Up-cycled Coconut Shell Wok Brush
PRICE HK$ 20-28 PRODUCT RATING Very Good. The stiffer bristles of the coconut brush are better at removing grease from a wok than conventional nylon bristles. Its raw, natural feel is quite zen. GREEN RATING Deep Green. Up-cycling. 100% bio-degradable. AVAILABLE AT Mai Po Po in Fan Ling and in Sheung Wan. Just Green in Central, Wanchai and Lamma Island also has something similar. We … Continue reading Up-cycled Coconut Shell Wok Brush
Are Those Veggies Safe to Eat?
At the supermarket, I usually see an abundance of fresh, flawless vegetables. The vegetables are uniform in size and shape, and completely untouched by insect marks of any kind. As a organic farmer though, I can attest to the voracious appetite of nature. I have seen lettuce leaves pecked clean by birds, cabbages and corn devoured by insect larvae, cucumber and tomato plants infected by disease, and many crops damaged by slugs, snails and beetles.
In conventional farming, the solution is to apply vast quantities of pesticides. Pesticides are substances that prevent or destroy insects, weeds, and diseases that affect crops. This is chemical warfare against nature. In fact, many modern pesticides are chemically similar to chemical warfare agents developed during WWI and WWII.
For example, organophosphates are the basis of many insecticides, herbicides (that are approved for agricultural use) and nerve gases. According to wikipedia “They are of concern to both scientists and regulators because they work by irreversibly blocking an enzyme that’s critical to nerve function in both bugs and people. Even at relatively low levels, organophosphates may be most hazardous to the brain development of fetuses and young children. They can be absorbed through the lungs or skin or by eating them on food”.
The “safety” of approved pesticides is also commonly compromised by misuse. Farmers may apply more than the recommended amount or they may apply it too close to harvest time. Imagine you are the farmer, and your crop will be harvested in the next two weeks. Months of hard work are about to pay off! But then you see those pesky insects leaving their bite marks on your crop. Do you spray the insecticide, even though the instructions say “do not spray within 14 days of harvest” or do you simply refrain from spraying and accept that you will earn significantly less or sustain a loss from your now insect damaged crop? Continue reading “Are Those Veggies Safe to Eat?”
Article in SCMP about ADOPT ME
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Green-living lawyer with a brief to save the planet |
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She hasn’t bought a new outfit for 18 months and sets an example by wearing wardrobe cast-offs |
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Intellectual-property lawyer Rachel Pang Hoi-yan has not bought a new outfit for a year and a half.But that does not mean she lacks new clothes for work or casual activities. On the contrary, near-new fashion and accessories keep coming in.Pang has become the fashion equivalent of an animal-rescue agency, taking in abandoned wardrobe items – of which the owners have tired. But unlike some businesses that trade in second-hand brand-name accessories, her service is free.”This black pullover I am wearing is an abandoned one, and so is this handbag,” said the green-living enthusiast. “This is the first time I have had a made-in-France handbag. There is no way to tell it is second-hand.”Her new role began with a message she put on MSN asking for second-hand clothes.
“My friends reacted strongly, asking if I was serious about it,” she said. “I told them I was. Several weeks later, a friend’s friend gave me a suitcase of clothes, including the suitcase. All close to brand-new.” The lawyer has no idea how many abandoned clothes have reached her, how many she has given out or how many she still has. She started advertising the clothes on Facebook several months ago but has since moved the adverts to her blog that promotes low-carbon living. Pang and her husband have practised green living in recent years, renting 7,000 sq ft of land where they farm organically. Their food is usually plant-based because growing vegetables consumes far less energy than producing meat. She also furnishes her home with previously owned furniture and electrical appliances supplied by people who do not need them. “It is easy to tell people to protect the environment but it is difficult when it comes to practice,” Pang said. “If we are serious about protecting the environment and making it the philosophy of our life, it will have a profound impact on every aspect of our lives.” That’s why, she says, there are people who still refuse to acknowledge climate change. Pang thinks Hong Kong is designed to encourage consumption, leading to a wasteful lifestyle. Continue reading “Article in SCMP about ADOPT ME” |
GGHK Launches Free “ADOPT ME” Pre-Owned Clothing Service
One of the best ways we can reduce our impact on the environment is simply to reduce our consumption. Our free ADOPT ME service lets you enjoy the pleasure of owning like-new clothing with a much lower impact on the planet and no impact on your wallet. The happiness we get from owning new clothes wears out a lot more quickly than the new clothes themselves. … Continue reading GGHK Launches Free “ADOPT ME” Pre-Owned Clothing Service
Live in HK! The Lady Gaga of Green
UPCOMING KADOORIE TALKS “Soil, Soul and Society” Nov 8: “Holistic Education – Learning With Your Whole Being” (Dr Satish Kumar) Nov 9: “Future of Food” (Dr Vandana Shiva is the rock star of green documentary films) WHERE Rayson Huang Theatre at The University of Hong Kong ADMISSION Free. Register with Ms Joe Chu (Tel: 2483-7284 / email: holisticedu@kfbg.org) by Friday 7 October 2011 Below is an excerpt taken directly from Andy … Continue reading Live in HK! The Lady Gaga of Green
Where did the TV repair man go?
TV REPAIR SERVICE Update: Mr. Lui has retired. Please go find other TV repair men 🙂
PRICE For HK$ 100, Mr. Lui will come to your home to provide a quotation. This quotation fee will be deducted if you decide to go ahead with the repair. The cost of repairing our TV was HK$ 750.
SERVICE RATING Very Good. Our TV was back to normal within a week and has been working fine since (it was fixed 4 months ago)
GREEN RATING Deep Green
Our 31″ Olevia flat-screen TV was 3 years old when it broke. It was a “free gift” from an internet service provider. With the price of electronics dropping all the time and improvements in technology, it really wasn’t worth the time, effort or cost to have it fixed. Many people we talked to also claimed that flat screen TVs simply cannot be fixed. We decided to try anyway because we couldn’t stand the thought of creating more toxic waste.
In the past, when we used TVs for 10 or 15 years, it was quite easy to find a TV repairman. The emergence of ultra-cheap manufacturing from China and the ever dropping prices of electronics has led to the demise of the repair business. We no longer repair or re-use, we simply replace. This has created a sea of waste, that has become a health and environmental hazard. But that is a story for another day.
After a bit of searching, we found a repairman. He provided a quotation over the phone for HK$ 900. He however seemed reluctant to take on the job. Not satisfied, we contacted the local environment group Greeners Action. They recommended Mr. Lui, whom we ended up using. Continue reading “Where did the TV repair man go?”
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”
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!”
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”
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”
Go Green Hong Kong 