Less is more: three Hong Kong businesses helping consumers rethink their relationship with single-use plastic

From biodegradable packaging to reusable paper straws and takeaway containers, we can avoid using too much plastic

These three companies are dedicated to reducing waste and our reliance on single-use plastic

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Hong Kong sustainable clothing line Wear Earthero uses handwritten tags made from recycled paper scraps as well as biodegradable packaging. Photo: courtesy of Wear Earthero

Published: 2:45pm, 20 Jan 2021Updated: 4:37pm, 20 Jan 2021

Adopting a lifestyle without single-use plastic might sound difficult to some of us living in a fast-paced city such as Hong Kong. But it’s crucial people rethink their relationship with plastic.

In 2018, more than 11,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste was dumped into landfills every day, including more than 2,300 tonnes of plastic waste.

During the pandemic, stay-at-home Hongkongers are relying more on takeaway food – and that means more disposable containers entering the city’s landfills. A surge in the use of sanitiser bottles, antibacterial wipes and surgical masks has also added to the waste dilemma.

Sadly, much of the plastic – whether on a macro or micro level – ends up in the ocean. In 2019, a study by Greenpeace East Asia found the average concentration of plastic particles in Hong Kong’s waters had increased by 11 times in just three years.

The Covid-19 restrictions have led to an increase in takeaway and delivered meals, and a subsequent surge in the use of disposable plastic items. Photo: Sam Tsang

Some Hong Kong businesses have adopted measures to help consumers shift to a plastic-free lifestyle without compromising on convenience. Here are three: