A city-wide promotional campaign is changing the food waste culture in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Food Wise Campaign increases public knowledge of the growing food waste problem in the dense city. Trained Food Wise Ambassadors spread targeted key messages and practical tips about food waste reduction across communities. Through an extensive media campaign, including televised commercials and an eye-catching mascot, messaging is spread throughout all of Hong Kong. As part of the campaign, the city is also financially supporting NGOs in implementing food donation projects.
Due to the campaign’s early success, Hong Kong is now going further to target one of the city’s major contributing sectors to food waste: eateries. By signing up to the Food Wise Eateries Scheme, restaurants and other food service providers are encouraged to adopt initiatives such as serving portioned meals to reduce Hong Kong’s food waste even further.
The Food Wise campaign and its associated charter, which has been signed by more than 420 companies, are paving the way for a new “food wise” culture projected to limit food waste disposal to landfills by 40% in 2022.
The challenge
Hong Kong’s three landfills are estimated to reach capacity within the next five years. With limited opportunities to facilitate source separation due to the density of Hong King, the city has found a way to reduce waste and avoid potential health risks associated with daily disposal of tons of municipal waste.
Co-benefits
Environmental Solid waste will be reduced by 1,440 tons per day by 2022.
Health Hong Kong’s overfilled landfills will pose serious health risks to nearby residents, which can be reduced by generating less waste.
Social An estimated 900 tons of surplus food will be redistributed to Hong Kong’s disadvantaged residents within the next two years.
About Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an autonomous territory on China’s south coast. It has an area of 1,104 km2, and with a population of around 7.2 million, Hong Kong is the world’s fourth most densely populated country or territory. Hong Kong is one of the world’s most significant financial centres, with the highest Financial Development Index score and consistently ranks as the world’s most competitive and freest economic entity. Nicknamed “Pearl of the Orient”, Hong Kong is renowned for its deep natural harbour, which boosts the world’s 5th busiest port and its impressive skyline, with the most skyscrapers in the world.
