15 February 2006 - Press Release
Leading Business Associations launch Hong Kong Eco-Products Award 2006 to Honour Green Excellence and Promote Product Responsibility
The Hong Kong Eco-Products Award is the only program of its kind in Hong Kong to promote and recognize groundbreaking environmental product innovation, is now open for entries. Led by the Business Environment Council (BEC), co-organized by The Chinese Manufacturer Association of Hong Kong, The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, The Federation of Hong Kong Industries, and The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Award gives recognition for environmental excellence across the product life-cycle of design, manufacture, packaging and transportation, use and disposal."
"The Hong Kong Eco-Products Award is set against a backdrop of increasing international consumer demand for environmentally sound products, and tighter regulations on inefficient, toxic and waste generating products,"noted Dr Andrew Thomson, Chief Executive Officer of BEC. "European Union (EU) Directives on the end-of-life treatment of and the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electric products -- better known as the Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Directive on Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) -- the former requires producers to be responsible for taking back and recycling of products, while the latter bans the use of hazardous substances - are having a significant impact on the way that electrical and electronic equipment manufactures make their products. Similar requirements are expected in other Hong Kong export markets including Mainland China, South Korea, or even Latin American countries such as Mexico and Brazil."
Such policies are not just limited to specific product types. In Mainland China, the Central Government has put much emphasis in the Eleventh Five Year Plan on the promotion of environmentally friendly products. In the EU, the Integrated Product Policy seeks to stimulate market of environmentally friendly products through economic instruments (such as taxation) and encouraging eco-design.
"Green consumerism is also gaining ground locally as the general public becomes more aware of about the benefits of environmentally sound products. As consumers become more concerned about environmental issues, they will demand more eco-products. This will help drive Hong Kong companies to develop innovative products for domestic consumption as well as for export. It is a triple-win situation - consumers, businesses and the environment all benefit," added Dr Thomson.
Numerous consumer surveys around the world point to an upward trend in the green products market. For example, a survey done last year in the UK indicates half of affluent young professionals are prepared to pay more for products and services coming from responsible companies. Hong Kong surveys have suggested that 23.5% of consumers would still choose to buy environmentally friendly products even they are 5 to 10 percent more expensive. International buyers are also looking for eco-products: in a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in the Hong Kong Houseware Fair 2005, 64% of buyers indicated they would source more environmental friendly products in the coming three years.
Demand for eco-products will continue to increase locally in Hong Kong as the Government imposes more rigorous policies in areas such as waste reduction and energy conservation. Mandatory energy efficiency labeling of three major types of home appliances is expected in the coming one to two years. Plans for imposing waste charges and producer responsibility schemes, as recently laid out in Government's policy framework for waste management, will also stimulate local demand for eco-products. The Award responds directly to these demands by encouraging the design and manufacture of environment-friendly products.
The Award assessments cover entrant's attributes across their life cycle: design, manufacture, packaging, use, and end of life, in consideration of the criteria of energy, materials, recyclability, reusability, waste, toxic substances and others appropriate to each entry.
The Award is now open for entries until April 13, 2006. Assessment for qualified entries will be conducted by an international panel of green product experts between April to June 2006, with the award presentation scheduled in July, 2006. Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards will be given to winners. Winning companies can also display the Hong Kong Eco-Products Award 2006 logo on their corporate letterhead for a period of three years.
For further information about the Hong Kong Eco-Products Award 2006, please contact Mr. Chris Lee at (+852) 2784 3936 or visit the BEC website at www.bec.org.hk.
About the Business Environment Council (www.bec.org.hk)
The Business Environment Council (BEC) is a leading independent cross-sector business association in Hong Kong advocating sustainable development. Its aim is to balance economic, social and environmental interests whilst empowering competitiveness. BEC is a Regional Network Partner of the World Business Council of Sustainable Development.
Established in 1989, BEC has expanded to a network of more than 20,000 companies, offered more than 700 environmental programs, benefited more than 70,000 professionals, assessed more than 100 building projects exceeding 60 million sq ft, and organized the Hong Kong Awards for Industries in Environmental performance for 14 years.