8 Vegan Restaurants In Hong Kong For A Delicious Plant-based Meal

03/08/21

Consuming less meat and more plant-based foods has been steadily increasing over the past few years, and more and more vegan restaurants in Hong Kong have been opened to meet this demand. Vegan food definitely isn’t boring, as evidenced in the wide range of eateries serving flavourful, wholesome and healthy foods.

This week’s#8Shades8Weeks challenge is about cutting down on your meat consumption, so here are our picks of the best vegan restaurants in Hong Kong- there’s something for everyone!

Green Common

Green Common is Green Monday’s (creator of OmniFoods) health food and eatery. Their menu offers fusion vegan foods, including noodles, soup, Omnipork dishes and sandwiches.

Green Common, various locations across Hong Kong, +852 3855 5100, greencommon.com

Veggie SF

Veggie SF has been serving a meat-free menu since 2011. The 1950s inspired space serves an internationally-inspired menu, featuring everything from homemade burgers and pastas to Indonesian gado gado salad and more.

Veggie SF, 10/F, 11 Stanley Street, Hong Kong, Central, +852 3902 3902, veggiesf.com

Years

With two locations in Sham Shui Po, Years and the more recent The Park by Years caters to both vegans and vegetarians, with The Park by Years being completely plant-based. Some of their top sellers include the Katsu Curry Risotto and the Sichuan Dan Dan Spaghetti. Sweet-toothed diners can enjoy lemon tart and chocolate banana rum tart.

The Park by Years, 132 Yu Chau Stree, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, +852 5336 4000, Yearshk.com

POP Vegan

Located on Elgin Street in the Soho district, POP Vegan offers a variety of Western vegan dishes, including eggplant parmigiana and hedgehog mushroom pie. It’s also free from alliums, (a species of plant including onions, garlics and chives) making it suitable for Buddhists.

POP Vegan, 1/F, 28 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2628 6211, facebook.com/popveganhk

2048

This Sai Kung staple is renowned for its Asian-inspired tapas, including its papaya-infused Tikiya Kebab, crispy peking taco and more. If this doesn’t strike your fancy, try one of their burgers or curries. Their happy hour deal is amazing as well – you can get two drinks for HK$55 across the restaurant’s Italian house wines and Bavarian lager.

2048, 5 Sha Tsui Path, Sai Kung, +852 6420 8456, 2084.casa

MANA!

With their zero-waste, plant-based and whole-food ethos, MANA! has been a staple for non-meat eaters in Hong Kong since 2012, serving flavourful and nutritious whole foods. They’re renowned for their Za’atar flatbread wraps, but their house-made burgers and salad bowls are also great. Wash it down with one of their house-made range of vegan coffees.

Mana, 8 Staunton Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong, +852 5501 7583

Mana, 8-10 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, +852 5501 7591; mana.hk

TREEHOUSE

TREEHOUSE is a great grab-and-go plant-based option when you’re out in Central. The iconic restaurant’s offerings include sourdough flatbreads to grain bowls and burgers. The in-house vegan sourdough is well worth the trip. Overall, the menu is completely unprocessed, serving only whole foods free from preservatives, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, food dyes, trans-fats, soy-isolates and bleached flour.

TREEHOUSE (BaseHall), BaseHall, LG9 Jardine House (Basement Level), 1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong, +852 3643 0865, basehall.hk

TREEHOUSE (H Code), Shop 1, G/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong. +852 3791 2277, treehouse.eco

Hemingway’s DB

hemingway's vegan restaurant — Source: Hemingway’s

Stop by Hemingway’s on your next day trip to Discovery Bay. The beach-front bar and restaurant specialises in plant-based foods. The menu has a wide variety of foods, including nachos, burgers and pizzas, ensuring something for everyone, as well as a full bar and live music on weekends.

Hemingway’s DB, Shop G09, G/F, D’Deck, DB Plaza, Discovery Bay, Hong Kong, +852 2987 8804, hemingways.hk

Whether you’re looking to cut back on your meat consumption or just curious about plant-based food, our list of vegan restaurants in Hong Kong will help (and delight you)!

