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Business is key in our transition to a circular economy. Companies large and small benefit from a business model that minimises waste and keeps materials and products in circulation in a high value state and for as long as possible.
Mainstreaming Circularity in Business Strategies and Practices is designed to highlight the circular economy transformation as one that will drive sustainable and resilient economic growth, help industry achieve its Sustainable Development Goals, and meet the needs of future generations.
Circular Economy
The transition from a linear to a circular business model is one of the biggest transformations that organisations are experiencing today. We are presented with a golden opportunity to move away from traditional economic paradigms based on growth and profitability, and towards a new model which aims to secure businesses’ own existence by recognising that resources are not indefinite, and demands new value propositions, channels, products and services that reduce resource dependency and waste, keep resources in circulation for as long as possible, and regenerate natural systems.
MODERATOR
Merlin Lao
Head – Policy & Research
Business Environment Council Limited
Merlin Lao
Head – Policy & Research
Business Environment Council Limited
Mr. Merlin Lao is Head of Policy & Research at BEC. He leads the team to share develop clear policy positions on pressing climate and environmental topics in Hong Kong, through undertaking research on latest domestic and international trends, engaging with the Hong Kong SAR Government and connecting insights of the local business sector.
John Haffner
General Manager – Sustainability
Hang Lung Properties Ltd.
John Haffner
General Manager – Sustainability
Hang Lung Properties Ltd.
John Haffner is General Manager – Sustainability, Hang Lung Properties Ltd., where he is responsible for formulating the Group-wide sustainability strategy and driving its execution. He has more than two decades of experience in cleantech, infrastructure and sustainability in Asia and North America, and is proficient in Mandarin.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
To make significant progress against defined sustainability goals both professionally and personally.
Suzanne Cheung
Head of Sustainability
Swire Coca-Cola HK
Suzanne Cheung
Head of Sustainability
Swire Coca-Cola HK
Suzanne Cheung is the Head of Sustainability and directs the Public Affairs and Communications Department of Swire Coca-Cola HK. She develops and executes sustainability and communications strategies and actions in HK market based on the Swire Coca-Cola 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy, covering ‘Planet’, ‘Product’ and ‘People’, which includes sustainable packaging advancement.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
More innovation in sustainable packaging through reduction of materials, redesign for recyclability, circular economy and a producer responsibility scheme that enable cost-effective consumer packaging recycling.
Circular Economy
The real estate industry is one of the biggest consumers of virgin resources and emitters of solid waste streams globally. Shifts in occupant expectations, technology use and investor requirements are giving rise to the need for a circularity mindset – with the aim of keeping businesses relevant as well as supporting their license to operate in the face of fast-changing social and environmental considerations.
Circular Economy
By designing out waste and pollution and keeping resources in use, businesses can start to embrace circularity in the very place that defines them – the office. Hear from leaders in the space on how circular economy practices are incorporated in the whole lifespan of an office – from the fixtures and fittings of the building, to office design, furnishings and consumables, daily operation and eventual deconstruction.
Circular Economy
Every year millions of tonnes of clothes are produced, worn and discarded. According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, clothing production has doubled in the past 15 years, while clothing utilisation has decreased by 36%. As the industry grapples with minimising its much debated environmental impact, fashion brands and industry stakeholders are seeing a move towards conscious consumption and the need to embed circular thinking across all aspects of production and operations.
MODERATOR
Dr Joyce Tsoi
Director of Collective Actions
Sustainable Apparel Coalition
Dr Joyce Tsoi
Director of Collective Actions
Sustainable Apparel Coalition
Joyce Tsoi is the Director of Collective Action Programs at the Sustainable Apparel Coalition based in Hong Kong. She manages all SAC’s Collective Action programs and activities, support members and ecosystem partners to prioritize actions, accelerate sustainable environmental and social impacts and transform our industry into one that gives more than it takes- to the people and the planet.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
Call for Collective Action: We must continue to strive our carbon neutrality goal by significantly reduce carbon emissions to keep warming within planetary boundaries.
Christy Chan
Deputy Vice President – Head of Textiles and Apparel, Connectivity & Products – Softlines
SGS Hong Kong Limited
Christy Chan
Deputy Vice President – Head of Textiles and Apparel, Connectivity & Products – Softlines
SGS Hong Kong Limited
Christy has over 18 years of experience in offering total supply chain solutions to international brands and retailers for global consumer markets, with most of her time focusing on the Apparel and Footwear industry. She has a deep understanding of market trends and industry challenges and is able to come up with practical solutions to support the industry moving forward positively.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
To have a solid plan in impactful infrastructure to support a low carbon economy, incubate new local start-ups to fuel the change and scalable school-based sustainability education.
