https://www.scmp.com/rss/501978/feed Articles and features on living a green lifestyle for millennials, from eco-friendly and sustainable living, to veganism, environment, recycling and renewables. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Emily Hung,Theodora Yu Emily Hung,Theodora Yu After decades at the front lines campaigning for environmental protection, The Green Earth founder Edwin Lau Che-feng is slowing down to focus on his health and hobbies. The 68-year-old has been one of the most vocal environmentalists championing a waste-charging scheme for more than two decades. Lau still remembers May 27, 2024, when the government abruptly paused the waste-charging bill, as if it were yesterday. The suspension was the biggest blow in his 36-year career. “It feels impossible.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:00:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The French government on Tuesday postponed a ban on plastic throwaway cups by four years to 2030 because of difficulties finding alternatives. The ban was meant to start on January 1, but the ministry for ecological transition said that results from a recent review into the “technical feasibility of eliminating plastic from cups” justified pushing back the deadline. It said in an official decree that a new review would be carried out in 2028 of “progress made in replacing single-use plastic... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3338197/france-pushes-back-plastic-cup-ban-four-years-amid-industry-pressure-and-green-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3338197/france-pushes-back-plastic-cup-ban-four-years-amid-industry-pressure-and-green-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:00:13 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov Swire Coca-Cola, the bottling partner of the American drinks maker, has become the first company in Hong Kong to use locally sourced recycled plastic for its products, giving a boost to the city’s circular economy efforts. New Life Plastics, the city’s first food-grade ready plastic bottle recycling facility, has started supplying Swire Coca-Cola with locally sourced recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) needed to bottle its drinks. Until now, the drinks company sourced rPET from overseas.... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3329098/coca-cola-goes-green-hong-kong-locally-recycled-pet-bottles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3329098/coca-cola-goes-green-hong-kong-locally-recycled-pet-bottles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:05:59 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press More online platforms are giving second-hand shopping a digital upgrade, rolling out features such as live-stream shopping and AI-powered search to make thrifting faster and more exciting. Although choosing second-hand over new is often the more sustainable option, experts say it is not a licence to overconsume. They warn that resale has its limits, since buying more than you need still fuels waste, and shopping online can add emissions from servers and shipping, thrifted or not. Here is how... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3327724/love-second-hand-clothing-how-find-quality-pieces-and-shop-sustainably?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3327724/love-second-hand-clothing-how-find-quality-pieces-and-shop-sustainably?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso For over 15 years, Hong Kong-based NGO Redress has been paving the way for a more circular fashion economy in the region, raising awareness of environmental issues and spearheading a number of initiatives aimed at combating clothing and textile waste. Now it’s brought that advocacy all the way to the United Nations in New York, where founder and CEO Christina Dean moderated a panel on September 20, joined by young designers from around the world who are leading the charge when it comes to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3327590/redress-takes-circular-fashion-advocacy-un-spotlighting-asias-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3327590/redress-takes-circular-fashion-advocacy-un-spotlighting-asias-role?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:35:23 +0000 Joyce Yip Joyce Yip This summer’s barrage of severe rainstorms and typhoons wreaked havoc at Kit-ching’s farm. She had planned for a break in August, the honeymoon period between sowing and harvest, but toppled trees, collapsed fences and upheaved topsoil would cost her weeks, if not more, of repairs. “I can’t keep up with climate change,” she says. “Thankfully, most of the crops I planted 10 years ago have developed strong, deep roots to brave these tropical storms. The new seedlings don’t stand a chance.” A... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3326993/can-nam-chung-village-hong-kong-survive-amid-climate-change-and-urban-sprawl?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3326993/can-nam-chung-village-hong-kong-survive-amid-climate-change-and-urban-sprawl?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 11:15:10 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong has confirmed that a long-delayed waste-charging scheme will remain on the shelf indefinitely, with the government saying the city continues to face economic challenges amid a global tariff war and rising geopolitical risks. The Environment and Ecology Bureau announced the decision on Tuesday, two months after it was supposed to reveal the scheme’s future by the end of July. The initiative had already been delayed twice and was originally shelved last May. Environmental groups said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326569/unpopular-waste-charging-scheme-will-remain-shelf-hong-kong-confirms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326569/unpopular-waste-charging-scheme-will-remain-shelf-hong-kong-confirms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:01:02 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time when family and friends gather to celebrate the full moon, with food playing a major role in the celebrations. Mooncakes – rich pastries filled with sweet or savoury fillings, often with a salted duck egg yolk in the middle to represent the full moon – are the stars of the festival, which this year starts on October 6. Just like in previous years, Hong Kong’s bakeries and hotels have mooncake fever, with many releasing their own versions, while supermarket... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3325721/how-donate-mooncakes-and-recycle-boxes-hong-kong-during-mid-autumn-festival-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3325721/how-donate-mooncakes-and-recycle-boxes-hong-kong-during-mid-autumn-festival-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Sarah Keenlyside Sarah Keenlyside It’s the turn of the millennium and a twenty-something Canadian named Kresse Wesling waits patiently in a meeting room at The Peninsula Hong Kong. Opposite her, the hotel’s purchasing manager is painstakingly ripping sheets from a roll of toilet paper to check whether they will tear cleanly. And not just a few sheets. Every. Single. One. “I just sat there while he de-sheeted an entire roll,” recalls Wesling. “I was like, ‘He’s got to stop at some point, this is a big roll. We’re going to be here... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3324906/kresse-weslings-radical-brand-turns-discarded-firehoses-sustainable-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3324906/kresse-weslings-radical-brand-turns-discarded-firehoses-sustainable-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:00:14 +0000 dpa dpa South Australia has become the first place in the world to ban fish-shaped plastic soy sauce packets. The ban took effect on Monday in the Australian state as part of efforts to cut pollution, reduce carbon emissions and protect marine life, the South Australian government said in a statement. “Each fish-shaped container is used for just seconds yet remains in the environment for years, causing harm and contributing to microplastic pollution,” the statement said. The ban targets pre-filled 30ml... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3323864/australian-state-bans-plastic-fish-soy-sauce-containers-world-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3323864/australian-state-bans-plastic-fish-soy-sauce-containers-world-first?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 04:36:07 +0000 Tim Pile Tim Pile Increasingly, tourist destinations are embracing sustainability in ways that protect nature and benefit local communities. These places are taking concrete steps to reduce waste, preserve ecosystems and transition to clean energy without losing their appeal. The changes bring cleaner streets, warmer welcomes and healthier environments for residents, along with more fulfilling holidays. Copenhagen, Denmark Polished and progressive yet grounded in green values, the Danish capital integrates... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323014/8-holiday-destinations-embrace-clean-living-and-sustainable-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323014/8-holiday-destinations-embrace-clean-living-and-sustainable-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:00:12 +0000 Emily Hung,Lynn Zhang Emily Hung,Lynn Zhang In Hong Kong’s Kwai Tsing neighbourhood, a community recycling station has been quietly making an impact since opening in 2019. Green@Kwai Tsing, operated by the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, serves as a collection point for various items that are sent to recyclers. Twelve mobile collection spots are also set up in the neighbourhood every week. Back in 2019, the station collected 20 tonnes of recyclables each month, but that has since surged to about 60 tonnes. “We have... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322938/hong-kong-really-cutting-trash-year-after-axing-waste-charging-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322938/hong-kong-really-cutting-trash-year-after-axing-waste-charging-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 01:00:29 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press One way to be climate-friendly? Shop sustainably. But figuring out which products count as “sustainable” can be hard, especially when buying online. The number of online products labelled “sustainable” is increasing as ordering with a computer or phone becomes more ubiquitous. However, there is no single seal of approval across e-commerce platforms that verifies if something is climate-friendly, partly because there are many ways to define sustainability. Third-party non-profit organisations... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3322651/what-does-sustainable-product-label-mean-and-can-you-be-sure-your-choices-are-green?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3322651/what-does-sustainable-product-label-mean-and-can-you-be-sure-your-choices-are-green?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer This weekend is set to be a celebration of food, wellness and community in Hong Kong. Embrace the last of the summer vibes with experiences that nourish both body and spirit. From lively brunches that blend culinary excellence with entertainment, to wellness-focused events that promote sustainability and mindfulness, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Dive into the refreshing offerings around the city and make the most of the (hopefully) sun-soaked weekend, where good food and good vibes... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3322470/your-hong-kong-weekend-food-guide-august-23-24?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3322470/your-hong-kong-weekend-food-guide-august-23-24?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:00:11 +0000 dpa dpa Whether you choose not to fly for environmental reasons or you just love trains, many wonderful rail journeys across Europe are out there just waiting to be enjoyed. Travelling by train can be a slower, low-carbon alternative to emission-heavy flights; you just need to be willing to plan your train trip ahead of time. Ideally, you do not want to be in a hurry, as travelling by rail and road is usually slower than flying, and destinations more than about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) away almost... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3322174/low-carbon-more-comfortable-why-your-next-european-journey-should-be-train-not-plane?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3322174/low-carbon-more-comfortable-why-your-next-european-journey-should-be-train-not-plane?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee How do we “future-proof” Hong Kong’s built environment? For the design and construction industry in particular, this could be the most relevant question amid today’s grave challenges. In the global environment, military and tariff wars interrupt supply chains and the uncertain economic outlook hinders project investment and financing. These issues are complicated locally by a suspension of commercial land sales, a property market slump and escalating construction costs. If the worst of times can... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315697/no-better-time-property-slump-future-proof-urban-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315697/no-better-time-property-slump-future-proof-urban-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong restaurants may start testing alternatives to certain single-use plastics for items such as food containers in the next two months, the environment minister has said, as the government gauges the business sector’s feedback before expanding the scope of a ban. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan on Saturday gave the update on the second phase of the government’s plan to rid the city of disposable plastic items, after the first stage was introduced in April last year. “We... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3314449/hong-kong-restaurants-may-start-testing-alternatives-plastics-next-2-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3314449/hong-kong-restaurants-may-start-testing-alternatives-plastics-next-2-months?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Jun 2025 09:36:11 +0000 Vanessa Lee Vanessa Lee For Amir Javaid, founder of Socio on Staunton Street, running out of stuff is kind of the whole point. Each cocktail on the bar’s menu features waste products, or, more palatably, upcycled ingredients, from a nearby restaurant. There’s Butter down the street, Hooked on Caine Road and Uncle Miguel on Peel Street. Sustainability is a term often thrown around in haughty circles while Hong Kong bars like Socio have been implementing green practices with little fanfare all along. Javaid says he likes... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3308201/are-zero-waste-bars-actually-feasible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3308201/are-zero-waste-bars-actually-feasible?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Apr 2025 10:15:07 +0000 Martin Williams Martin Williams When a business boasts about its “sustainability” efforts, do you find yourself writing it off as little more than marketing jargon? And if you hear about used plastic bottles being “upcycled”, do you envision something that resembles a bunch of badly cut up rubbish? If you are this jaded, meet Jacqueline Chak and Genevieve Chew, co-founders of design company Editecture. Over the past 11 years, the duo have devised and overseen a host of projects that, put simply, transform trash into furniture.... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3307850/meet-hong-kong-firm-making-sustainability-real-brands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3307850/meet-hong-kong-firm-making-sustainability-real-brands?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Apr 2025 06:00:17 +0000 Bottles and bags, food wrappers and straws. Piping, packaging, toys and trays. Plastic is everywhere – and yet some people may be surprised at how much they actually wear. A typical wardrobe is loaded with plastic, woven into polyester activewear, acrylic sweaters, nylon swimsuits and stretchy socks – and it’s shedding into the environment nonstop. When garments are worn, washed and put through the dryer, they shed plastic fibre fragments. A single load of laundry can release millions that are... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3307879/your-clothes-are-shedding-bits-plastic-heres-what-people-are-doing-about-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3307879/your-clothes-are-shedding-bits-plastic-heres-what-people-are-doing-about-it?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Apr 2025 12:00:14 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au About 70 shops in Hong Kong have allegedly sold banned oxo-degradable plastic products, including waste bags for pets, according to an environmental charity. The Green Earth said its investigation suggested that plastic bags, bin liners and waste bags for pets labelled as “oxo-degradable” were still being sold by large retail shops and online stores, prompting lawmakers to accuse the government of not adequately educating the public on the ban. Hong Kong implemented legislation to reduce the use... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3307314/70-hong-kong-retailers-allegedly-sold-oxo-degradable-plastics-despite-ban-ngo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3307314/70-hong-kong-retailers-allegedly-sold-oxo-degradable-plastics-despite-ban-ngo?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Apr 2025 23:30:14 +0000 Peta Tomlinson Peta Tomlinson Nothing sparks collective nostalgia quite like Hong Kong’s historic “ding ding” trams. But could you imagine rekindling those memories in your own living room? Designer Eugenia Yiu did, upcycling waste glass from old carriage windows into an elegant piece of designer furniture. Incanto di Hong Kong, the drinks cabinet produced by Yiu, co-founder of Bill’s Design, is one of 10 bespoke pieces selected by the Hong Kong Interior Design Association to showcase the city’s design and manufacturing... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3305040/these-hong-kong-designs-are-inspired-tradition-symbolism-and-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3305040/these-hong-kong-designs-are-inspired-tradition-symbolism-and-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Apr 2025 10:15:14 +0000 Great minds blazing a trail: five women are leading the way in the realm of science. See our other features on Megan Lam, Gina Jiang and Florence Chan. Wendy Lam is a determined 32-year-old, bringing environmental savvy into what has long been the workhorse of China’s economic boom. Growing up in the 2000s, she witnessed first-hand the environmental impact of traditional manufacturing through her father’s garment factory in the Pearl River Delta, which sparked her interest in eco-friendly... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3301250/wendy-lam-didnt-current-sustainable-packaging-so-she-made-her-own?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3301250/wendy-lam-didnt-current-sustainable-packaging-so-she-made-her-own?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:00:08 +0000 When engineer Cristina Montiel and her fiancé, Ruben Yrady, decided they were going to get married, Montiel wanted a ring that conveyed their years-long romance. The couple met as high-school students in Venezuela, and both studied engineering in college before moving to Miami in the United States in 2019. In December, Yrady proposed to Montiel in Italy with a radiant-cut diamond almost as big as a gummy bear. “Everyone and all of my girlfriends that see it are in love with it,” said Montiel,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3300528/how-blood-diamond-star-leonardo-dicaprio-bought-lab-grown-stones-his-mother?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3300528/how-blood-diamond-star-leonardo-dicaprio-bought-lab-grown-stones-his-mother?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Mar 2025 20:15:08 +0000 As Hong Kong’s F&B industry looks to lower its food miles and adopt more sustainable practices, the city’s fine dining establishments are increasingly exploring their options when it comes to sourcing ingredients locally. That has meant adapting to ocean harvests from nearby waters or exploring the fertile terroirs of the New Territories. In Hong Kong, the most eco-conscious restaurants aren’t just using local ingredients, they’re using hyperlocal ingredients. Opened in January 2022, Mora is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3300313/inside-hyperlocal-transformation-hong-kongs-fine-dining-scene-restaurants-go-green-moras-soy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3300313/inside-hyperlocal-transformation-hong-kongs-fine-dining-scene-restaurants-go-green-moras-soy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Feb 2025 04:45:13 +0000 She is 78 and, in her words, “still kicking”. Four years after handing operations to Chinese licensee Glamel, Diane von Furstenberg has taken back control of Diane Von Furstenberg Studio LP. The designer, feminist, businesswoman and philanthropist is reclaiming her brand with her signature touch: a focus on quality fabrics, colourful prints and clothes with attitude. DVF recently sat down for a freewheeling chat that touched on the iconic wrap dress, the American dream and what the world needs... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3300199/fashion-designer-diane-von-furstenberg-american-dream-iconic-wrap-dress-and-ageism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3300199/fashion-designer-diane-von-furstenberg-american-dream-iconic-wrap-dress-and-ageism?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Vacant commercial spaces are being turned into guest accommodation in the central Japan city of Shizuoka, offering visitors an alternative to conventional lodgings and helping revitalise the local economy. “Birupaku”, a term combining the Japanese words for “building” and “accommodation”, refers to guest lodgings created within existing commercial spaces. Unlike traditional hotels, these Birupaku facilities do not provide meals and encourage guests to dine at nearby restaurants and engage with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3298210/city-japan-near-mount-fuji-turns-empty-commercial-spaces-lodgings-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3298210/city-japan-near-mount-fuji-turns-empty-commercial-spaces-lodgings-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Feb 2025 04:45:08 +0000 South Korean shopaholic-turned-climate activist Lee So-yeon used to buy new clothes almost daily – until a US$1.50 winter coat triggered an awakening that stopped her shopping entirely. While looking at the ultra-cheap padded jacket at an H&M shop in the United States, where she was working at the time, Lee asked herself how any item of clothing could be sold so cheaply. The 30-year-old embarked on a deep dive into fast fashion production methods and was horrified at the human, social and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3297615/no-more-new-clothes-why-fast-fashion-addict-gave-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3297615/no-more-new-clothes-why-fast-fashion-addict-gave-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Feb 2025 23:15:11 +0000 Cloth handkerchiefs are coming back as people seek more sustainable lifestyles. No longer are they seen as being old-fashioned and unhygienic – as long as they are washed and stored properly, they won’t harbour germs. Using a cloth handkerchief rather than tissues saves natural resources, as making tissues involves much wood, energy and water, says the German Environment Agency. And when you throw away disposable tissues, that is a missed opportunity for paper recycling, as they will not be used... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3296532/cloth-handkerchiefs-are-just-hygienic-paper-tissues-if-handled-properly-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3296532/cloth-handkerchiefs-are-just-hygienic-paper-tissues-if-handled-properly-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Environmental authorities will halt a centralised plastic recycling scheme in Hong Kong after five years to consolidate services under a government-funded programme, saying the move will cut costs by nearly a quarter. The Environmental Protection Department said on Thursday that it would end the “Centralised Waste Plastics Collection” pilot scheme on January 19 as recycling habits in the city had matured over the years. “We started the pilot scheme in 2020 when residents still had low confidence... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3294120/hong-kong-end-pilot-plastic-recycling-scheme-greencommunity-expands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3294120/hong-kong-end-pilot-plastic-recycling-scheme-greencommunity-expands?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jan 2025 13:34:04 +0000 Hong Kong finally published last year’s waste statistics on December 19, nearly a month after Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan shared some of the more positive developments in his blog on November 24. Why hold up the release of the full monitoring report until almost the end of the year? The sooner lawmakers and stakeholders have a full picture of the city’s waste situation, the quicker they can come up with the needed solutions. One positive finding is that the quantity of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3291798/what-hong-kongs-2023-waste-data-tells-us-and-what-it-doesnt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3291798/what-hong-kongs-2023-waste-data-tells-us-and-what-it-doesnt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:30:09 +0000 Bursting with customers one afternoon the week before Christmas, a second-hand charity shop in London’s Marylebone High Street looked even busier than the upscale retailers surrounding it. One man grabbed two puzzle sets and a giant soft toy as a present for friends, another picked out a notebook for his wife. “Since the end of September, we’ve seen a huge uplift in people coming to our shops and shopping preloved,” says Ollie Mead, who oversees the shop displays for Oxfam charity stores around... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3292093/are-second-hand-christmas-presents-new-trend-uk-charity-shops-have-pre-holiday-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3292093/are-second-hand-christmas-presents-new-trend-uk-charity-shops-have-pre-holiday-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:15:07 +0000 It may sound like a holiday from hell to some, but Hong Kong people love to travel not just with their children but with their parents in tow. The latter are often the ones paying for the holiday. And we will be seeing more of these “multigenerational trips” in the coming year, according to the 2025 travel report by international travel platform Booking.com. “Over half of the respondents are discussing it and actually going on these trips,” says Regina Chan, Booking.com’s area manager for Taiwan... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3291247/hong-kong-2025-travel-trends-include-longevity-retreats-3-generations-holiday-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3291247/hong-kong-2025-travel-trends-include-longevity-retreats-3-generations-holiday-together?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Dec 2024 12:46:06 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The amount of domestic food waste collected at housing estates for recycling has surged twelvefold over the past year, the environment chief has said, while sidestepping a question on whether the government will relaunch a controversial pay-as-you-throw scheme for garbage. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan on Saturday described the increase as “a bit of a blessing in disguise”, noting that discussions surrounding the shelved waste-charging scheme had enhanced people’s awareness... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3290811/food-recycling-surges-hong-kong-estates-even-without-waste-charging-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3290811/food-recycling-surges-hong-kong-estates-even-without-waste-charging-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Dec 2024 10:28:43 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Green AI Technology, one of the first companies in Hong Kong to develop an artificial intelligence-driven waste sorting system, will launch a smart collection bin early next year that could help boost recycling in the city. The Hong Kong Productivity Council-backed start-up said the smart bins would be initially targeted at owners and tenants of shopping centres, hotels and commercial buildings, many of which are owned by listed companies. Hong Kong stock exchange rules require companies to... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3286725/how-hong-kong-start-ups-ai-powered-smart-bin-plans-tackle-recycling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3286725/how-hong-kong-start-ups-ai-powered-smart-bin-plans-tackle-recycling?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Nov 2024 04:30:07 +0000 As Notre Dame gears up to reopen its doors in December, Paris is on the verge of a remarkable eco-revival, bringing nature back to the forefront of the City of Light. Beyond restoring the cathedral’s spire and medieval charm, the city announced plans this week to turn Notre Dame’s surroundings into a serene, green oasis at a cost of €50 million (US$55 million). The project echoes a broader, post-Olympics eco-facelift that is reshaping Paris from its historic monuments to its bustling... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3282826/us55-million-plan-eco-facelift-around-notre-dame-part-major-paris-revitalisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3282826/us55-million-plan-eco-facelift-around-notre-dame-part-major-paris-revitalisation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Oct 2024 11:15:07 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Hong Kong should do more to hold producers of single-use plastics accountable if it hopes to curb waste, a leading green group has said after finding a large amount of packaging from major drinks businesses in two of the city’s rivers. Greenpeace Hong Kong said on Saturday that plastic accounted for 97 per cent of the 3,263 pieces of rubbish it found in the Pui O River and Lam Tsuen River over a three-month period and 70 per cent of the items were packaging. Food packaging was the largest... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3283045/hong-kong-should-do-more-pressure-producers-single-use-plastics-greenpeace-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3283045/hong-kong-should-do-more-pressure-producers-single-use-plastics-greenpeace-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Oct 2024 09:07:30 +0000 China is preparing to set up its first centrally run enterprise dedicated to resource reuse and recycling, with President Xi Jinping calling for redoubled efforts to promote the green economy. A founding ceremony for the China Resources Recycling Group was held in the northeastern city of Tianjin on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua. Xi, who was on an inspection trip to the southeast, could not attend in person. But in a message quoted by Xinhua, he described the company as an... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3282995/china-get-first-centrally-run-recycling-enterprise-xi-jinping-pushes-green-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3282995/china-get-first-centrally-run-recycling-enterprise-xi-jinping-pushes-green-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:08:56 +0000 If you believe BMW development director Frank Weber, the car is on the verge of yet another revolution. In addition to digitalisation and electrification, he says, circularity will become an increasingly important feature of vehicles. That means reusing materials that go into making cars. Motor manufacturers are slowly running out of the raw materials needed to build new cars. There are also issues surrounding the energy expenditure and the carbon footprint involved in producing car parts. That... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3282301/fashion-designers-turn-old-car-parts-clothing-part-recycling-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3282301/fashion-designers-turn-old-car-parts-clothing-part-recycling-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Oct 2024 20:15:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong business magnate Peter Lee Ka-kit believes climate change is the world’s most pressing challenge, and he is determined to keep funding clean energy and electricity start-ups to find sustainable solutions. Lee, 61, is co-chairman and managing director of Henderson Land Development, one of Hong Kong’s leading developers founded by his father Lee Shau-kee, Hong Kong’s second-richest man with an estimated wealth of US$27.8 billion, according to Forbes. Also chairman of gas distributor Hong... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3282117/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-champions-clean-energy-investments-support-charities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3282117/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-champions-clean-energy-investments-support-charities?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Oct 2024 02:00:12 +0000 Businesses violating Hong Kong’s single-use plastics ban after the end of a grace period will be warned and fined if they do not make the necessary changes in 10 working days, the environment minister has said. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Saturday authorities would prioritise inspecting retailers to ensure restricted single-use plastic cutlery and products were no longer available after the grace period ended on October 21. Tse said officers from the Environmental... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3282105/hong-kong-firms-face-warnings-fines-flouting-plastics-ban-after-grace-period-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3282105/hong-kong-firms-face-warnings-fines-flouting-plastics-ban-after-grace-period-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Oct 2024 06:44:53 +0000 The Japanese town of Kojima is all about denim. The main road is named Jeans Street, pairs of jeans flap like flags overhead, the drinks vending machines at the railway station are plastered with the image of jeans, and the roads are painted blue, with the lines at the edges pink and white, the trademark colours of the seams in made-in-Kojima jeans. With some 40 jeans manufacturers and stores, including denim-themed cafes, the area in Okayama prefecture, southwest Japan, draws about 100,000... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3281037/japanese-jeans-lifetime-warranty-crafted-making-kimono-denim-mecca-kojima?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3281037/japanese-jeans-lifetime-warranty-crafted-making-kimono-denim-mecca-kojima?