Author: gogreenhk

Home, Shopping

Easy Change, Huge Impact

PRODUCT NAME Green Soft Toilet Paper

PRICE HK$ 22 for 10 rolls

PRODUCT RATING  Quite soft, but thin and flimsy. For those willing to make a little sacrifice for the good of the environment.

GREEN RATING Deep Green. 100% recycled. Non-chlorine bleached.

AVAILABLE AT GroundWorks (a social enterprise located in Wanchai), Herbal Bliss, and Club O

The two key concerns expressed by consumers about buying toilet paper made from recycled paper are that it may not be hygienic and it’s simply not as nice as using virgin pulp. To allay the first concern, you can simply check the official PRC government test results online (unfortunately, it’s in Chinese only). In short, the manufacturer of the Green Soft brand we’re reviewing here (and have been using for the past two years) has passed the government hygiene tests.

The second issue is that it is not as nice as conventional toilet paper. In this case, that happens to be true. The first thing you notice when you unpack it is that the roll is held closed by a piece of Scotch tape. Then you’ll notice the color, which is greyish rather than snow white. That’s because it is not bleached with chlorine. Conventional toilet paper is whitened with chlorine bleach, which can release toxins in the air and water when combined with other chemicals.

It’s soft to the touch but somewhat thin and flimsy. So it rips easily rather than tearing cleanly on the dotted line. Occasionally, the roll of paper has slipped off the tube which can be quite annoying. So there are quite a number of issues with this product but I think most would agree that they could be overlooked if the product performs well in its main task. So how well does it work? In the unforgettable words of a friend who recently started using Green Soft, “my a_ _ can’t tell the difference”.

So if you’re willing to put up with the annoyances, you really can make a difference and save some trees. Continue reading “Easy Change, Huge Impact”

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Media

Launch of Go Green Hong Kong!

Welcome to the launch of Go Green Hong Kong!

Go Green Hong Kong! is here to help you discover eco-friendly products and services that are available right here in Hong Kong. This is a new way to help protect our home, planet Earth, simply by doing the things we do – eating, shopping, enjoying life – in a eco-conscious way.

We provide independent, unpaid reviews of green restaurants and products. We try out every restaurant or product ourselves and evaluate it from both a consumer and environmental perspective. To learn more about our rating criteria, please go to About.

Each week, we’ll bring you reviews of eco-friendly household products, personal care items, clothing, accessories, food and restaurants. We’ll also keep you up-to-date on green events and activities happening right here in Hong Kong. Continue reading “Launch of Go Green Hong Kong!”

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Dining, Wanchai

A Delicious Way to Go Green: World Peace Cafe

***WORLD PEACE CAFE CLOSED DEC 2011 DUE TO RENT INCREASE***

PRICE Set Menu: Lunch HK$100, Dinner HK$185

FOOD RATING Delicious. A highly satisfying experience at a reasonable price. A great way to eat green without sacrificing taste.

GREEN RATING Quite Green. Vegetarian. Organic. Recycling. Fair Trade.

GETTING THERE http://www.worldpeacecafe.hk/eng/location.php

World Peace Cafe (WPC) is an organic vegetarian restaurant and cafe run by dedicated volunteers. Its a tranquil spot for lunch (Mon-Sat) or dinner (Fri, Sat only) in the heart of busy Wanchai.

LUNCH
Like most non-vegetarians, you may be wondering can a meal without meat really be satisfying? The answer is a definite yes! The 4 course set menu that changes weekly (includes a soup, appetizer, main, desert and a choice of fair-trade coffee or herbal teas) will leave you feeling satisfied and energized. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a healthy, delicious lunch that doesn’t weigh you down. Continue reading “A Delicious Way to Go Green: World Peace Cafe”

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Personal Care, Shopping

Replaceable Head Toothbrush

PRICE HK$60 for 1 handle with 3 heads

PRODUCT RATING Performs well. Go green without compromising your dental health.

GREEN RATING Deep Green

AVAILABLE AT Herbal Bliss

The constant advertising and the blue strip on bristles have ingrained in us how important it is to change our toothbrushes regularly. But why do we have to throw away a whole toothbrush when it’s only the bristles that are worn out? Why can’t the head be replaced just like a razor? It always seemed kind of wasteful to me to throw away a perfectly good handle each time I needed to replace the worn bristles.

So you can imagine my delight in finding a toothbrush with a replaceable head. As a consumer, the Fuch’s EkoTec Replaceable Head toothbrush seemed to check all the right boxes for me: it’s high quality (made in Germany), performs well and is reasonably priced. As an environmentalist, it really struck a note, with its convenient to use replaceable head and recycled paper packaging. The replaceable head system not only reduces landfill waste but also reduces shipping volume.

The toothbrush looked great on paper, but how would it actually perform? Continue reading “Replaceable Head Toothbrush”

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Activities, Agriculture, Learn

The Farm Life

The Farm Life is a 3 part series on Organic Farming. Organic farming puts us in touch with nature and helps us understand how much we depend on the environment. It’s also a fun, low-impact activity that is great for all ages.

Part 1 in the series is for those that would like to gain a deeper understanding of their food and how to grow it. Over 97% of Hong Kong’s vegetables are imported, making us especially vulnerable to Mainland food safety issues. Vegetables in particular are susceptible to heavy metal pollution in the soil, a serious issue in highly industrial Guangdong, which is the source of a large majority of Hong Kong vegetables.

Organic farming is a great way to learn about growing food, how to select safe, healthy produce, and enjoy the great outdoors. Part 2 will be for those that are looking for fun weekend activity with less of a commitment. In part 3, we will look at travel and farming through World Wide Opportunities in Organic Farming (WWOOF).

Part 1: 8 Weekend SEED Organic Farming Course

PRICE HK$2500

GREEN RATING Deep Green

The 8 weekend organic farming course held each year by Sustainable Ecological Ethical Development (SEED) foundation requires some commitment but is truly the most satisfying. Not only will you learn about growing food, you will plant and harvest a delicious crop of farm fresh organic vegetables. Continue reading “The Farm Life”

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