, replacing them every few years, and realized that the exorbitant price tags on sports equipment were often associated more with brand-building than the actual quality of the products. So, the highschooler created KaiJai, mats made from sustainably sourced, FSC-certified materials, which are similar quality as branded yoga mats but at a more accessible price.

Launched in 2021 from their home in Discovery Bay, the mats are printed with a unique alignment pattern designed by his yogi mom and made with a natural rubber base and a cork or PU upper (PU is PVC’s more environmentally-friendly sibling, which doesn’t release toxins when it breaks down). The cork surface gets grippier without being sticky as you move and start to sweat, unlike traditional mats; as Theo puts it, PU is one of “the most grippy, eco-friendly material[s] you can get on a yoga mat.” KaiJai mats come in two sizes – 5mm and 3.5mm – for yogis who regularly bring their practice outside and want a lighter version.

Use the discount code THEHKHUB20 and get 20% off all purchases on Kaijai.store.

Enter The Giveaway

Enter our giveaway below with your email only to be one of the three winners to receive a KaiJai mat, valued at HK$480-HK$580, and complete more actions, to ear more entries! Prizes will be shipped in Hong Kong only.

All image credits: KaiJai

What are Lab-Grown Gemstones?

Lab-grown gemstones are gemstones that are manufactured in the lab. While natural gemstones are mined from beneath the earth’s crust, lab-created gemstones are created in the laboratory sharing the same chemical composition that forms natural gemstones.

Lab-grown gemstones go by different terms across the industry: man-made, synthetic, created, artificial, lab-made, lab-created and so on. However, they are not simulated gemstones. A simulated gemstone is a look-alike of a gemstone and is manufactured from a different material altogether.

Man-made diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, are chemically, physically and optically identical to their natural counterparts. Therefore, they are real gems. The only difference is that they are not mined from miles beneath the earth, and therefore, they are considered ethical and eco-friendly.

What Are The Benefits of Lab Created Gemstones?

Lab-grown gemstones have a lot of benefits for jewellery brands, dealers, retailers, designers, and the customers.

Lower Cost

Man-made gemstones could even sell for about 50% the price of mined gemstones or even less. Because they go through a shorter supply chain and have a shorter production time, lab-created gems are way cheaper.

Environmentally-friendly

In all sense of it, lab created gemstones are eco-friendly gemstones. Although they recreate the earth’s natural process in a laboratory, they are without the heavy carbon emissions and environmental destruction that comes with mining.

More Ethical

Mining gemstones have triggered many negativities for years – conflicts, child labour, unauthorized mining, smuggling, and so on. Since the production chain of lab-grown gemstones is devoid of mining, these challenges are set to reduce, if not eradicated.

Flawless

It is extremely rare to find natural gemstones without inclusions. This is because most inclusions occur for internal factors that arise while a gem is forming. The good thing with lab-created gemstones is that they beat the chances of inclusion by a large margin, providing us with flawless and high clarity gemstones.

Variety

The intentionality involved in manufacturing gemstones makes it easy to have variations of them. They can be designed to have the best cut, polishing, and the most beautiful mount. Also, lab gemstones can be made into any colour. You could have a blue diamond if you wish. You can also have a ruby produced to have the perfect flaming red colour you desire.

How Are Eco-Friendly Gemstones Made?

When producing lab made gemstones, the aim is to mimic the processes that cause a particular gemstone to form within the earth.

Since different gemstones form in different ways, there are also different laboratory methods of gemstone production:

• Flame fusion or Verneuil Process: A crystal growth technology that involves the melting of powdered chemicals using high heat. The melted compound is crystallized to form the required gemstone using a rotating pedestal.
• Crystal Pulling or Czochralski Process: The gemstone crystal is made to grow by inserting a seed gemstone into the melted compound in a crucible. Solidified crystals will begin to form around this seed.
• Hydrothermal Growth: Common method in emerald. It involves dissolving the needed nutrients in water using very high pressure. As the solution cools, the gemstone crystal forms.
• Flux Growth: Gemstone nutrients are dissolved in another material known as flux which can dissolves the elements at a lower temperature, and then forced to precipitate into crystalline form.
• Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD): One of the processes to create lab-grown diamond. It works by using high pressure and temperature to break down methane into carbon and hydrogen. The atomic hydrogen formed helps the free carbon to form diamonds.

