Hello! This is Morris Ho from Hong Kong Branch, Head of Social Value and Well-being Committee (SVWC) in FY2022.

“Partnerships for the goals” is one of the 17 SDGs, as it is important for us to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. In this regard, we are very delighted to have a valuable partnership experience ISI-Dentsu of Hong Kong, Limited (ISID) in November 2022. ISID is an important partner of Hong Kong Branch, being a IT solution service vendor of us. Since September 2022, we have a several rounds of meetings between the representatives, and we exchanged our strategy and plans in terms of the social value and SDGs, including the possible ideas of joint activities. Finally, we both decided to organize a Shorelines Cleanup activity for clearing the marine refuse together in November.

Marine refuse generally means any solid waste, discarded or lost material, resulting from human activities, that has entered the marine environment irrespective of their sources. Marine refuse is a serious global problem whose impacts spread far beyond the world’s populated areas. Litter reaches all corners of the planet, at least 11 million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year; equivalent to the contents of one garbage truck being dumped into the sea every minute.

In 2021, around 1,500 tons of marine refuse collected from beaches in Hong Kong. Over 65% of shoreline refuse are plastic, 19% are foam plastic, and also wood, cloth, rubber, paper/cardboard, glass/ceramic, etc. All these can harm seriously to our beaches and the ocean organisms.

On 25 November 2022, Hong Kong Branch and ISID participated in a coastal cleanup event organized by Environmental Protection Department (EPD; a government body) and Environmental Association (EA) at Ma On Shan – Nai Chung. There are 20 colleagues joined this activity (13 from Hong Kong Branch and 7 from ISID).

Firstly, the staff from EA briefed us and gave instructions on picking up the marine refuse. A data card was given to us for recording refuse quantity and composition for Marine Refuse Study. It enables the Hong Kong Government to identify measures to enhance inter-departmental efforts to address the marine refuse problem. The key objectives of the study are to collect, collate and analyze up-to-date information on the sources, fates, distribution and movement of marine refuse in Hong Kong waters. The study will also review existing measures and formulate strategic policies to prevent and reduce marine refuse.

Apart from the objective of cleaning the shorelines, it was also a good chance for the participants to have a full-body exercise and to have team building experience and communication among the participants of the two companies. It is very meaningful and beneficial to our colleagues physically and mentally, so that we can contribute to the elements of “Physical Well-being” and “Community Well-being”.

After the coastal cleanup, the staff of EA gave us an ecological tour explaining the ecology and conservation value of beaches as well as the importance of keeping the coast clean. They explained and introduced to us that there are thousands of different kinds of ocean organisms living on the coastal, which is their home. No matter living on the sand surface or within the sand, they all have to face different challenges in terms of pollutions from human beings.

It is blessing to be able to contribute to the protection of the environment and the cleanliness of the coast, and at the same time breathe the fresh air in the suburbs and relax. It is very meaningful and beneficial to colleagues physically and mentally. Besides, after the collaboration with ISID, we found that “Partnerships for a goal” is really very important and useful in terms of promoting SDGs.  If possible, we would like to seek another opportunity with more different stakeholders to collaborate on SDGs activities in the future. Let’s protect our planet together!