Global extreme climate has posed a dire and pressing impact on the ecosystem, a reality acutely felt by Hong Kong citizens sweltering at an average temperature of 24.8°C last year, the warmest on record. Consumers must act now and adopt better lifestyle habits to address this global crisis. Consumers International (CI) has called for “A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles” on this year’s World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) (15 March), urging consumers to take action in developing environmentally friendly consumption and living habits to incorporate “sustainable” elements into every aspect of their daily lives. The Consumer Council has also joined in this call-to-action, advocating for industries to progress towards genuine sustainability in meeting the everyday needs of people within a green consumption community.
In 2023, CI reported that 94% of global consumers were willing to support sustainable living but encountered varying degrees of difficulty in practice. Notably, 80% of respondents believed that international organisations, corporations, and the community should provide greater support. The Consumer Council’s 2021 report “Embracing Sustainable Consumption for a Happy Life – A Tracking Study on Consumer Behaviour” also highlighted that over 60% of respondents who “do not usually purchase sustainable products” cited “not enough information” as one of the reasons, while nearly half of the respondents considered eco-friendly products “too expensive” or “not easy to acquire” respectively. Nearly 70% indicated that they would be more motivated to participate actively if the Government, retailers, or service providers increased their support. “A Just Transition” within this year’s WCRD theme advocates that sustainable lifestyles should not be difficult or burdensome for consumers. Instead, it advocates for meeting consumers’ everyday needs through the provision of more sustainable resources that are available, accessible, and affordable.
Promoting sustainable consumption is one of Council’s key functions. One aspect of this is to educate consumers on how to easily reshape their lifestyles and improve quality of life while tackling the global crisis. To facilitate this, the Council has compiled a list of 27 eco-friendly everyday tips to build a greener Hong Kong together. Some of the tips are excerpted as follows:
Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction:
Smart Use of Electricity Saves Money and the Environment
- The Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MEELS) now covers 11 types of high energy consumption appliances such as room air conditioners, refrigerating appliances, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), washing machines, dehumidifiers, and televisions. When buying these products it is important to choose energy-efficient models with “Grade 1” energy efficiency rating; in the case of split-type room air conditioners, the power consumption could vary by 36% between appliances with a “Grade 1” and “Grade 3” energy labels respectively;
- Assuming an average household has about 10 to 20 appliances in standby mode, turning them off could reduce total household electricity consumption by up to 3%, equivalent to $300 in savings from a $10,000 annual electricity bill;
- Choose a washing machine according to actual needs. Households with less laundry could choose a smaller model that uses less water. A half load has around the same power consumption as a full load, so try running a cycle only in a full load and wash clothes at 30°C instead of 40°C to save up to 40% in electricity consumption per year;
- According to the Council’s past tests, electric pressure cookers have shorter cooking times than cooking with an open flame. During the natural pressure release process, the residual heat and pressure inside the cooker could be utilised to further cook ingredients. Consumers should consider using electric pressure cookers or pressure cookers to save cooking time and energy;
- Use public transport whenever possible. The Government Budget allocated over HK$600 million to subsidise the transport sector in purchasing electric buses and taxis, promoting cleaner travel options and minimising the environmental impact of vehicles;
A New Plastic-free Life: Say No to Disposables
Plastic Reduction Starts with Everyday Life
- Always carry a reusable shopping bag and refuse plastic bags. Especially when buying non-prepackaged fresh fruit at supermarkets, avoid taking plastic produce bags which increase plastic waste;
- Order fewer takeaways, and if necessary, use your own containers and cups as much as possible to minimise waste at source. On busy work days, consider taking the time out to have lunch at an eatery, instead of opting for takeaway which often comes in disposable lunch boxes and cutlery. This not only helps with reducing plastic waste but also taking a break from work-related stress;
- Many large shopping malls and over 30 MTR stations in Hong Kong have installed water dispensers for free or charged refills into consumers’ own bottles, not only reducing the number of plastic bottles discarded but also saving money on bottled water;
Green Procurement:
Choose Eco-friendly Products for a Sustainable Future
- Many cleansing and personal care products now feature more environmentally friendly formulations, such as the use of plant-based surfactants like cocamidopropyl betaine, cocoamides, alkyl polyglucosides, and potassium cocoate derived from coconut oil or corn starch. These ingredients are not only biodegradable, but also are gentler on textiles and human skin. Consumers should read the information on the packaging before making purchasing decisions;
- Conventional solid soaps use only paper for packaging, resulting in less waste . The carbon emissions generated during the production of solid soaps are about one eleventh of that for shower gels, while the total carbon emissions over the entire lifecycle of solid soaps are three fifths that of shower gels. Consumers may consider switching to solid soaps when purchasing personal cleansing products;
- Reduce meat consumption and avoid eating endangered species (e.g. shark fin, fat choy/hair moss, etc.); buy food produced locally or in neighbouring regions to help reduce carbon emissions from transportation;
- Donate used clothing to charitable organisations or people in need, but consumers should check the authenticity of the organisations to prevent unscrupulous people from profiting;
- The Government Budget also proposes a HK$300 million subsidy scheme to be launched mid-year to motivate the installation of a cumulative total of 3,000 high-speed electric vehicle (EV) chargers throughout the territory by 2030, boosting incentive for vehicle owners to switch to EVs. Consumers can refer to the Council’s test report in January before purchasing EVs.
Another simple and easy way to reduce waste at source is to start with eating habits, such as avoiding excessive food ordering and carrying lunchboxes to take leftovers home. The Government Budget has allocated HK$180 million to increase the number of residential food waste smart recycling bins and food waste collection facilities across the city. By expanding recycling networks and increasing waste recovery efforts, which, if utilised more by the public can help alleviate pressure on landfills.
Encouraging Businesses to Capitalise on Opportunities in a Just Transition for the Silver-Haired
To achieve a just transition, it is important to address the diverse needs of consumers of all ages and financial backgrounds. According to a Consumer Council survey, grassroot non-working soon-to-be-olds (aged 55-64) are slow adopters of sustainable consumption, with a predominance of frugal behaviours and weaker awareness towards buying sustainable products and practicing sustainable lifestyles. The Government Budget announced that the Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy will introduce measures in 5 areas, including the promotion of “Silver Consumption” and “Quality Assurance of Silver Products”. The Council hopes that enterprises will seize this opportunity to develop more affordable and sustainable daily and gerontech products so that the elderly can have equitable access to suitable sustainable products and services, allowing them to enjoy a healthy and green lifestyle.
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