FAQs on Lab Made & Synthetic Gemstones

The idea of lab production of gemstones has existed for a while but recently became very pronounced. Today, more people are embracing them because they are eco-friendly, very sustainable, and ethical. Lab-grown gemstones on Biron-gems.com are designed to transform the jewellery industry and to offer ethical gemstones that respect human rights and the environment, to jewellery brands, dealers, retailers, designers, and customers.

Meet BIRON®

• Website: https://biron-gems.com/
• Phone Number: +852 2898 1178
• Email: hello@biron-gems.com

What are microplastics?

As the name suggests, microplastics are pieces of plastic measuring less than 5mm. We find them everywhere, from beaches and seas to the streets and countryside, and even inside our homes and bodies. Microplastics vary in size from as big as a grain of rice to microscopic.

There is a distinction between primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are plastic particles designed for commercial use. The bulk of microplastics impacting the environment are secondary microplastics, which originate from larger pieces of plastic that have broken down over time.

Non-profit marine conservation group, Plastic Soup Foundation, reports that since the end of WWII, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced worldwide. Sadly, only 9% of this total figure has been recycled and 12% incinerated. Plastic doesn’t decompose, meaning the remaining 79% has remained in our environment and global landfills.

What are the sources of microplastics?

Microplastics aren’t just derived from visible plastic waste. More silent and subtle contributors exist, such as microbeads, which are small, manufactured beads made from polyethylene plastic used in health and beauty products. While the negative impact of microbeads may have only received global criticism in the last decade, they are not a recent problem.

The United Nations Environmental Programme reports the use of microbeads in cosmetics for over 50 years. Not only are they in products such as exfoliating scrubs, but they are also found in all types of cosmetics, personal hygiene, and baby care products. The story is the same for these plastic particles, which cannot be collected for recycling nor decompose, simply entering our ecosystem where they end up in our seas and oceans.  

Resin pellets used in manufacturing are a third common source of microplastic pollution. These pellets, used in the preproduction of plastic items, are found in environmental samples all over the world. Their geographical locations are often linked to production and transportation spills. As an international shipping and logistics hub, Hong Kong is especially exposed to this source of microplastics in the ocean.

How do microplastics affect humans?

In short, it is too early to say how serious the ingestion of microplastics through our food and drinking water is. Researchers have been concerned about the potential harm of microplastic pollution on life for nearly two decades. While most studies have focused on the risks to marine life, this is changing as scientists begin to focus on the impact of microplastics on human health. 

Plastic is a polymer, but it is different to those natural polymers that our bodies are used to breaking down and safely processing. According to Yale chemist Paul Anastas, human bodies have not had enough time to evolve to process the artifical polymer that is plastic.

A 2021 study by Evangelos Danopoulos of Hull York Medical School analysed the negative impacts of microplastics on human cells. In the study, he compared the impact that consuming differing levels of plastic particles through contaminated drinking water, seafood, and table salt had. The findings showed specific types of harm such as cell death, allergic response, and damage to cell walls. The same 2022 study that discovered microplastics in human blood also showed that they travel around the body and can get stuck in organs.

According to Danopouslos: “We should be concerned. Right now, there isn’t really a way to protect ourselves […] we don’t really know how they react with our bodies once they are in.” While future research could make it possible to identify the foods most associated with microplastic consumption so that we can avoid them, he believes that the ultimate solution is to stop the loss of plastic waste: “Once the plastic is in the environment, we can’t really get it out.”

Microplastic pollution in Hong Kong

There are many factors that contribute to Hong Kong’s plastic pollution. Its geographical position in the Pearl River Delta, one of the world’s largest industrial hubs, means that industrial plastic waste is rife. Pair this with the widescale adoption of single-use plastic compounded by poor recycling infrastructure, and massive amounts of plastic are frequently dumped in landfills or left on beaches and countrysides to break down.

In 2016, Greenpeace issued the Plastics in Seafood report which showed that microplastics were found in over 170 species of marine creatures in Hong Kong, including commonly consumed seafoods like mullet fish, mussels, and lobsters. Since the plastics are too tiny for us to notice when we’re eating, they seamlessly make their way into our bodies.

In addition, in 2021 SCMP highlighted the widespread problem Hong Kong has with synthetic microfibres (man-made textile fibers like spandex, polyester, and nylon), an invisible pollutant that accounts for 35% of all ocean plastic pollution. This microfibre pollution affects marine life, blocking digestive tracts and decreasing the ability to feed and reproduce in small organisms like plankton.

How to deal with microplastic pollution on a small scale

China recently published an ambitious five-year plan to curb plastic use and Hong Kong is following suit with its updated Climate Action Plan 2050. However, on the individual level, here are three simple and achievable suggestions to help reduce the impact and creation of microplastics.

