HKAEE and HKGOC honour businesses for achieving environmental excellence (with photos)

The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:
 
     The 2021 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) and Hong Kong Green Organisation Certification (HKGOC) Presentation Ceremony was held today (February 20) in a hybrid format at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and online, to commend winners for their green management practices and their contributions to environmental protection. Winners of the 2021 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA) and corporations certified as Hong Kong Green Organisations (HKGOs) in 2021 were also commended at the presentation ceremony.
 
     The number of entries competing for the HKAEE reached a record high of 3 115, more than an eightfold increase compared with the figure for 2008, when the awards were launched. A total of 55 organisations won gold, silver or bronze awards this year, and 164 received certificates of merit. There were 81 entries in the 2021 HKGIA, a figure around five times higher than that of 2011 when the HKGIA was established. To commend company management and employees for their dedication in enhancing the environmental performance of their respective companies and the community, four awardees were selected under the Outstanding Green Achiever Commendation Scheme. In addition, 23 organisations were honoured as Outstanding HKAEE Promotional Partners.
 
     The officiating guests of the ceremony included the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), Professor Simon Wong; the Vice-chairman of the ECC, Ms Jenny Li; the Convenor of the Education Working Group under the ECC, Mr Wong Chi-keung; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Miss Janice Tse; and the Acting Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui.
 
     Mr Tse congratulated the winning companies and organisations at the presentation ceremony. He praised them for their dedication in promoting environmental protection despite the challenges under the pandemic and economic downturn. He also expressed his gratitude for their participation in pursuing corporate social responsibilities as well as implementing various effective measures and innovative solutions for environmental protection while operating their businesses and setting good examples in their industries. He said that the Government had launched a number of schemes to combat climate change and the involvement by all sectors of society is indispensable.
 
     The HKAEE commends organisations that have demonstrated outstanding environmental performance in 15 different sectors. The three judging criteria are green leadership, programme and performance, and partner synergy. The final adjudicating panels comprise the Chairman and members of the ECC, as well as representatives from major chambers of different sectors in Hong Kong.
 
     The HKGIA aims to encourage local organisations to tackle environmental challenges using new ideas that will benefit the environment. The three assessment criteria are levels of innovation, environmental achievements, and practicability and contribution to society.
 
     The HKGOC aims to benchmark green performances of organisations and encourages them to sustain their environmental initiatives in four major aspects, namely waste reduction, energy saving, carbon reduction and indoor air quality improvement by issuing them relevant certificates. Participating organisations can obtain the title of HKGO if they can demonstrate and attain certain environmental achievements such as winning HKAEE awards, signing any of the environment-related charters launched or are supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, or possess a valid ISO 14001 certificate. To date, over 3 000 organisations from different industries have obtained the title of HKGO, among which 1 167 organisations gained the title in 2021.
 
     The HKAEE and the HKGOC are jointly organised by the ECC, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Advisory Council on the Environment, the Business Environment Council, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Productivity Council. The HKAEE and the HKGOC are sponsored by the Environment and Conservation Fund.