Tags featured, food, Hong Kong, plant-based, sustainability, sustainable, vegan

8-Week Challenge: 8 Benefits of Going Meatless

02/08/21

Veganism and vegetarianism are becoming more popular, as people become aware of the health benefits of going meatless.

However, this may not be possible for many people – instead, scaling back on the amount of meat you consume would still be beneficial. For the final week of the #8Shades8Weeks challenge, we’re asking you to do just that and show us your delicious meatless meals. With the prize being a hamper from Green Common, you don’t want to miss out, so sign up here!

Whether you’re looking to commit to a fully meatless lifestyle, or you’re just a little curious, here are eight benefits to going meatless.

1. Protect the Planet

Not only does animal livestock production represent nearly 20% of annual greenhouse gas emissions, it also contributes to soil and water contamination. Besides this, the farming of animals uses a lot of water and land – it takes more than 1,700 litres to produce just 113 grams of beef! Even the UN believes that the farming and eating of meat contributes to climate change.

2. Improve Your Health

Reducing the amount of meat you eat has so many health benefits! Did you know that eating red meat increases your risks for heart attack, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers? On the other end, replacing meat with more plant-based foods will give you even more health benefits. Skipping just half a serving of meat and replacing it with a protein-packed meatless dish can cut your risk of developing Type-2 diabetes.

Also, doubling your intake of veggies and cutting your intake of red meat would help mitigate global health issues, like obesity and everyday hunger.

Finally, compared to fresh produce and grains, meat is dense in calories so if you are looking to lose weight, cutting back on meat could help with this.

3. You’ll Get to Try New (Delicious) Plant-Based Foods

Forget what you’ve been told – plant-based foods don’t have to be boring! There’s plenty of restaurants that are now creating delicious plant-based menus; from vegan-friendly fast food options to fine dining experiences.

You can also create your own plant-based feasts at home, perhaps by incorporating one new ingredient per meal. For inspiration, follow plant-based foodies on social media, or buy a new cookbook!

4. It’s Easier Than Ever

Cutting back on meat doesn’t need to be complicated or mean that you need a meat substitute. Other ways to go meatless include increasing your intake of:

Nut butter
Legumes
Tofu or tempeh
Rice and beans
Quinoa

Also, if you’re not quite ready to completely let go of meat, you don’t have to; with the help of plant-based alternatives like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat (that taste almost identical to “real” meat), you can make your favourite meals plant-based!

5. It’s More Ethical (For Animals and Humans!)

Most commercially farmed animals have short and terrible lives before they are processed into meat. Even products labelled “free-range” aren’t always a guarantee that the animals are treated humanely. We don’t want to guilt you into going fully meatless, but every little bit makes a difference and will have huge benefits.

Animal livestock doesn’t only affect animals, though. Did you know that seafood is one of the most exploitative industries? Reports have shown that the global fishing industry uses forced labour and other human rights abuses.

6. It Could Help You Look Younger

Meat, especially red meats and processed lunchmeats, can cause inflammation in your body, which can lead to less collagen and elastin in your skin. These two proteins help make your skin supple, moist and resilient. With time, too much inflammation in your body can cause your skin to look dry and wrinkled.

7. You’ll Sleep Better

Cutting back on meat could improve your sleep! Eating a lot of animal products can cause high blood pressure, which can cause stress and anxiety, affecting your sleep. Conversely, eating more plant-based foods can help promote healthy sleep; kale, almonds, broccoli, sweet potatoes and spinach and others all contain vitamin B6, magnesium and tryptophan, all of which contribute to deep sleep.

8. You’ll Be Helping Fight World Hunger

Producing meat is super resource-intensive and wasteful- the amount of grain used to feed US livestock every year could feed 800 million people!

Producing animal products also uses a lot of water- 3,140 litres to produce one hamburger, to be precise! If people simply ate more plants and less meat, the global food system would be much more efficient and we could feed so many more people, helping to end world hunger!