• Avoid single-use plastic – refuse before reusing!
• Avoid buying personal care products that contain microbeads. Do your own research, because while many companies publicly say they no longer use them and governments around the world have banned them, plastics can still be found in ingredients lists. As a general rule, avoid products containing acrylate copolymer and polypropylene as these common ingredients are, in fact, plastic.
• Get involved with beach clean-ups to help reduce the amount of plastic debris in Hong Kong. Check out local organisations like Take Out Plastic, who are targeting single-use plastics and Hong Kong’s ‘plastic bag culture” to help Hong Kong’s plastic problem.

With a retail career spanning twenty years, Sheryl has worked for some of the biggest brands across Buyers and Sourcing. Her increasing concern about the negative impact of the industry led her to write her debut book, Sustainably Stylish – A guide to curating a guilt-free wardrobe. Sheryl graduated from Hong Kong University with an Executive Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility and is passionate about making retail and life, in general, more sustainable.

Her everyday musings can be found on Instagram @makemywardrobework or on her website www.makemywardrobework.com.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The HK HUB.

Header image credits: Olena Sakhnenko via Canva

Central and Western

Eastern

Southern

Wan Chai

Kowloon City

Kwun Tong

Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin

Yau Tsim Mong

Islands

Kwai Tsing

North

Sai Kung

Sha Tin

Tai Po

Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun

Yuen Long

To learn more about Greeners Action, please visit https://www.greeners-action.org/.

Header image credits: Greeners Action

So here is a list of donations that you can give to the friend or family member who refuses to add to the junk in their homes and instead wants to contribute to society.

Plant a tree

One of the most environmentally-friendly ways to gift is to plant a tree (or many) in the name of your friend. While you can definitely make an experience out of this, and do the planting yourself by joining local initiatives like the Tree Planting Challenge with Friends of the Earth, you can also donate to the following charities and they will plant trees for you around the world. With Ecosia, you can plant up to 40 trees for about HK$800, specifically choosing to benefit causes such as wildlife, clean water or empowering women. And you even get a printable certificate that you can give to your friend. Trees for Life is another charity where you can even choose the background for the certificate!

Sponsor an animal

Organizations around the world offer you the option of providing for the welfare of a wild animal. With symbolic ‘adoption’, as offered by WWF, you receive a cuddly stuff toy and an adoption certificate, as well as regular updates! A perfect way to introduce a young child to ethical gifts! With other organizations, you can choose a specific animal to support through a monthly subscription. The Dhyan Foundation in India, for example, allows you to cover the feeding for one of their thousands of dogs or cows for a minimal fee of about HK$1,500-2,500 a year. You will be able to see the animal grow with regular videos and photos. You can also be an Ele-Guardian for an elephant in Brazil by supporting the Global Sanctuary for Elephants. 

Sponsor a meal

During holidays when gift-giving is paramount, it can be great to ensure everyone receives a gift, including those in need. One way to do that is to help sponsor meals! Foodlink provides a “Together We Care Package” which includes ready-to-eat meal packs of three meals made up of 2kg of rice, noodles and food coupons for just HK$150, helping feed the 1.6 million people who live below the poverty line in Hong Kong. Similarly, through Po Leung Kuk, you can sponsor anywhere from one meal for a child to hot meals for 10 days, alongside supporting medical treatments, schooling, etc. Outside Hong Kong, charities such as Centre Point help provide homeless youth with a meal, or even hampers, gifts and jumpers in the UK, to make their holiday season a bit more special.

Give a gift to someone in need

Gift-giving doesn’t need to mean adding more to someone who already has enough; instead you can provide special gifts both in cash or in kind to children and adults alike! You and your child can wrap a box of school supplies, toys, and other essentials and donate it to Box of Hope to provide children around Hong Kong and Asia a special gift. You can also support Angels for Children in buying Secret Santa presents for children in need! If you don’t have time to physically buy and drop off a gift, you can donate money for gifts, books or school shoes!

Let your giftee choose

Finally, if you are not sure which charity your friend or loved one would like to donate to, you can give them their own choice! Christmas Choice allows you to choose the gift of charity by selecting a gift card and donation amount, and then your recipient can select their charity of choice. They support animals, children, education, environment, health… almost every charity in Hong Kong. They also have an incredible children’s page where they help a child learn about giving, through imaginative storytelling and avatar creation. So your favourite little one can be a Charity Hero themselves, helping raise funds for their favourite cause.

Header image credits: Mara Ket via Unsplash