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Four teenage girls have won an inter-school competition that encourages students to create innovative projects that address environmental and societal challenges by creating an edible “plastic” made from biodegradable materials to reduce single-use waste.
Comprising four Form Three students from Good Hope School, the winning team was awarded the top prize in the junior secondary category of the Seek Our Ways Social Ideation Programme for their creation of an edible and biodegradable composite as an alternative to traditional plastic.
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Supported by Hang Seng Bank and organised by the Leadership Institute of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), the programme encourages young people to develop innovative ideas that promote environmental and sustainable development, sports for all and elderly and wellness.
The inaugural edition of the programme was met with an enthusiastic response, attracting nearly 1,000 applications from secondary and tertiary students. After a rigorous selection process, over 400 students were chosen to form teams.
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Over six months, the participating teams dedicated over 10,000 hours to experiential learning and mentorship guided by social leaders and professionals. Their efforts culminated in nearly 90 socially innovative proposals meant to advance the public good.
Diana Cesar, Executive Director and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank said the Bank is proud to put their network, expertise and resources behind young social innovators.
Diana Cesar, Executive Director and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, said, “As Hong Kong’s largest local bank, Hang Seng Bank is proud to put our network, expertise, and resources behind young social innovators. Programmes like this demonstrate how we turn belief in the next generation into action – equipping students to tackle real-world challenges while expanding their own potential.”
The junior secondary champions, including 15-year-olds Ho Lok-ting, Law Hau-wing, Lo Sin-sum and Tsang Lok-yu, were inspired to act after learning about the high mortality risk sea turtles face due to plastic ingestion.
They proposed a practical and environmentally friendly solution by creating an edible, dissolvable and biodegradable material as an alternative to plastics that they call "Fully Biodegradable Plastic".
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Over 200 hours were spent designing, developing and testing two biodegradable plastic prototypes made from gelatin and agar, suitable for packaging noodles, dry foods or for use as shopping bags.
“Traditional plastic lingers for centuries as it’s non-biodegradable and harmful to the environment,” said team member Law Hau-wing. “Our 'Fully Biodegradable Plastic’, however, disappears without a trace. We hope to collaborate with food manufacturers to bring the product to market.”
The ‘Fully Biodegradable Plastic’ prototype by Good Hope School students – made from gelatin and agar – can package dry foods or serve as shopping bags while decomposing harmlessly.
The top prize in the senior secondary category was awarded to a team from Fanling Kau Yan College. Students Chen Tin-oi, Lee Yan-ue, Liang Ka-ki, Ng Ka-yin and Zou Tsz-ham proposed a model that pairs schools with elderly centres to promote meaningful intergenerational engagement.
Inspired by a sister school on the mainland, the team observed that interactions between students and older adults foster emotional well-being and a stronger sense of connection for both groups.
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Their proposal includes a matching service to connect schools with elderly centres, together with a sustainable curriculum that includes teaching materials and recommended activities.
The senior secondary winning team from Fanling Kau Yan College presents their proposal to connect schools with elderly centres and foster intergenerational engagement.
In the tertiary category, the grand prize and the "My Favourite Team" award were presented to a group of students from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong College of Technology.
Team members Cheng Hoi-kei, Ho Ka-hei, Lai In-ha, Wong Ngai-fung and Yau Ho-lun developed an innovative solution “Fruitful” that can turn apple pulp into leather-like materials.
After six months of trial and error, experiments and tests, the team successfully produced a leather substitute that they hope to apply to products such as wallets and coasters. They plan to refine their prototypes and promote sustainable manufacturing practices in Hong Kong.
The winning team in the tertiary category presents their innovative project turning apple pulp into eco-leather, earning both the grand prize and “My Favourite Team” award.
All three winning teams received cash prizes of HK$20,000 and will be offered career immersion opportunities at Hang Seng Bank. In addition, the public voted for their favourite teams in each category, with the selected teams receiving an extra HK$5,000 each.
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Applications for the second edition of the Seek Our Ways Social Ideation Programme will open by the end of the year, offering more young minds the opportunity to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions that benefit their communities.
.jpg "The ‘Fully Biodegradable Plastic’ prototype by Good Hope School students – made from gelatin and agar – can package dry foods or serve as shopping bags while decomposing harmlessly.")