You don’t need to make massive changes to your diet that interfere with your normal routine or stress you out; instead, you can just do a “Meatless Monday” or replace a few meals a week! Small changes can make a huge difference – to our health, the planet and other living things on this planet.

Tags featured, food, healthy, Hong Kong, sustainability, wellness

8Shades’ Guide to a Sustainable Beach Day

31/07/21

There’s nothing quite like a trip to the beach: the waves gently lapping the shore, salty summer skin and sipping from a coconut while you treat yourself to a delicious beachside lunch – paradise! That is, until you see piles of trash and plastic waste littered everywhere. Don’t be a part of the waste crisis plaguing the environment – bring your eco-habits with you! Here’s how you can make your next day at the beach a sustainable one.

1. Opt For Public Transport

We know that sitting in a hot and crowded bus to get to the beach isn’t the most fun, but it’s the more sustainable (and cheaper!) option as opposed to getting a taxi or driving. Plus, less cars on the road means less traffic, meaning more time spent having fun!

2. Bring Your Own Eco-Kit

Always abide by the campfire rule when out in nature — always leave the campsite cleaner than how you found it! Before you go to the beach, put together a small kit with all your eco-essentials, including a reusable water bottle, reusable trash bags, bamboo or metal cutlery and straws. Also, try to bring loose foods without single-use plastic packaging, like loose fruits or foods in reusable containers.

plastic bottle at the beach — Source: Shutterstock

3. Be (Sustainably) Sun Smart

We don’t want to sound like a stuck record, but put on your SPF! As the sky-high temperatures of Hong Kong summers lure us to the beach, take a look at the ingredients list of your sunscreen to make sure that not only is it protecting you from the sun, but also that its ingredients aren’t releasing harmful chemicals into the ocean. Some of these ingredients, like oxybenzone, octinoxate and butylparaben, can injure or kill marine life and bleach coral reefs!

We like this reef-safe and biodegradable sunscreen from Reef Repair, but if you’re looking for more recommendations, check out our guide on the best natural, reef-safe sunscreens.

4. Wear Eco-Friendly Swimwear

Fast fashion is an incredibly wasteful industry, emitting greenhouse gases and using massive amounts of water and energy. Ghost fishing nets, plastic bottles and even carpets — these are just some of the materials that many brands are using to make swimwear. We’ve rounded some of our favourites in our guide of the best sustainable swimwear brands!

sustainable swim wear — Source: Stay Wild

5. Wear Recyclable Flip-flops

These Indosole flip flops are made of 100% recycled tires that would otherwise end up in a landfill. They come in a range of colours and styles — we love the coral ones!

6. Use a Recycled Plastic Towel

This emerald green beach towel from Rupert & Bird is made using 24 plastic bottles and comes packaged in an organic cotton mesh bag that can be reused as a produce bag! It’s also lightweight, quick-drying and sand-repelling, perfect for a day dipping in and out of the ocean.

recyclable towel — Source: Rupert & Bird

7. Wear a Straw Hat

Straw is a sustainable and lightweight material that is very durable when woven into fabric. This straw hat from Will & Bear is made from biodegradable raffia fibre, which is harvested from the raffia palm plant sustainably, allowing it to continue to grow and produce. Plus, the colour will complement your tan!

8. Stick to the Path

We must realise that beaches are a natural habitat for many plants and animals. Stepping through plants and over dunes to get to the beach may be adventurous, but you could unknowingly damage ecosystems and cause erosion over time. If you can, stick to the paths; you’ll still get to where you need to go, without damaging the plants and animals that live there!

A beach trip is the perfect way to spend a summer day, so why not take your sustainable lifestyle with you while you enjoy the waves? You’ll have just as much fun and the planet will be grateful. There’s enough plastic in the ocean – we really don’t need to add more of it!

