The ‘Discover Shui Hau’ initiative is a collaborative project between WWF-Hong Kong, Sino Group and Clearbot. 

It aims to raise public awareness and promote understanding of Shui Hau’s high ecological value and rich biodiversity. Through active engagement with Shui Hau residents and students, the project seeks to foster public appreciation for the ecological beauty of nature, while innovative technologies are utilised to clean up the marine debris, contributing to the protection of this precious habitat, which is home to more than 600 species. 

During the course of this project, we target to raise public awareness for the importance of biodiversity of Shui Hau and encourage more ocean-friendly behaviour towards the natural environment. Local students are invited to become ambassadors with the aim of cultivating a conservation mindset grounded in sustainable development. We also work with villagers to co-create murals that showcase Shui Hau’s culture and unique ecological environment. 

The Body Shop sponsored the “Living with Less Plastic” project that focused on marine plastic pollution. Over its nine-month run, 15 individuals aged 18-24 were designated as Youth Conservation Leaders. Their mission was to promote “no single-use plastic” messages to the wider community through conservation actions facilitated by WWF and their own innovative projects. Comprehensive training workshops were conducted to equip these future leaders with skills and knowledge, covering topics such as marine biodiversity and conservation, the ecological footprint and project management skills. After undergoing training, the young participants were able to effectively communicate conservation messages through projects they designed themselves.

Three teams were formed to develop and execute these community projects. Their efforts were concentrated on three types of waste: single-use bottles, Styrofoam boxes from wet markets and body care product containers. The projects took various formats, including video production, behavioural surveys, educational booths, and market research. Their initiatives reached over 2,500 community members.

Plastic pollution is a grave threat to the planet – in Hong Kong alone, over 29,000 tonnes of plastic enter the environment annually. The low recycling rate in the city further underscores the need for education and transparency in transitioning to a circular economy. SC Johnson sponsored a six-month programme to educate and raise awareness about plastic circularity, promote daily recycling and restore trust in Hong Kong’s recycling industry.

The programme's first component was a “Plastic Circularity Public Education Workshop”. It attracted over 200 individuals, educating them about the importance and benefits of transitioning to a plastic circular economy and giving them hands-on experience with plastic upcycling.

Stage two was a Recyclable Styrofoam Circularity Survey that collected baseline data on disposed Styrofoam boxes and fruit wrapping in wet markets, aiming to raise awareness and propose solutions to reduce Styrofoam waste. The survey revealed that retailers generally have positive attitudes towards solving this problem and were open to implementing better disposal methods and exploring reuse options.