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Tag: WWF

  • Hong Kong food-delivery companies join WWF campaign to combat plastic use

    Hong Kong food-delivery companies join WWF campaign to combat plastic use

    Hong Kong food-delivery companies, Deliveroo and Foodpanda, have joined WWF’s Plastic Action Initiative (PACT) to help reduce single-use plastics.

    According to PACT rules, both companies have to follow sustainable requirements including setting up a default opt-out option for single-use plastic cutlery and creating a program for its merchants to improve packaging material.

    “At WWF, we recognize the effectiveness of business at influencing change, so it is really encouraging to see that businesses are taking responsibility to rein in the plastic crisis,” said Laurence McCook, head of oceans conservation of WWF Hong Kong. “PACT is only a starting point to catalyze actions.”

    With the partnership of the two companies, PACT initiative aims to clear unsustainable packaging by 2025 and set up a more circular economy for plastic in the city.

    “We see the commitment to WWF’s PACT initiative to be a crucial step towards building a more sustainable future for the food delivery industry,” said Brian Lo, GM of Deliveroo Hong Kong. “It is fundamental for not only us but the entire F&B industry to rethink our approach when it comes to packaging and products.”

    After the PACT signing, Deliveroo has collaborated with WWF to offer co-branded paper bags for customers ordering from its Editions sites.

    Meanwhile, Foodpanda has committed to activating online formats, promoting the initiatives for PACT. The CEO of Foodpanda Hong Kong, Arun Makhija, said that since 2018, the company has been taking steps towards driving a more sustainable delivery service by having customers opt-out of tableware. “This year we are committed to do more.”

    Both companies have eliminated 60 tonnes of plastic last year and aim to boost that to 130 tonnes in 12 months after joining PACT.

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  • JD.com’s green initiative for sustainable consumption

    JD.com’s green initiative for sustainable consumption

    JD.com, China’s largest retailer, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and The China Children and Teenagers’ Fund (CCTF) are partnering to launch a second annual Green Planet-Sustainable Week, raising awareness about sustainable consumption in the world’s most populous nation. The seven-day program, which kicked off this week, will reinforce JD’s commitment to help the retail industry develop more sustainably, reducing the impact of China’s booming consumption on the environment.

    For the event, JD will promote pollution reduction through the use of reusable shopping bags, created from the fabric of discarded apparel in response to a call from WWF to reduce pollution caused by plastics. The bags, which are also regularly used in JD operations, will be distributed free during the event and include RFID Chips that can be scanned as coupons in offline stores through JD’s partners.

    JD’s Green Planet-Sustainable Week also kicks off a new clothing drive for the company’s recycling program. Taking advantage of its nationwide in-house logistics network, which covers 99% of China’s population, JD will collect both used and unused clothing from customers either to be sent to recycling facilities or distributed to those in need. Proceeds will be donated to lower-income families, people with disabilities and charity groups. Last year, a similar drive led to the collection of nearly 400,000 items, or 20 tons, of clothing, from 150 million people in four cities. This year’s program will expand to cover 47 cities.

    Customers will be able to trade in major appliances for recycling as well, by third-party companies through JD’s platform. The appliances will be disassembled, after which parts will be used for repairs, helping to reduce the waste generated by household appliances as well as pollution created by their production. Working with JD’s charity affiliate, JD Foundation, the participating companies will donate a portion of any proceeds to support charitable activities on behalf of customers, while customers are eligible for payment for their used devices, plus coupons from JD in exchange for the trade-ins.

    Meanwhile, all logistics information for tracing donations and trade-ins are available through JD.com’s proprietary supply chain management technology.

    “The spectacular rise of Chinese consumption has been a major force behind the country’s incredible economic story but has also contributed to unprecedented environmental challenges,” said Zhonghao Jin, Head of Market Practice, WWF China. He believes this week’s activities will help “raise consumer awareness and accelerate the mainstreaming of sustainable consumption.”

    Libo Ma, head of the CSR department at JD.com disclosed the company is in the midst of an effort to convert its entire vehicle fleet to new energy vehicles while being involved in other efforts to reduce emissions. The company is also is developing biodegradable packaging to further reduce waste in the supply chain.

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  • Starbucks Announces Global Greener Stores Commitment

    Starbucks Announces Global Greener Stores Commitment

    Following strong consumer demand and internal support, global franchise coffee giant Starbucks has committed to designing, building and operating 10,000 “Greener Stores” globally by 2025.

    The brand has teamed up with sustainable building experts SCS Global Services and World Wildlife Fund to help with the implementation of the new initiative, which focuses on reducing waste, saving water and powering stores through 100 per cent renewable energy.

    The announcement was made overnight at The Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, and promises to deliver consumers a new standard in green retailing.

    The latest initiative will see the brand audit all existing company-operated stores in the US and Canada over the coming years, serving as a trial period for the proposed framework, before encompassing all remaining existing stores, new builds and renovations.

    “Simply put, sustainable coffee, served sustainably is our aspiration,” said Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Starbucks.