Tags beach day, featured, Hong Kong, plastic, sustainability

8Shades Of… Wesley Ng, Co-founder & CEO of Casetify

30/07/21

In our latest edition of “8Shades of…” – where we get up close and personal with new and known faces in the sustainability field – we caught up with Wesley Ng, co-founder and CEO of phone case and electronic accessories producer, Casetify.

Casetify is the sponsor of our latest weekly giveaway for the #8Shades8Weeks Challenge! If you haven’t yet completed the easy challenge of BYOB (bringing your own bottle) out around town, what are you waiting for? Sign up here!

We played a round of eight quick-fire questions with Wesley. Read on to find out why he’s an 8Shader, his favourite eco-products and how he integrates sustainability into his daily life!

In one sentence, tell us what you do.

I build brands and make kickass products!

2. Why are you an 8Shader?

About 3/4 years ago, I got converted by (8Shades founder) Emily Lam-Ho on a summer day while we were talking about what product Casetify should make. She planted the seeds of our sustainability line!

3. Your best eco habit?

I wear the same outfit everyday. Not only does this save me a lot of money on clothing (and the associated waste), but it has also reduced decision fatigue as I don’t have to think about what to wear everyday.

4. Guilty not-so-green habit?

I’m an avid food delivery lover, but I try to order from places that use sustainable packaging.

5. Favourite eco product?

Casetify’s stainless steel water bottle!

6. Favourite veggie dish/ restaurant in Hong Kong?

Chinese kale (chow gai lan).

7. How do you integrate sustainability into your business and daily life?

I follow green accounts on social media, like @8shadesofficial!

8. What shade of green are you?

Algae.

About Casetify

Founded in 2011, Casetify is a Hong Kong-based company that designs and produces phone cases and electronic accessories. It first featured custom phone cases by using Instagram photos and expanded to selling accessories with different designs. Check out their sustainable line of ultra compostable phone cases on casetify.com!

Tags 8Shades Of, casetify, featured, Hong Kong, interview, Phone Cases, sustainability, Wesley Ng

Make a Splash In These 8 Sustainable Swimwear Brands

28/07/21

No matter how you’re spending your summer – on the beach, book in hand, on a junk boat or having a dawn surfing session, you need a good swimsuit that makes you feel confident – that’s a non-negotiable! And while you’re enjoying the ocean, why not find a swimsuit that’s helping clean it up at the same time? Here are eight sustainable swimwear brands that should be on your radar this summer.

Ozero Swimwear

Based in Malaysia, Ozero Swimwear targets those living in the tropics. Its products are made from Econyl, a regenerated nylon fibre made from recovered plastic waste like fishing nets and industrial plastic. The material also provides shape retention and UV protection, and is resistant to chlorine and sunscreen. We love their simplistic designs with vibrant colours, particularly this reversible orange one piece with straps that can be styled in two ways!

Batoko

Batoko’s swimwear is made from trash, but the end result is far from it. Besides using recycled plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or the ocean and ensuring that it reduces its energy usage wherever possible, Batoko makes a concerted effort to donate regularly to marine conservation organisations. Their brand features so many fun and playful prints that it’s difficult to choose our favourite, but we love these shark and lobster one pieces.

Stay Wild

Based in London, Stay Wild is a women-owned business that makes all of their swimsuits locally out of regenerated ocean plastic, Econyl and Tencel, the latter of which is biodegradable and compostable. Every part of their products are recycled and recyclable (including the tags)! All of their products feature clean, structured lines and a flattering fit, but these briefs will hold everything in and keep you looking perfectly cool on the scorching hot beaches of Hong Kong.

Vitamin A

When founder Amahlia Stevens set out to create an eco-friendly swimwear line, she was told there was no market for swimwear made from recycled fibres – so she made her own, working with manufacturers to create EcoLux, a swim fabric made from recycled nylon fibres. Besides this, Vitamin A uses other sustainable yet high-performing fabrics like organic cotton, linen, recycled cotton and Tencel. From loungewear to bikinis and bodysuits, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something you don’t like at Vitamin A! This blue cut-out bralette will help you stand out from the crowd.

