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Tell us a little bit about yourself.
We’re best friends and business partners who both grew up in Canada, with a deep respect for nature and wildlife. We met in Hong Kong many years ago, and discovered our shared passions for the environment and for media, which eventually led to a fantastic friendship and working together on the Hong Kong Cleanup and then launching Ecozine in 2012.
When did you first adopt a green lifestyle?
Lisa: Growing up in Canada, I was blessed to spend a lot of time outdoors – hiking, camping, sailing, and generally engaging with the amazing natural world. We also both grew up with recycling as a normal part of life, as well as composting for the garden. So, the green outlook was embedded in me from a very young age.
Nissa: I also went to a very progressive arts high school, labelled in my city as the “hippie school”, and I feel very lucky to have gone there. Many of the students came from environmentally-concerned families, and I was in the environment club, doing activities like tree plantings, holding clothing swaps, and organizing vegetarian lunch days in the cafeteria. It was a really fantastic environment to be in at a developmental age.
Both: We may not be perfect, but we constantly try to develop good habits and become better stewards for the environment. The more you know, the less you can ignore, and we are learning every day.
What is your greenest daily habit?
Lisa: I never, ever buy drinks in disposable plastic bottles. I carry a reusable water bottle everywhere I go. Tap water in Hong Kong is safe to drink, but with the money I save on bottled drinks, I’ve invested in an amazing water filter that makes the water a pleasure to drink!
Nissa: I have been using the same reusable shopping bag for about six years. It is made from upcycled parachute fabric, so it’s super lightweight, washes and dries easily, and folds into a little bag smaller than an egg. These things become a habit so easily once you start! I can’t imagine shopping without it now.
Tell us about Ecozine and its mission.
Ecozine’s mission is to make green mainstream, by providing content, experiences, and tools to serve our community. We aim to:
- Inform consumers about vital issues, campaigns, businesses and ideas in the world of sustainability;
- Inspire individual and community ac7on, awareness, discussion and sharing of information;
- Engage businesses and individuals who are doing good things, and bring them into the spotlight;
- Empower consumers to make smart, sustainable choices in their daily lives and purchases.
Essentially, we want to help everyday consumers lead smarter, more sustainable lives, by showing them how easy it can be and what steps they can take. We’re also there to support and promote companies and organizations who are doing good – from big corporations making big commitments to small social enterprises doing really innovative things to change the world.
What are some of the greenest features of Ecozine?
First and foremost, we focus a lot of our energy into our online edition, as we can reach more people with fewer resources and can highlight timely issues and events as they happen.
The quarterly print edition is printed on 100% recycled FSC paper, using soy-based inks. We only include advertisers we feel comfortable promoting – you’ll never find adverts for cigarettes or fast food outlets in our pages!
We hope to also set an example for the mainstream magazine industry by showing that a magazine printed on eco-friendly paper can feel as luxe and attractive to consumers as ones on conventional printing materials – in fact we would argue even more so!
Share a green Hong Kong tip with our readers.
Lisa: We blast the air conditioning out of habit in Hong Kong. If everyone – homes, shopping centres, restaurants, office – turned it down just a few degrees, it would make a big difference to our energy usage. I also use fans at home to keep the air moving, which helps a lot.
Nissa: Get outside! One of the best ways to learn to treasure nature is to get out of the city and enjoy it. And bring a bag along with you, because chances are, there will be trash on any hiking trail or beach you go to. Why not pick it up and make a difference while you’re at it.
Where is your favorite place to eat green in Hong Kong?
Lisa: At home! With the increase of amazing places to buy gluten-free, vegan, and organic groceries in recent years, it’s easier than ever to have a healthy green lifestyle. I shop regularly at places like Just Green, Organic 21, and local, organic farmer’s markets. I love to cook, and enjoy learning about new ways to create delicious meals that are better for me than a lot of pricey restaurant fare anyway.
Nissa: If you’d asked me that question five years ago, there’d only be a handful to choose from. Now, there are so many great green-friendly eateries in town! My favourites at the moment include Mana! Fast Slow Food for a hearty meal on the go and Calimex for a veggie Mexican fix; and I always look for the Green Monday menu when I eat out!
Green Queen Heroes is a monthly series showcasing the talented and relentless individuals who are helping to make Hong Kong a greener, cleaner, kinder place to live and giving us eco-warriors more accessible options!
All images courtesy of Ecozine.
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