Green Monday Movement Goes Global: Major International Award & Sands China Partnership

Devoted to fighting climate change and global food insecurity, Hong Kong’s homegrown social startup, Green Monday, has been at the forefront of promoting practical transitions to sustainable living by advocating plant-based meals on Mondays and inspiring actionable insights directed at our personal diets and carbon footprint through active campaigns. Six years after laying the groundwork for corporations, restaurants, schools and the public to take accountability of our social and environmental responsibilities, the endeavours of the Hong Kong platform are being recognised on the global stage. Below Green Queen highlights a few of their recent successes.

International Influence & Global Awards

This September, the city of Berkeley, California became the first in the US to adopt Green Monday’s notable once-a-week plant-based eating philosophy into local government in partnership with the social venture group. Vegan food will be served once a week at all city-managed facilities and programs, including all City Council meetings.

Earlier this month, the Schwab Foundation For Social Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, presented Green Monday’s founder, David Yeung, with the prestigious 2018 Social Entrepreneurs of the Year award. Yeung is only the second Chinese member to win such an accolade since 2010.

Omnipork Now Available All Hong Kong

The team behind Green Monday is also behind Asia’s first major food tech innovation, Omnipork, the first 100% plant-based minced pork alternative. Developed for the local palate, Omnipork is now available in a wide variety of dishes from upscale Michelin-starred Cantonese specialities to nutritious budget-friendly street food eats around Hong Kong. Conscious consumers can try them out at these restaurants, including Cantonese favourite Food Expressions at IFC mall. A retail launch is planned soon, as well as expansion into other markets.

The plant-based meat alternative industry is making huge strides: both Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, the behemoth Silicon Valley ‘meatless burger’ companies were just awarded the United Nations’ highest accolade for the environment: the Champions of the Earth Award in the Science and Innovation category. As Green Queen readers will surely know, Beyond Burger was brought to Hong Kong by Green Monday’s retail & distribution arm Green Common and been an unequivocal success, with sales quadrupling since April 2018.

Major Partnership Signed With Sands China

Further boosting their eco cred, Green Monday has just announced a major partnership with the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macau, Sands China, to launch a brand new initiative aimed at encouraging over 28,000 hotel employees to “go green” every Monday. The collaboration will offer more vegetable dishes in staff dining quarters at all Sands China properties, with a separate vegetarian counter offering six healthy choices of cutting-edge meat alternatives including the likes of Beyond Meat, Gardein and Omnipork. With Sands China accounting for almost 10% of Macau’s total workforce, this move is estimated to significantly decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 25 tonnes a day – the equivalent of a 1,300-ton reduction in CO2 throughout the course of a year. In line with the company’s Sands ECO360 Global Sustainability Strategy to reduce its carbon footprint, the coordinated effort will set a landmark standard in environmental initiatives and sustainable solutions across the hospitality industry. It’s a major win for the Hong Kong social movement. As per David Yeung himself, “As a listed company, there is no question Sands China is setting an outstanding example on how businesses can play a huge role in creating major positive social and environmental impact.”

Climate change is arguably the most pressing issue of our times. Driven primarily by activities like the burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions for the livestock industry, our precious planet is warming at an alarming rate and the impact of this covers ecosystem, human health, agriculture, food security, our water supply…need we go on? Green Monday’s vision, influence and reach are needed now more than ever, to lead Hong Kong and the rest of the world towards a more sustainable future. May they continue to grow from strength to strength. 

Images courtesy of Green Monday (lead and middle) and Sands China.