Zaffre

One of our local sustainable swimwear brands, Zaffre is relatively new to the swimwear scene, having launched in February 2020. Its swimwear is made with MIPAN Regan, which is regenerated nylon filament yarn, and Repreve, made from regenerated ocean waste, and its manufacturing process saves over 30% of energy compared to conventional garment-making! With free shipping for orders in Hong Kong, shopping for sustainable swimwear locally has never been so easy! Check out this beautiful olive green one-piece with detachable straps – no tan lines!

August Society

Based in Singapore and crafted from materials like Econyl, rPET and Xtralife Lycra, August Society’s swimwear is not only beautiful and eco-friendly, but functional as well. Their signature Valencia one-piece is reversible – two for the price of one! They also offer multiple collections for men and kids as well, which include rash guards and patterned suits, allowing you to coordinate your swimsuits with your family’s! Plus, their products come delivered in plant plastic pouches that biodegrade over time.

September

For our surfer gals, September is the brand for you! Blending flattering and feminine lines with athletic performance, September makes its swimwear with recycled fabrics made from ghost fishing nets and even old carpets! Its swing tags and packaging are also made from recycled materials. We love this burnt orange structured bikini top, but we also have to give a shout out to their gorgeous one pieces, which have such beautiful details, like this one in burnt sienna.

Rimmba

Rimmba is based and manufactured in Bali and takes the utmost care in all stages of their production process, from sourcing and dyeing the fabrics to manufacturing and packaging. The brand’s name means “deep virgin forest” and it aims to create pieces that are sustainable and ethical from the material stage to the user disposal stage. It makes its pieces with Vita by Carvico, a durable fabric made from 100% regenerated post-consumer waste, as well as 100% natural dyes. Rimmba also provides a guide to repurposing its products after use! We love this flattering sporty-style bikini top (actually, we want the whole bikini set)!

No matter how you’re spending your summer, spend it in a swimsuit that makes you feel comfortable and confident, while being kind to Mother Earth! We hope this guide to sustainable swimwear brands will inspire you to have the best, eco-friendly summer yet!

Tags fashion, featured, Hong Kong, summer, sustainability, sustainable fashion, swimsuit, swimwear

Is All Plastic Evil?

27/07/21

Plastic waste is undeniably one of the biggest issues of our time, and we’ve long been bombarded with scary statistics on how widespread the problem is.

So, this week’s #8Shades8Weeks challenge is all about reducing your reliance on single-use plastics – simply BYOB (bring your own bottle) anywhere this week for your chance to win yourself a reusable and customised 8Shades water bottle from Casetify!

Even though plastic has a bad rap, it’s not all evil. Here, we break down some of the reasons why plastic can (sometimes) be good.

It keeps food affordable and fresh

Plastic keeps food affordable and fresh, and shipping food in plastic is cheaper and less resource-intensive than other materials, like glass. This is especially important in developing countries that often don’t have the infrastructure to store food safely for long and are less likely to eat enough fruit and vegetables, which causes almost 1.7 million deaths worldwide.

If plastic was not so widely used to preserve food, more communities would likely suffer from malnutrition. Plastic is also durable, meaning that it can handle long periods in transit, vital for countries that rely on food imports.

grocery store shelves with plastic bags of food

While many foods are wrapped in unnecessary amounts of plastic – there’s no denying that this needs to change – it’s unlikely that the food industry will completely ditch plastic when we need affordable food (and lots of it).

Plastic is also arguably the best option for developing countries since many don’t have the infrastructure or funds to develop eco-friendly packaging.

It supports employment in developing countries

Plastic waste has also become its own form of currency in many developing countries, who receive a lot of waste from richer nations. In 2018, the US sent 157,000 shipping containers of plastic waste to developing countries. Countries like the US absolutely need to improve their own recycling programmes, but the imports bring in money for developing countries and are a source of employment for thousands of people.

It keeps things sterile

Finally, in the medical industry, plastics are used to keep things sterile. Syringes and surgical implements are all plastic and single-use that wouldn’t survive the temperatures needed to kill bacteria and viruses through heat sterilisation. However, sterilising metal syringes isn’t feasible and glass is too heavy.

