Nearly 150 firms in Hong Kong cut packaging waste equal to weight of 900 buses

Nearly 150 companies have reduced packaging material equivalent to the weight of about 900 double-decker buses over the past year after taking part in a government charter on waste reduction in Hong Kong launched in 2025.

A-1 Bakery, Watsons Water and SF Express Hong Kong were among 75 firms recognised for their efforts at an award ceremony on Wednesday, following an assessment by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on five criteria, including packaging recyclability and promoting the use of fewer packaging materials.

Undersecretary for Environment and Ecology Diane Wong Shuk-han said at the ceremony that the city had strived to explore and promote cutting packaging waste according to “pragmatic and feasible principles”, while noting mandatory national standards launched in mainland China in July to restrict excessive packaging in delivery parcels.

“Environmental protection and economic development are never mutually exclusive. Rather, they complement each other,” Wong said.

The ceremony followed the launch of a package reduction charter last year by the EPD, focusing on eight business sectors – such as logistics, e-commerce, drink manufacturing and supermarkets – to maximise the impact of eliminating packaging waste.

After signing the charter, local bakery chain A-1 Bakery redesigned its cake boxes by adding a clean, easily removable compartment layer with handles, said Lo Lok-san, the company’s food safety and sustainability manager.

The new packaging replaced the old brown boxes – which had no extra layers and were previously discarded when deliveries reached retail stores from factories.

“When we create a product, we should consider how customers will handle the packaging materials once they take the product home,” Lo said.

For Watsons Waters, beyond cutting plastic materials used in each water bottle, the firm has recently been promoting recycling machines in local supermarkets to encourage the recycling of water bottles.

Users deposit used, clean bottles into the machines and receive money in return.

“The launch of the plastic reduction charter has enabled more conversations with stakeholders on sustainability partnerships in the city,” said business innovation and planning director Siu Kin-man.

In 2026, six SF Express Hong Kong self-pickup stores joined the EPD’s on-site recycling project to encourage customers to return packaging materials for recycling immediately on-site after collecting their parcels, said head of public affairs and communications Ku Chun.

The logistics firm also showcased its air cushion bubble films made with recyclable plastic while reducing plastic quantity, as well as modified cardboard boxes to reduce secondary packaging waste.

Leo Wong Wai-kin, principal environmental protection officer at the department, said enacting local laws to regulate excessive packaging in Hong Kong was difficult, given most pre-packaged goods were dispatched outside the city.

“Operating a charter, which provides guidelines and encouragement, is more practical,” Wong said.