In early November, the Business Sustainability Conference 2024 featured a compelling lecture by Dr. Magnum Lam, Assistant Professor of Fashion Business at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His talk, titled “Garment Waste Recycling in Hong Kong: Navigating Challenges and Unlocking Opportunities,” shed light on the pressing environmental issues within the fashion and textiles industry.
Dr. Lam discussed the severe impact of garment waste, including landfills, carbon emissions, water pollution, and microplastics. He introduced the Garment Waste Hierarchy, emphasizing reuse, recycling, recovery, and, as a last resort, landfill. He also explored garment waste processing and relevant government policies like the “Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035,” aiming for waste reduction, resource circulation, and zero landfill.
Dr. Lam highlighted community efforts in clothing recycling and the challenges in managing garment waste, such as inconvenience, lack of knowledge, and organizational distrust. However, he also pointed out significant opportunities, including the growth of the second-hand market, increased consumer sustainability awareness, and the potential of downcycling businesses.
The conference underscored the critical need for innovative, visible, and sustainable supply chains to achieve long-term business resilience, with Dr. Lam’s insights serving as a vital reminder of the urgency in addressing garment waste.
