In this article with South China Morning Post (SCMP) our Founder and CEO Richard Oliver is interviewed to discuss the new HK Plastic Tableware Ban which came into effect on 22 April and how Sustainabl. Planet is helping businesses in Hong Kong transition away from harmful single use plastic packaging to 'truly' sustainable responsibly sourced plastic-free packaging solutions which are recyclable and/or home compostable.
The Article:
Sustainable packaging firms in Hong Kong are enjoying an increase in business as the recent ban on disposable plastic takeaway containers has pushed the city’s food and drink companies to opt for more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Sustainabl. Planet, which provides plastic-free packaging for restaurants, hotels and other businesses, saw a 20 to 25 per cent jump in new customers and sales in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period in 2023.
“We have certainly seen a significant increase in inquiries from food and beverage vendors looking for plastic-free packaging solutions leading up to the new regulations commencing on 22 April,” said Richard Oliver, founder and CEO of Sustainabl. Planet in an interview.
“We have been offering free consultations to food and beverage vendors to review their current packaging alongside the new requirements and providing ‘truly’ sustainable plastic-free packaging alternatives to ensure they comply with the new regulations.”
Environmental authorities introduced a throwaway plastic ban on April 22, covering styrofoam products and utensils such as cutlery and straws offered by takeaway outlets. Dine-in customers will also no longer be able to use single-use plastic cups or boxes under the policy.
Testing out eco-friendly utensils for takeaway food under Hong Kong’s single-use plastic ban
“Reducing plastic waste has all along been an international consensus, taking into account the negative impact brought about by plastic pollution,” said Diane Wong Shuk-han, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, speaking at Greenway 2024, a climate change conference held in Hong Kong on April 29.
“The regulation aims to achieve plastic reduction at source, by prohibiting local manufacture, sale and supply of regulated products.
“In formulating the regulation, we have taken into account the availability and affordability of the alternative products in the market, as well as the local situation, so as to minimise the impacts on people’s daily lives.”
According to statistics on Hong Kong’s municipal solid waste dumped at landfill sites in 2022, the average daily quantity of plastic rubbish was 2,369 tonnes. That is roughly equivalent to the weight of 155 double decker buses and accounts for 21.3 per cent of the city’s total solid waste, Wong said.
Founded in 2019, Sustainabl. Planet provides products such as lunchboxes, soup bowls, coffee cups and cutlery made from bagasse pulp – derived from sugar cane after its juice has been harvested – and paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. It has partnered with restaurant groups such as Pirata Group, as well as the airline HK Express and hotels and developers in the city.
“We welcome the new policy and we are confident the new regulations are raising awareness of the plastic pollution problem both in Hong Kong and globally,” said Oliver.
In the first quarter of the year, 37 per cent of food outlets reported an increase in takeaway business, according to Deliveroo’s Restaurant Confidence Index released on Monday which surveyed over 400 establishments.
Deliveroo partnered with Sustainabl. Planet in 2022 as part of its HK$2 million (US$260,000) subsidy scheme to incentivise restaurants to use plastic-free packaging.
READ the full article here: https://www.scmp.com/business/
