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Can Hong Kong’s Li Ka-shing, the tycoon dubbed ‘superman’, save the planet with ‘edible plastic’, seaweed food cartons?

  • Li’s Horizons Ventures says its investments in sustainability projects can soon be scaled up to production level and make a real impact on the global campaign to save the environment
  • The company will co-operate with entrepreneurs in Hong Kong to enhance their competitiveness in a fast-changing world

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Tycoon Li Ka-shing, dubbed Superman, has invested in numerous sustainable projects and companies. Photo: Dickson Lee
Horizons Ventures, the private investment arm of Hong Kong’s best known billionaire, Li Ka-shing, said its investments in sustainability projects from “edible plastic” to fake leather and plant-based chicken nuggets are ready to be scaled up to production level and help save the planet.
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The company will co-operate with entrepreneurs in Hong Kong to enhance their competitiveness in a fast-changing world, according to Solina Chau Hoi-shuen, a prominent businesswoman and close friend of Li.

“No scale, no impact,” Chau said during a presentation to media and guests about Horizons’ synthetic biology portfolio on Monday.

She is a co-founder of Horizons Ventures, which focuses on investing in disruptive technology start-ups. It was set up in 2002 to generate financial returns for Li’s philanthropic endeavour, the Li Ka Shing Foundation. Li has been dubbed “superman” for his deal-making prowess over the decades.
“The investments we introduced today are ready to scale to production. [Then] they can make an impact on society,” said Chau.
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Lunch box of Impossible Foods’ chicken nuggets and pork contained in single-use plastic made by Erthos. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Lunch box of Impossible Foods’ chicken nuggets and pork contained in single-use plastic made by Erthos. Photo: SCMP Pictures
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