Written By RACHAEL WONG, Edited By SAMSON TONG #BusinessSustainability #3-minute readings
DID YOU KNOW
“The total amount of edible food waste generated every day from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department was enough for an adult to survive for 34 whole years?”
Greeners Action
According to Greeners Action in 2014, a total of 14.3 tonnes of edible food waste were generated every day from 75 markets under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. This amount was enough for an adult to survive for 34 whole years. Nowadays, leftovers constitute almost 40% of the disposable waste in Hong Kong and there are 3500 tonnes of leftovers produced per day. Every year, the amount of food waste accumulates to an appalling point that is equal to the weight of 240 double-decker buses.
Efficient recourses allocation could ease off poverty and environmental impacts
Contradictory, grassroot community is still suffering from hunger and poverty. The poverty population in Hong Kong is almost 14.6 million and Oxfam points out that 15% of the parents in these lower-class families could not get ample nutrients for maintaining their health in 2011. Thus, if resources are allocated more efficiently, it can undoubtedly alleviate the environmental problem while helping out the struggling grassroots.
“Food donation in bulk is not rare if we pitch in, or else it will all end up in the landfills.”
Sum Chui, the Project Manager of St. James’ Settlement (FOOD-CO), HK
FOOD-CO, one of the innovative social enterprises in our society, is now undertaking the role of indispensable bridge between food assistance agencies and donors. They mainly collect goods within 2-month expiration from the catering industry and wholesalers and transfer them to the local residents.
Photo Credit: FOOD-CO
Nowadays, they have more than 600 business partners and cooperate with 260 food assistance agencies. They receive 2 to 3 cases of food donation per week and one huge donation for almost every 4 months and they are offering meals for over 2000 people.
TRANSFORMING “WASTE” TO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY
Apart from FOOD-CO, other organizations like Feeding Hong Kong and Foodlink Foundation also collect high-quality leftovers from different manufacturers and retailers and hand in to the charities for relocating to the people in need. A total of 37 thousands meals was provided to the needy groups every year. The great amount of food collected showcases how ‘waste’ can be beneficial to our society. Hence, if you have any leftovers, please consider giving to these corporations for reducing cost and protecting the environment.
【ABOUT ECHOASIA SUSTAINABILITY BUSINESS SERIES】
We’re Asia-Pacific’s most innovative digital communications agency focused on promoting and supporting a low-carbon lifestyle for the well-being of the people, community, and the environment, by offering meaningful digital, social, branding, and Sustainability communications solutions to corporates across Asia-Pacific. Through this Business Sustainability series of “3-minute readings”, we here to bring you an in-depth analysis and overview about business sustainability development in Hong Kong.
| Follow us for more related information Facebook: ECHO ASIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/echo-asia-communications-ltd |
Reference:
經濟日報：〈食署街市日剩食 夠1人吃34年〉，取自：https://bit.ly/2ZSk1Pp
環保署：〈香港廢物統計數字 2018〉，取自：https://bit.ly/32SGygy
樂施會：〈食物通脹下貧窮家庭生活狀況調查〉，取自：https://bit.ly/2CVFrlE
香港地球之友：〈廚餘是什麼〉，取自：https://bit.ly/32Lm8Gh