Essentially, the problem is not so much the fact that we’re using plastics but that we’re using the wrong kind of plastic.

The real solution? Avoid Single-Use Plastic

While we can’t fully avoid plastic, we definitely need to reduce our dependence on most single-use plastics. Plastic bottles, straws, coffee cups and shopping bags are not only super harmful for the environment, they’re also completely unnecessary since there are so many reusable alternatives!

The biggest problem with ending single-use plastics is their convenience. So, until consumers are willing to give this up and say “no” to single-use plastics, plastic providers will continue to produce it.

We may think that we’re powerless in the battle against plastic waste, but when you consider that the most disposed-of items include straws, grocery bags and drink lids, we have a much bigger role in the solution than we think.

Banning all plastics is unlikely to happen (and shouldn’t!), but we can reduce our reliance on avoidable single-use plastics. All it takes is a few small changes – for example, buying your food at local farmers’ markets, bringing a reusable bottle instead of a plastic bottle of water every day and bringing your own produce bags to the grocery stores. This will reduce our carbon footprint and encourage those around us to do the same.

Tags featured, health, Hong Kong, plastic, plastic alternatives, sustainability

8Shades’ Guide To Sustainable Sportswear: Olympics Edition

24/07/21

The wait is nearly over- the Olympics are starting today and we can’t wait to watch our favourite athletes. But while we’re admiring their athletic gifts from the comfort of our home, some of us are also admiring what they’re wearing. To get into the spirit of things, we’re imagining our Olympic-themed outfits, but through an eco-friendly lens. So, here’s our picks of the best sustainable, Olympics – themed sportswear.

Boxing

Sanabul Los Cactus Boxing Gloves

Whether you’re doing boxing or any other combat sport, you’ll need a pair of gloves to protect your hands. Jiu jitsu and boxing apparel company Sanabul recently launched the world’s first cactus leather boxing gloves, made entirely from the nopal (or prickly pear) cactus. Featuring gold trimming and Aztec-inspired designs, you’ll be sparring in style. They’re limited edition, so snap these stylish boxing gloves up before they’re gone!

Athletics

Sweaty Betty On Your Marks 4” Running Shorts

Sweaty Betty is working to make their entire product line more sustainable through the use of recycled materials and sustainable fabrics, including organic cotton, bamboo and recycled plastic bottles. These running shorts are made from recycled polyester and are sweat-wicking, too. Perfect for those sweaty morning runs!

Icebug OutRun Shoes

If you’re a trail runner looking for a shoe that will carry you through every kind of weather and terrain, you need a pair of Icebugs! The brand calls itself the first climate-positive footwear brand, offsetting 200% of the carbon emissions their production processes cause. These OutRun shoes are made with several sustainable materials, like 100% recycled PET polyester and algae foam.

Swimming

olympics themed sportswear — Source: Oliv the Label

Oliv the Label One Piece

Born from yogic values, Oliv the Label wants to redefine how we see women’s swimwear. All of their pieces (and the packaging it comes in!) are made from eco-friendly materials, like Econyl, an Italian fabric made from regenerated ocean plastic waste. Econyl is also known for its body-sculpting properties, as well as its resistance to oil, sunscreen, chlorine and UV radiation. Available in a range of Earth-toned colours, we recommend this gorgeous one-piece.

Tennis

NordicDots Tennis Dress

NordicDots is a Swedish tennis apparel company that aims to use recycled and organic fabrics in their products and minimise production waste. The company also uses 100% recycled plastic bags to pack their garments. We’re loving this navy blue tennis dress.

Cycling

Isadore Debut Cycling Jersey

Created by former cycling pros, Isadore’s line features jerseys, bib shorts, jackets and baselayers that are all made from recyclable materials but don’t compromise on quality. The packaging is also kept to a minimum to avoid unnecessary waste. This jersey is mostly made from 100% recycled Italian polyester. The lightweight fabric is also sweat-wicking, so you can comfortably enjoy the beautiful Hong Kong cycling trails in style.

