Sustainability

The textile and fashion industries have focused on sustainability recently and among the 10 laureates at this year's Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Start-up Express: International Edition are two green fashion start-ups from Thailand.

With sustainability an increasingly critical issue across industries, firms are rapidly adopting innovative digital technologies to drive green development.

Renewable energy technology is developing at bullet-train speed in Hong Kong and Mainland China, where preparations for the upcoming COP28 United Nations Climate Change conference in the United Arab Emirates in late November are on the fast track.

Microalgae living in oceans and freshwater lakes can convert carbon dioxide and water into a range of organic compounds, starting with carbohydrates through photosynthesis and on to fats, proteins and more.

The dynamic Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has many energy-hungry industries, but firms are eager to adopt sustainable practices and opt for solutions from Hong Kong green service providers.

Sharp falls in renewable energy generator costs mean solar and wind have become the cheapest power sources in much of the world – especially in countries or regions where authorities provide subsidies.

Plant-based foods rich in sustainably sourced protein have become popular among environmentally and health-conscious consumers, creating green business opportunities.

Young entrepreneurs were born into a world where the commercial internet was already an everyday reality, and mobile phones were ubiquitous.

ESG is trending among companies globally, helping them go green and achieve sustainable development, but in the eyes of Arthur Lam, CEO and Co-Founder of Hong Kong start-up Negawatt, that is far from enough to make an environmental impact.

A university-based Hong Kong start-up has rolled out a successful business strategy, bringing alternative proteins and plant-based F&B into the market, and becoming a promoter of superfood and future food.

Two years ago, Mainland China set 2025 as a target for half its power capacity to come from renewable resources, a landmark the economy has already reached two years ahead of schedule.

The massive development projects in Hong Kong – Northern Metropolis (main picture) and Lantau Tomorrow Vision – will create a perfect prototyping environment for green con tech and prop tech, offering businesses ranging from start-ups to construction giants a chance to develop and deploy cutting-edge sustainable solutions for buildings and infrastructure.