Cintia Nunes
Co-Director
The Mills Fabrica
Cintia Nunes
Co-Director
The Mills Fabrica
Cintia Nunes is the Co-Director of The Mills Fabrica and focuses on leading Fabrica to become the go-to platform for sustainability, impact and innovation in the techstyle (technology x lifestyle) and agri-food tech scene through its investment fund, incubation programme and space.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
More cross-sector collaborations and partnerships for greater synergy to realize systemic, sustainability goals.
Edwin Keh
CEO
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel
Edwin Keh
CEO
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel
Mr Edwin Keh is the CEO of The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel. He also teaches supply chain operations in the Operations, Information and Decisions Department of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Edwin had a career as senior executive with several international consumer goods and retail companies. He was granted a number of awards, including the Medal of Honor in 2020 by the HKSAR Government for his research work during the pandemic, one of the best of Top 50 Innovative Retail Leaders by Inside Retail Hong Kong in 2019. Edwin holds multiple IPs which won global invention awards.
Circular Economy
A shift to a circular economy model offers huge opportunities for private sector players to deliver on climate commitments and ESG objectives, as well as tap into new sources of growth and long-term value creation. However, an economy-wide circular transition calls for the agenda to move beyond individual industries – and to capitalise on multi-stakeholder groups and public-private collaboration to help set the right direction and leverage the playing field for all.
Circular Economy
The COVID-19 pandemic had no doubt made an unprecedented impact on the hospitality industry. As the world emerges from the pandemic era, the need for hospitality leaders to reassess operations and set new goals and strategies to reduce waste and resource consumption in line with changing consumer expectations will be key in its pathway to recovery and industry sustainability.
Circular Economy
Most packaging is designed to be used and discarded in a linear process that results in enormous waste and pollution, particularly where plastics are concerned. As consumer attention on their environmental impact heightens, companies are driven to rethink their role in our economy’s transition to a more circular model, the entire lifecycle of products, and the momentum for innovations and investment in responsible packaging.
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Hong Kong’s SME sector is 340,000 companies strong. Opportunities for SMEs in sustainability are many and offer tangible business value – from building supply chain resilience and meeting changing customer and investor expectations, to winning new business.
Hosted in Cantonese with English interpretation, Mainstreaming Sustainability for SMEs is designed to showcase sustainability as a huge growth opportunity for SMEs in Hong Kong, and address why and how adopting sustainable business models is crucial to driving long-term success as well as creating value for the communities in which they serve.
Session Details Coming Soon!
Christina Ong
Head of Business Banking, Commercial Banking
HSBC
Christina Ong
Head of Business Banking, Commercial Banking
HSBC
Ms Ong is responsible for driving the growth of HSBC’s business banking franchise in Hong Kong, strengthening the Bank’s commitment to support SMEs and startups through its expertise, extensive network and continuous digital innovations.
With more than 25 years of experience with HSBC, Christina has held various key management roles spanning client coverage across SMEs, mid-market segment and large corporates, strategy and propositions, as well as marketing.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
Being the trusted banking partner to SMEs in Hong Kong to help drive sustainable business growth.
Pamela Jouven
Director, SME Climate Hub
We Mean Business Coalition
Pamela Jouven
Director, SME Climate Hub
We Mean Business Coalition
As Director of the SME Climate Hub, Pamela works with international partners, multinational companies and governments to mobilize small and medium-sized enterprises to take climate action. Pamela previously served as Head of City Business Climate Alliances at C40, where she was responsible for expanding their climate solution offerings.
Redefining Value
Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) implementation does not only impact large enterprises, but also SMEs under the shifting business paradigm and regulatory approach. It is essential for SMEs to take early actions to adapt to new business environment and social expectations. The Hong Kong Government also released the “Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050” with the goal and strategies of achieving carbon neutrality locally, which will set the scene for local industrial and commercial sectors. As a relatively carbon-intensive sector, manufacturing SMEs must consider early investment on green transformation to cope with the expectations from client side. This session will discuss good practices and challenges of manufacturing SMEs in implementing ESG, and the strategies in enhancing business resilience and competitiveness effectively with limited resources.
Redefining Value
Accurate and timely data is an important element in ESG management to assist enterprises quantifying their performances in environmental, social and governance factors with objective standards and methods. In recent years, ESG data has become a critical consideration for investors, clients or regulators in decision-making, calling on SMEs to prioritise ESG data management on their agenda. This session will discuss the importance of ESG data for SMEs and how data can be effectively utilised to help review performances, identify supply chain risks, make crisis management decisions and draw business and investment opportunities.
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All sessions are subject to change.