We love how invested people get in the Olympics; similarly, we hope that this guide inspires you to go to the grocery store in your finest tennis shoes and leggings, but we should also take the time to be more critical of the materials used to make our activewear; as the waste crisis continues to worsen, there’s really no reason to buy workout gear made from unsustainable materials. If everyone could prevent even one pair of leggings or a t-shirt from ending up in landfills, that would make a massive difference!

Tags Hong Kong, plastic, sustainability, sustainable fashion

Weekly Eco Tip: Agnès B “We Love the Sea” Exhibition

24/07/21

Looking for something fun and eco to do this weekend? Every Friday, we give you a weekly eco tip to green your life. This weekend, we’re heading to the K11 Art Mall to check out agnès b.’s newest exhibition that highlights the importance of ocean conservation.

Entitled “We Love the Sea,” agnès b. has partnered with the Tara Ocean Foundation and ocean NGO Ocean3C to curate the exhibition, which features video, educational materials from university partners, as well as art installations from featured artists and upcycled t-shirts for sale made by local celebrities and design students.

With the exhibition, agnès b. says that it wants to highlight how ocean pollution stems mostly from human activities, where massive amounts of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean, and land development.

Using research from Hong Kong University’s Department of Earth Sciences and the Swire Institute of Marine Science, the exhibition shows the viewer how ocean pollution affects marine animals and their food chain in an interactive way in the hopes of encouraging them to start leading a more sustainable life.

For the art installations, three artists- Suitman, Xeme and Go Hung- have created pieces on their interpretation of plastic consumption. Suitman has created an upcycled interactive sculpture made from styrofoam and secondhand speaker parts that broadcasts messages about protecting the ocean, Xeme has created an ocean-inspired mural art piece, while Go Hung has created a hanging art installation made from 15 plastic bottles with sea animals painted on them.

The exhibition is also using local celebrities to further its message. Singer-songwriter and actor Alex Lam and actress Cecilia So have created upcycled t-shirts that will be on sale at the exhibition. To engage the youth on ocean conservation, agnès b also teamed up with the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) at HKU to host a t-shirt contest, where students were invited to create their own upcycled t-shirts inspired by ocean conservation.

Learn more about the exhibition and check it out yourself at the agnès b. RUE DE MARSEILLE Concept Store, G26, G28 &119 in K11 Art Mall from now until August 21.

Tags agnes b, art exhibition, Exhibition, featured, Hong Kong, K11 Art Mall, sustainability, sustainable art, Weekly Eco Tip

henderson rossana orlandi ifc mall exhibition banner

Weekly Eco Tip: Henderson Land x Rossana Orlandi exhibition

16/07/21

Looking for something fun and eco to do this weekend? Then you’ll love our latest series where we’ll be giving you a weekly eco tip every Friday to green up your life.

This week, head to ifc mall in Central to catch The Henderson Land Group’s newest exhibition that celebrates how waste can be upcycled into new and beautiful creation.

Entitled, “Henderson Land x Rossana Orlandi: Waste is Value Art & Design Exhibition,” the collection of 45 art and design pieces is curated by Rossana Orlandi, a renowned Italian gallerist and pioneer in design and sustainability. This is her first exhibition in Asia and we’re so excited that it’s for such a noble cause right here in the 852.

Rossana says that she wanted the exhibition to help increase awareness on how to minimise waste. She says, “Plastic is not the problem; in our daily lives, there are plastics everywhere. However, we need to change the way we treat it. There are wiser and more innovative ways to reuse plastic, such as smart designs. Waste is not waste until we waste it.”

henderson land group exhibition — Source: Henderson Land Group

The exhibition aims to educate different generations in Hong Kong about responsible behaviours when it comes to waste. The pieces are arranged into four themes: “Go Green,” “Ro Plastic Prize,” “Iconic Upcycled Artwork” and “Marine Eco- life.” Each exhibition has its own story, which visitors can learn about by scanning the nearby QR code.