    “We know that designing and building green stores is not only responsible, it is cost effective as well. The energy and passion of our green apron partners has inspired us to find ways to operate a greener store that will generate even greater cost savings while reducing impact.”

    The move is anticipated to save the company an incremental US$50 million in utilities over the next 10 years, building on the brand’s current decade long commitment to greener practices, which already equates to approximately $30 million in saved annual operating costs.

    Erin Simon, director of R&D at World Wildlife Fund, US praised Starbucks’ decision to open source the framework, enabling other retailers to engage in the initiative.

    “This framework represents the next step in how Starbucks is approaching environmental stewardship, looking holistically at stores and their role in helping to ensure the future health of our natural resources,” Simon said.

    “When companies step up and demonstrate leadership, other businesses often follow with commitments of their own, driving further positive impacts.”

    As a leader in the retail coffee space, the announcement is set to highlight the importance of sustainability in Australian outlets and competitors, many of whom recently established partnerships and green operations to curb growing consumer demand.

    Starbucks is also encouraging other businesses to get on board with the latest sustainable initiative.

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  • H&M launches sustainable collection soon

    H&M launches sustainable collection soon

    Two H&M sustainable collections just revealed will benefit global conservation work.

    The Swedish fast-fashion retailer has released an online-only recycled cashmere and velvet collection at hm.com and a separate childrenswear collection.

    Launching September 27, the collection “Conscious Exclusive F/W 2018” claims to “merge the life and journey of lost historical artifacts with the latest in sustainable fabric innovation.” Ten per cent of the sale price from each product will be donated towards WWF’s conservation work.

    The materials used in the collection are intended to highlight H&M’s innovations in fabric. By way of example, the company has put years of research into its new velvet made from recycled polyester to create a quality high enough for use in garments.

    H&M creative advisor Ann-Sofie Johansson said: “It started with a desire to create a statement coat in a sustainable material that could be worn for both special occasions and day-to-day life, but then evolved into something more substantial by merging the journey of historical artifacts with a modern design sensibility.”

    Head of sustainability at H&M Anna Gedda added: “We believe in a sustainable fashion future where fashion is made and consumed in a way that’s sustainable for the planet. We have an ambition to be fully circular, and as part of that we have set the goal to only use recycled or other sustainably sourced materials by 2030”.

    H&M group has been working in partnership with WWF, the world’s leading conservation organization, since 2011. The partnership focuses on water stewardship, climate action and sustainability strategy, with the aim of making H&M and the broader fashion industry more sustainable.

    WWF International’s head of corporate marketing partnerships David Bloch said: “This campaign, which is an extension of our long-term transformational work with the company, will not only raise funds for WWF’s conservation work but we hope it will also inspire a new generation of environmental champions.

    The collection stands testament to how it is possible to produce at scale clothing that is better for both the environment and little ones”.

    Childrens range

    Meanwhile, the second of the H&M sustainable collections, for babies and children up to 14 years old, includes pieces such as cozy sweatshirts, soft leggings and fun hood dresses. The colour palette runs from pastels and neutrals to black and grey and organic cotton is the key material used in the collection.

    AD: GUNILLA ENGDAHL, Styling: Jet Vervest, MUA: Maria Martinez, Production Company: Alana international production service,

    The range will be launched in more than 50 markets on September 27 and as with the Conscious Exclusive release, 10 per cent of the sale price of each product will be donated towards WWF’s conservation work.

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  • A parade of pandas aims to raise awareness in Thailand

    A parade of pandas aims to raise awareness in Thailand

    A parade of 1,600 papier-mache pandas will be touring Bangkok this month as part of a worldwide campaign for the conservation of the endangered species.

    Campaigning in a country that has no wild pandas at all may sound odd, but the message from World Wide Fund for Nature Thailand goes beyond just those cuddly creatures. Thailand is home to a vast population of wild animals, including Asian elephants and Bengal tigers. The panda campaign intends to raise awareness for the conservation of these species, too. At the end of the exhibition, all the pandas will be offered for “adoption” for 600 baht ($16.8) and the proceeds donated to WWF Thailand.

    The pandas, created with recycled materials by French artist Paulo Grangeon, represent the 1,600 or so that were left in the wild when the campaign was first launched in France in 2008. Since then, the art project has traveled to around 100 locations around the world and the number of wild pandas has increased to 1,864, according to the WWF.

    In the Thailand tour, the pandas will appear, flash-mob style, at 10 landmarks in Bangkok and the ancient city of Ayutthaya. They will be on exhibit for just three hours at each spot sometime between March 3 and 16.

    After that, the pandas will be on exhibition through April 10 at Central Embassy, an upscale shopping mall in Bangkok that belongs to retail giant Central Group.

    It is hoped that the pandas will also draw visitors to the mall, which opened just before the military staged a coup in May 2014. The country’s economy and consumer confidence have been sluggish since.

    “Pandas are cute, and the campaign will attract everyone from young children to families and tourists,” Barom Bhicharnchitr, managing director of the mall, said.