Delta Global partners with HK leaders on sustainable retail

Hong Kong consumers' environmental awareness has only increased by 25% over the past two years.
 
Luxury sustainable packaging expert Delta Global has partnered with Hong Kong's key sustainability leaders to form the Sustainable Retail Collective to help fashion retail brands improve their sustainability practices ahead of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) charging scheme.

The collective includes industry experts such as local recycler Mil Mill, circular fashion pioneer OnTheList, PolyU SFT's Masters Programme in Sustainable Fashion and Innovation, and circular fashion NGO Redress.

Recent Hong Kong data revealed that plastics, paper, and textiles are major components of MSW, with 388 tonnes of textiles discarded daily. 

“Based on the waste we receive daily, the retail segment has the highest amount of non-recyclable content compared to other industries. We expect the disposal of non-recyclable waste created by this segment will more than double our operational costs once the scheme is in effect,” said Harold Yip, co-founder of Mil Mill. 

Delta Global's survey, "Navigating a Greener Future," also showed that Hong Kong consumers' environmental awareness has only increased by 25% over the past two years, the lowest amonst APAC markets.

“In Hong Kong, the MSW recovery rate in 2022 stood at 32%, lagging behind neighbouring regions such as Taiwan (56.79%) and Singapore (57%),” noted said Robert Lockyer, Founder & Chief Client Officer of Delta Global.

He added that the MSW charging scheme will increase awareness of environmental issues and highlight the waste produced by consumers and brands. This will influence consumers' purchasing decisions and push retailers and brands to adopt more sustainable practices to stay competitive.

The Sustainable Retail Collective will launch a guidebook, "No Time to Waste," to offer insights and tips for brands to improve sustainability across their operations. 

The initiative aims to empower brands to adopt eco-friendly practices and stay competitive in the market whilst attracting environmentally conscious consumers.

“By combining expertise and resources, we aim to empower brands to embrace sustainability from the outset and drive positive change in our industry for our environment,” said Lockyer.

Moreover, Redress, an NGO dedicated to reducing waste in the fashion industry, emphasised the importance of end-of-life options for products. Nissa Cornish, Executive Director of Redress, said, "Brands have a responsibility to support consumers by offering end-of-life options for the products they create, for example, repair services, secondhand retailing, and partnering with take back programmes and textile recyclers.”