Beyond Paper & Plastic: Rethinking Packaging Solutions

Mr Edwin Lau is the Founder of The Green Earth, an environmental organization promoting resource conservation and zero-waste culture. He has been actively engaged in environmental protection work since the late 1980s. He places great concern on several pressing environmental topics, e.g., waste management, climate change, energy conservation, and air pollution.

Mr Lau keeps offering his recommendations and expressing his opinions through media interviews and open letters on several pressing environmental issues confronting humankind. Most of his published letters can be viewed from the following link https://www.scmp.com/author/edwin-lau

Mr Lau is currently a member of the CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change Expert Committee and a senior advisor of the Hong Kong Solar Industries Association.

In 2009, Mr Lau was awarded the Medal of Honour by the HKSAR Government in recognition of his long-term contribution to the promotion of environmental protection and environmental education. In the same year, he was also awarded an Outstanding Earth Champion by The Earth Champions Foundation.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

• More individuals and businesses will act immediately by adopting genuine measures and practices to tackle the escalating environmental crisis.
• The Government will act fast to roll out the much-needed environmental policies and set a good role model for others to follow suit.

As Senior Global Marketing Manager at BOTEC, I lead sustainable packaging initiatives across financial, utility, government, F&B, and beauty sectors. I specialize in driving adoption of our innovative algae-based materials, which serve multiple applications: biodegradable envelope windows for high-volume institutional mailers (banks, utilities, government), sustainable food packaging solutions, and revolutionary hydrogel facial masks for the beauty industry. At BOTEC, we’re transforming multiple sectors through our seaweed-derived materials that offer a carbon-negative alternative to conventional plastics. Our nature-based innovation delivers both functionality and sustainability – from document windows for bank statements and bills to food-service packaging and premium beauty products.

Our Sustainability Goals for 2025

1. Institutional Document Solutions:

I aim to partner with Hong Kong’s major banks, utility companies, and government departments to replace conventional plastic envelope windows with BOTEC’s biodegradable algae-based films. As these institutions collectively send millions of documents annually, transitioning to our sustainable solution would significantly reduce plastic waste while supporting their ESG objectives.

2. Multi-Industry Sustainable Transition:

My goal is to accelerate adoption of our biodegradable solutions across multiple sectors:

– F&B industry: Implementing sustainable food packaging for restaurants, hotels, and delivery services

– Beauty sector: Expanding the use of our algae-based hydrogel facial masks as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional sheet masks

– Food service: Providing naturally degradable food wraps and containers that maintain quality while meeting environmental standards

3. Innovation Integration:

I hope to demonstrate how one sustainable material source – algae – can revolutionize multiple industries in Hong Kong. By showcasing successful applications from institutional document windows to food packaging to beauty products, we can accelerate the adoption of truly biodegradable solutions that absorb more carbon than they produce while meeting diverse business needs. This cross-sector approach will help Hong Kong businesses transition away from conventional plastics while maintaining or enhancing product functionality.