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10 Ways to Save the Environment
Did you know that we're losing 18.7 million acres of trees - the equivalent of 27 soccer fields every minute? That is 50% of all the trees in the world gone in the past 100 years. Did you know that only 3% of Earth's water is fresh water? And at our current consumption rate, two thirds of humanity will face water shortages by 2025? Did you know that 500,000 square kilometers of ice (the size of two Texases) has melted off the Bering Sea? We are part of nature, and to betray nature is to betray ourselves. Let us join hands and commit to change in our small little ways to save our planet. [Source: World Wide Life]
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1. Go Vegetarian Not only is it healthier, going vegetarian is one of the most powerful things an individual can do to mitigate the inevitable degradation of our planet and improve sustainable practices. The problem with a heavily meat-centric diet is that it is extremely resource-intensive, as the majority of our food is consumed by livestock to grow meat, hence creating more greenhouse emissions and lead to hunger in developing countries. Going vegetarian is a great way to get more greens into your diet to improve health while practicing sustainability at the same time!
Did you know? Going vegetarian reduces risk of various chronic diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. [Source: Harvard Health Publishing]
2. Thrift shopping Going thrift shopping may be a refreshing sustainable practice that not only saves you money but also protects the environment. Ditch fast fashion this season and give second-handed vintage stores some credit. Vintage fashion is trendier than ever right now, so why not try out some of these looks? Starting from HK $20 a piece, sift through Hong Kong's underrated treasure troves and you might find yourself a gem!
Thrift Mee & Gee at their various locations:
3. Bring your own tumbler How many plastic cups have you used in your lifetime? Probably more than you can count! You can reduce your consumption with the simple sustainability idea of bringing your own water bottle or tumbler around with you. Many shops have created environmentally-friendly incentives that are win-win situations. As more restaurants are beginning to adopt similar initiatives, we are constantly reminded to bring our own reusable bottle to avoid disposable plastics. At Hotel ICON, every guestroom has a filtered water tap, so you can fill up your reusable tumbler with fresh water in the morning before you go out to explore Hong Kong. Using your own tumbler is a simple practice that helps improve and protect the environment every day.
4. Electric Cars raise the Bar Although some may argue that electric cars are expensive and require large amounts of energy to produce, it is definitely an investment worth considering in the future. These zero-emissions and efficient systems are quiet, sleek and the model of the future. There is an increasing number of models of electric cars on the market, so the options are not limited. It is time to move to more sustainable practices and using clean transportation. At Hotel ICON we offer a 100% electric fleet of Tesla Model S and BMW i3 cars so you can ride clean and in style.
5. No More Plastic Many hotels and restaurants alike are replacing plastic straws with compostable and degradable items (so have we). We should take ownership of our daily lives. From grocery bags to reusable glass or metal straws, there are plenty of creative alternatives and sustainable practices to reduce plastic consumption. Our guest rooms feature filtered water taps to replace plastic bottles that you can fill up a reusable bottle or glass with. Whenever possible, try to limit your usage of plastic as much as you can.
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6. Disposing Electronics Have you seen one of the many recycling bins around the city? How many of you are guilty of ignoring the signs and dumping your trash in the bin closest to you? Recycling properly is a small effort on our part to make a difference and it is imperative that everything is thoroughly washed out and uncontaminated. For instance, a cigarette butt in the plastic compartment contaminates the entire bin to the point that it is unfit for recycling in Hong Kong. Be mindful of your recycling choices to help protect the environment.
7. Recycle.. PROPERLY! Have you seen one of the many recycling bins around the city? How many of you are guilty of ignoring the signs and dumping your trash in the bin closest to you? Recycling properly is a small effort on our part to make a difference and it is imperative that everything is thoroughly washed out and uncontaminated. For instance, a cigarette butt in the plastic compartment contaminates the entire bin to the point that it is unfit for recycling in Hong Kong. Be mindful of your recycling choices to help protect the environment.
8. Say NO to Microbeads Microbeads are tiny, exfoliating particles found in many cosmetics and daily toiletries that unfortunately get dumped in the oceans and eaten by some marine animals. The consequence is a contaminated food chain and a disrupted marine ecosystem. Some countries like the UK have completely banned microbeads for good. Look out for these sneaky particles which you may be using.
9. Leave your car at home Fortunately, public transportation in Hong Kong is a whiz and it takes you to almost anywhere in Hong Kong. Take the MTR, bus, bike around or carpool (the more the merrier, no?). The MTR can get you almost anywhere in the city quickly and is a much better deal than taking a taxi. If you must drive, plan your trips in advance to save gas, time and effort.
10. Changing the norm Nothing spreads faster than word of mouth. Change starts with you. Turn these sustainability ideas into habits and influence others to do the same. If more people are committed to sustainable practices, the impact becomes much more powerful. Together, let's make going green the new norm.
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To donate to Hong Kong's various environmental organizations including World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, Clean Air Network and Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, please click here.
