Tag: plastic

Shopping

Why does Muji package its organic underwear in plastic?

I usually buy clothing from second-hand clothing stores.  However, for underwear and socks I can only buy new ones.  For years I have been looking for organic cotton underwear.  Why cotton?  Because cotton underwear is breathable, which helps to reduce bacterial vaginal infection. Why organic? Today 25% of the insecticide used worldwide is applied to conventionally grown cotton, even though cotton fields occupy less than 3% of … Continue reading Why does Muji package its organic underwear in plastic?

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Personal Care, Shopping

Greenwash Stunt Flops – A PR Case Study

To catch the “Green is the New Black” trend, Dove Hong Kong issued post on Facebook 2 weeks ago to kick-off it’s “Re/Up Cycle Game”.  In large font, it read “step 123 saving planet earth” and “Let’s recycle and reuse”, and below that in small font “plastic containers of all personal care products sold by Unilever Hong Kong are recyclable.”  Saving planet earth??! That’s audacious, even … Continue reading Greenwash Stunt Flops – A PR Case Study

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Water for Free

Water Dispensers: an Alternative to Bottled Water

  At Water for Free, we have given many school talks to educate students about plastic waste pollution. But giving talks is not enough, we need to foster behavioural change. Although most schools have water dispensers, with filters that are replaced regularly, the dispensers always look old and unappealing.  In contrast, a few meters from these dispensers there are always a couple of colourful, attractive … Continue reading Water Dispensers: an Alternative to Bottled Water

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Analysis, Water for Free

Plastic’Apocalypse

On boxing day, I went to PMQ to watch the excellent but heartbreaking documentary film “Plastic China“.  The film depicts a village in Shan Dong province which has numerous primitive plastic recycling plants processing plastic waste imported from all over the world.  The protogonists are the owner of one of these tiny factories, his employee (minority migrant worker from far away Sichuan province) and their … Continue reading Plastic’Apocalypse

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Water for Free

HK gov’t bans vending machines selling bottled water on gov’t premises

Another victory in Water for Free’s SAY NO TO BOTTLED WATER campaign: Following recent announcements by the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University banning the sale of bottled water from their campuses earlier this year, the Hong Kong government decided to ban the sale of bottled water from all newly installed vending machines placed on government premises (including country parks, public parks … Continue reading HK gov’t bans vending machines selling bottled water on gov’t premises

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Activities, Services, Water for Free

Water for Free – signing petition

Shell Gas Stations install water dispensers WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Since the cost of collecting, transporting and recycling the used plastic bottles is higher that what the recycled material is worth, 96% of the used plastic bottles in Hong Kong go straight to the landfill.   To have sufficient number of water fountains around town can greatly reduce our reliance on (or even addiction to) bottled … Continue reading Water for Free – signing petition

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Water for Free

Rules of the Green Game

A few weeks ago I was invited by the host of the RTHK radio program 《1 2 3 show》 to share my experience founding Water for Free.  I specifically spoke about the fact that for over 4 years, Water for Free has been publicly demanding that MTR install water dispensers at each station, as this is obviously an essential part of fulfilling their CSR obligations.  Yet … Continue reading Rules of the Green Game

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Activities, Learn

Individual Action Leads to Change

A day before the Earth Day, a friend posted the photos above on Facebook with the following message “Don’t tell me using disposables has nothing to do with climate change. For a room full of scientists, engineers, policy makers, researchers and people otherwise dedicating their waking hours to addressing this issue, I don’t understand how one can eat, drink and socialize without confronting this harrowing … Continue reading Individual Action Leads to Change

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Activities, Travel

HKU Takes the Lead to Ban Bottled Water

The University of Hong Kong（HKU）has taken the lead to become the first university in Hong Kong to ban bottled water on campus. Ditch Disposable is a campus-wide campaign led by the HKU Sustainability Office to reduce plastic waste by targeting single-use plastic water bottles and other disposable containers across campus. It starts with an initiative to eliminate single-use plastic water bottles of 1 litre or … Continue reading HKU Takes the Lead to Ban Bottled Water

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