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Oct 2024 20:15:06 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A rare dragonfly species, known as the Asiatic blood tail, has been spotted in Hong Kong for the first time since records began after one of the insects was discovered by an environmental group conducting a survey of wetlands on Lantau Island. Green Power revealed the first sighting of Lathrecista asiatica in Hong Kong on Sunday and called for greater efforts to conserve its natural habitats, especially against land rezoning that could threaten the wetlands. The insect was discovered near the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3277664/green-group-records-first-sighting-rare-dragonfly-hong-kong-during-wetlands-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3277664/green-group-records-first-sighting-rare-dragonfly-hong-kong-during-wetlands-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Sep 2024 09:27:40 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Sustainable investment in mainland China is set to expand over the next few years, and Hong Kong has a key role to play to support the trend by leveraging its regional financial hub status, according to a research report. Some 30 per cent of mainland-based companies aim to increase their outlays in sustainable projects in the next three years, while 69 per cent plan to maintain their current level of commitments, according to a joint report by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3277353/sustainability-chinese-firms-set-growth-plans-talent-costs-dominate-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3277353/sustainability-chinese-firms-set-growth-plans-talent-costs-dominate-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:15:09 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification As the chief executive prepares to deliver this year’s policy address, Food Commons Foundation would like to emphasise the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to food waste reduction in Hong... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3277157/hong-kong-can-definitely-stomach-robust-food-waste-reduction-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3277157/hong-kong-can-definitely-stomach-robust-food-waste-reduction-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Sep 2024 03:30:07 +0000 We interact with fabrics every day: through what we wear, the cloths and towels we clean and dry our bodies with, the sheets we sleep on. But amid headlines about fast fashion, overconsumption and microplastics, we are increasingly aware of the implications of the clothes we buy for our bodies and the environment – and of the fact that ones made from innovative, responsibly sourced fabric are needed more than ever. At the spring/summer 2025 edition of Copenhagen Fashion Week, which took place in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3274415/earth-friendly-highlights-copenhagen-fashion-week-2025-recycled-silver-suits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3274415/earth-friendly-highlights-copenhagen-fashion-week-2025-recycled-silver-suits?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Aug 2024 09:15:12 +0000 The Australia-China relationship has stabilised after years of geopolitical and trade turbulence. This lays the groundwork for further cooperation, including through joint initiatives in Asia. A significant opportunity lies in Southeast Asia’s push towards an electrified future. Almost all countries in the region have committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions, and electrifying the end-user sectors, including transport, is a crucial strategy in this effort. According to the International... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3271915/china-and-australia-can-team-boost-aseans-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3271915/china-and-australia-can-team-boost-aseans-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jul 2024 08:30:12 +0000 In the last couple of years, the fashion world has embraced quiet luxury, an appreciation for understated quality. Now interior designers and decorators are jumping on the same unshowy bandwagon. The trend makes abundant sense to homeowners who are increasingly conscious about sustainability and want to consume better, but less. The design ethos that often included plenty of branded motifs and monograms, popular through the early 2000s, has fallen out of favour. Some may still embrace that “more... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3271677/how-interior-design-embracing-quiet-luxury-timeless-elegance-and-sustainability-hermes-loro-piana?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3271677/how-interior-design-embracing-quiet-luxury-timeless-elegance-and-sustainability-hermes-loro-piana?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:00:11 +0000 Savills’ May 2024 residential leasing report showed that the bulk of 2024’s first-quarter residential leasing growth (1 per cent up from the last quarter of 2023) came from overseas tenants – predominantly mainland Chinese – with mid-range budgets ranging from HK$40,000 to HK$50,000 per month. “They were seeking new developments with pre-installed furnishings and preferred convenient locations with access to the MTR,” said the report. The property services company also cited a survey showing... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3271680/why-hong-kong-new-arrivals-should-consider-serviced-apartments-or-co-living-spaces-hassle-free-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3271680/why-hong-kong-new-arrivals-should-consider-serviced-apartments-or-co-living-spaces-hassle-free-move?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2024 08:00:09 +0000 An early scene from sci-fi film Atlas – released in May this year – saw Jennifer Lopez’s character, Atlas Shepherd, roused from sleep by an AI assistant. The “software” also opens the curtains to let in sunlight, and reports the time, weather, temperature and air quality. It controls various home appliances, keeps up constant chatter, brews Shepherd’s coffee, plays chess with her and switches on the television, all at the same time. AI smart home solutions LG Electronics (LG) is one of the main... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3271638/smart-home-integration-how-samsung-and-lg-are-driving-personalised-solutions-domestic-ai-ecosystem?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3271638/smart-home-integration-how-samsung-and-lg-are-driving-personalised-solutions-domestic-ai-ecosystem?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2024 04:00:23 +0000