50 Link malls participate in Lai See Packet Recycling Programme

Last year, Greeners Action collaborated with The Link Management Limited (“The Link”) to organise a 10-day Lai See Packet Recycling Programme in 50 of The Link’s shopping centres. Equivalent to saving six trees, a total of 120,000 lai see packets were successfully collected and sent to more than 40 organisations, including schools, women’s organisations and Mutual Aid Committees, encouraging the reuse of lai see packets during the Chinese New Year. More companies have joined this year to raise public awareness of reusing lai see packets. In addition to collection boxes placed in 50 of The Link’s centres, the Agile Group will place collection stations in Zhongshan, Foshan and Guangzhou to promote reduced wastage by recycling lai see packets that are reusable.

Today, Greeners Action also made a public announcement at Lung Cheung Plaza about the lai see packet collection boxes that will be placed in 50 of The Link’s shopping centres. In addition to The Link’s centres, private housing estates, schools, clubs and other shopping malls in Hong Kong are also considering or have agreed to place collection boxes in their venues. Among the new participants in this programme, first-time supporter Agile Group has received a positive response to the collection boxes. Greeners Action hopes that over 200,000 lai see packets can be collected, exceeding last year’s result, and would like to see the programme held again with more companies and organisations joining in. They also wish to see the public getting used to the idea of reusing lai see packets as an environmentally-friendly practice during Chinese New Year, similar to the now publicly-accepted practice of using old notes for lai see packets following a four-year promotion by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

Greeners Action turns old lai see packets into renewed lai see packets by sorting collected packets according to size, shape and colour, then stamping “thank you for supporting the lai see packet recycling programme” on the back. The processed lai see packets are then sent to non-profit organisations for recycling.

Greeners Action shared five tips for selecting lai see packets for recycling: Choose 1) non-self-adhesive lai see packets; 2) packets without Chinese zodiacs or years; 3) packets without surnames; 4) unfolded or untorn packets, and; 5) small size packets with simple designs in order to save paper.

Greeners Action further called on companies in Hong Kong not to give out lai see packets indiscriminately for promotional purposes.

Mr Ho Hon Wai, Chief Executive Officer of Greeners Action, said, “The concept of recycling lai see packets is still not popular in Hong Kong. We hope seemingly insignificant lai see packets can remind people about the idea of reusing and recycling to minimise the wastage problem during Chinese New Year. Citizens can also reuse and recycle lai see packets at home by themselves to maintain environmentally-friendly habits every Chinese New Year, and ultimately promote such a concept to other Chinese societies.”

Ms Irene Fisher, Head of Property Management of The Link, added, “The Link is in full support of the Lai See Packets Recycling Programme. With our extensive network of shopping centres, we will continue placing collection boxes in our 50 shopping centres and encouraging environmental practices among shoppers and nearby residents in their everyday practices. The result of last year was exciting, and I believe that it can be topped by acting together this year.”

In response to the Lai SeePackets Recycling Programme, Assistant General Manager and Company Secretary of the Agile Group, Ms Wai Ching Sum, said, “Our group is delighted to take part in this meaningful activity. We would like to invite the public to collect their own and their children’s lai see packets and hand them to any collection area in Zhongshan, Foshan, Guangzhou or Hong Kong. Such an act not only can save the environment but also teach the next generation how to safeguard the environment and enjoy an environmentally- friendly Chinese New Year together. If the outcomes of such an activity are positive, we will consider running it in other projects in the Mainland in the future. The board of directors is supportive of the sustainability of our planet and passed some environmental policies last year, aiming to introduce more environmentally-friendly initiatives in our business.”