Some of the interesting pieces at the exhibition include a curtain of recycled ocean plastic and the first-ever chair made from recycled bottles.

This exhibition definitely brings awareness to the massive amounts of waste produced in Hong Kong. Did you know that in 2019, more than 5.6 million tonnes of solid waste were generated? Of this, only 29% was recycled and the rest went to landfills. If the whole world lived like Hong Kong, we would need more than four planets to sustain us!

Learn more about the exhibition and make a visit yourself to the Oval Atrium, Level 1 of ifc mall from now until July 28.

Tags art exhibition, Exhibition, Henderson Land, Hong Kong, IFC Mall, Rossana Orlandi, sustainability, sustainable art, Weekly Eco Tip

8Shades’ Summer Bucket List: 8 Sustainable Things To Do With Friends

16/07/21

Summer is here and with it, comes plenty of hikes and beach days followed by dinner and drinks. In Hong Kong, we’re blessed with plenty of things to do, but we might not always be so conscious about our environmental impact when we’re having fun with friends.

Having said that, there’s no need to hermit yourself at home for the sake of reducing your carbon footprint. For our 8Shades Summer Bucket List, we’ve gathered eight fun and sustainable things to do with friends this summer that will have zero to little, or perhaps even a positive impact on the earth!

1. Try plogging

Plogging is an easy way to get in shape this summer whilst tackling pollution and waste. Originating in Sweden, plogging (which is a mashup of the words ‘plogga’ in Swedish, which means to pick up, and ‘jogging’ in English) will have you jogging and collecting as much litter as you can in a trash bag along the way. Gather some friends together for a plogging session and then go for brunch afterwards. You can even make a competition out of it: the person who collects the most litter gets their meal for free!

2. Go zero-waste camping

camping on the beach carbon-free activities — Source: Unsplash

Camping is another zero-waste activity where you can flex your eco-friendly habits! Put food in reusable containers, bring reusable or biodegradable cutlery and bring compostable garbage bags to collect any litter that you may drop along the way. Just remember the universal campsite rule: make sure you leave the campsite in a better condition than how you found it!

3. Get your green thumbs on

Whether you’ve got green thumbs or you just like the idea of growing your own food, Hong Kong has plenty of local farms to satisfy your longing for fresh, locally grown produce. Some farms even allow you to rent your own plot of land to cultivate your own fruits and veggies. Rent out a piece of land with friends and enjoy your own foods together, perhaps coming together regularly for a “farm-to-table” style dinner with the produce you’ve grown.

4. Host a clothing swap

One person’s trash is another’s treasure, or so they say. The same is true for your clothing; just because you’re tired of that dress doesn’t mean that one of your friends won’t love it. Clothing swaps are a fun and sustainable way to update your wardrobe; just add some snacks and wine, and you’re good to go!

5. Donate your time to a charitable cause

There are plenty of charities that are working to clean up the environment or otherwise make our communities more sustainable. Why not spend the day with your squad whilst helping with a beach clean up, or working with a charity to distribute food that would otherwise go to waste.

6. Try a veggie meal

Turn Meatless Monday into a social affair by bringing your friends along to try out new meatless recipes once a week. Delicious, social and sustainable – what more could you want?

7. Go bike riding

biking carbon free activities — Source: Unsplash

There are some fantastic biking trails in the New Territories, particularly around Tai Po! Make a day of it by biking in the morning and ending the day with a late lunch at one of the local eateries.

8. Join a walking tour

Be a tourist in your own city by joining a local walking tour – not only does it get you out of the house, it will also reduce your energy consumption at home. There are plenty of companies in Hong Kong that offer tours around the city with unique focuses – there are food tours, street art tours, Chinese Medicine tours and even cemetery tours (yes, really!)

So there you have it – 8Shades’ Summer Bucket List of sustainable things to do with friends. Which idea will you try first?

Tags carbon emissions, featured, Hong Kong, sustainability, sustainable activities