In recent years, Circular Economy and Sustainability have been heated topics around the world. As there is an increasing amount of waste, greenhouse gases, and scarcity of natural resources, we are running out of time. Implementation of Circular Economy and Sustainability in real life is urgently needed.

In Hong Kong, people adopt a fast-paced lifestyle, but recently, people have been more aware about the importance of social and environmental impact of business practices that is the key to a more sustainable future.

Through this competition, we are inviting participants to investigate a case by analysing the scenario and presenting innovative solutions. We provide a chance for students to develop a comprehensive solution and the opportunity to collaborate with like minded people, experts, and partners to carry out this mission.

• Raise awareness of waste reduction in Hong Kong

• Help students acquire a sustainable business mindset by analysing real-life business case

• Unleash students’ potential by designing and developing innovative solutions

Each year, participants get to explore issues based on different fields of sustainability and come up with innovative solutions that prepare students to become the sustainable business leaders of tomorrow.

The Legislative Council passed the municipal solid waste-charging bill on 26 August 2021, which means companies and public have to pay extra waste charges to the Government based on pay-as-they-throw principle when the legislation is enforced. The public will be driven by financial disincentives to drive behavioural changes towards waste reduction and recycling.

As a beverage manufacturing company, we welcomed the legislation and are willing to share our corporate responsibility by kick starting initiatives that help the public to recycle. Swire Coca-Cola HK is committed to sustainable development. We strive to minimise the environmental impact of our packaging, especially for our single-use plastic beverage packaging. We started launching the Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) under the "Tap, Return & Earn" Beverage Bottles Redemption Scheme and jointly invested in the New Life Plastics – a first food-grade-ready PET recycling facility in Hong Kong. We always consider the needs of our community so we would like to pilot schemes that drive the development of convenient and effective long-term recycling from a public perspective (not limited to beverage packaging).

Participants should design a holistic proposal for developing effective recycling channels and methods, which would encourage different sectors of the community to cherish resources and proactively reduce waste at source through clean recycling, thus reducing overall waste generation.