Written By RACHAEL WONG, Edited by SAMSON TONG #BusinessSustainabilitySeries
#2020slangs #Sustainability #SustainableGuru
1. Cradle to Cradle (Trending★★★☆☆)
The idea is imitating nature’s cycle and it is essential in constructing a sustainable economy. Instead of being dumped into the landfills, garbage is regarded as an eternal resource and its raw materials are returned to the earth or upcycled for feeding other products.
Aveda is the pioneer in the beauty industry that uses 100% ‘Post-Consumer Recycled’ (PCR) plastics for their packaging in two of their new products. 90% of their packaging is also composed of 80% or above PCR plastics, which has reduced almost 600 tonnes of virgin plastic.
DID YOU KNOW
Materials that we recycle such as papers, plastics and cans are now converted and re-purposed into ‘post-consumer recycled’ material for second (third or even fourth) life.
Research shows that compared to virgin plastic, using PCR plastic reduces 75% release of carbon, 90 % of energy & water use and PM10.
2. Biomimicry（Trending★★★★★）
Introduced by a biologist, Janine Benyus, biomimicry is the notion of taking inspiration from natural selection solutions adopted by nature and converting the principle into human engineering.
Biomimicry is not only restricted to animals, Werewool has created a sustainable textile that is generated from proteins found in corals and cow milk. This degradable fibre with inherent colors can effectively reduce ecotoxicity of dyes and the raw material impact of fiber production.
3. Cruelty Free（Trending★★☆☆☆）
Products that are manufactured without killing or harming animals are labeled as cruelty-free products. China remains one of the few countries that require animal testing in all imported and dosmetic products. while it is exceptional for the exported goods.
In 2021, China is going to release animal testing exemptions for imported general use cosmetics such as shampoo, lipsticks and bodylotions. Animal testing could be reduced if the brands are willing to adopt other methods for production!
4. Naked Packaging（Trending★★☆☆☆）
With awareness of wastage and plastic pollution, more shops have followed the idea of completely packaging-free concept. International corporation, Lush, has set up the first naked-packaging shops in Asia, which provides a whole set of innovative products with no package including the customers’ favourites such as solid deodorant and cleansing balm.
In Hong Kong, Great Market has set up the first naked packaging refilling station for buying skincare products and PARKnSHOP has also implemented trial plastic-reduction measures at three stores in local universities.
5. Future Food（Trending★★★★☆）
Food Matters: Environmental Reports have pointed out that 40 years from now, we may face a stark challenge for the global food system and consuming future food may be the only optimistic outlook at that time.
Apart from Beyond Burger, which is gaining more familiarity in Hong Kong, there are more creations of future food in other countries. Perfect Day Foods has used microflora to make genetic protein for creating milk with the exact nutrient value of the normal milk!
In 2021, we may even have a chance to try Atomo’s coffee (with caffeine), which is produced from watermelon seeds and sunflower seed husks!
If you knew 1-4 slangs, you are “Sustainable Rookie”；5-9, you are “Sustainable Advancer”；10, Congrats! You are “Sustainable Guru”!
Reference:
Airbus. 2020. Biomimicry: A Fresh Approach to Aircraft Innovation. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/3oPGZkB> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
Atomo Coffee. Our Mission. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/35Zxgj6> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
Aveda. 2020. Responsible Packaging. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/2TRabcz> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
Biomimicry Institute. 2020. About Janine Benyus [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/3oPGZkB> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
Biomimicry Institute. 2020. How Coral Is Inspiring Eco-friendly Clothing. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/38n1LlV> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
Cosmetics Design-Asia. 2020. China Animal Testing: Limitations Remain for Companies Seeking Exemption from Animal Tests. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/3eq5T5n> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/2TUnPM9> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
National Geographic. 2017. 仿生年代. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/34T6QQu> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
Perfect Day Food. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/3jXEoBe> [Accessed 04 November 2020].
綠色和平：〈全港首間大型超市 體驗裸買清潔護理產品〉，取自：https://bit.ly/2CnjZFE
屈臣氏集團：〈屈臣氏集團 旗下零售品牌積極推行減塑措施 嚮應環保 締造更佳的生活環境〉，取自：https://bit.ly/3dnLHPx
【ABOUT ECHOASIA BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY 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 Sustainabilitycommunications 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.
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