A guide to the best sustainable brands in Hong Kong

A future of scarce resources and limited energy is even more reason for us to bring eco-friendly products into our homes and refine our lifestyle choices. One way to reduce your ecological footprint is to be aware of your consumption and source products from sustainable brands. We’ve compiled a list of the best sustainable brands in Hong – with products ranging from kitchenware and clothing to perfumes and stationary – so you can be part of the change you wish to see in the world.

Coconut Matter

Guaranteeing to craft products from natural, vegan ingredients and without animal testing, Coconut Matter offers handcrafted cosmetics and personal care products – all based on the coconut’s health benefits. The brand sources sustainable ingredients, with the core ingredient being Fairtrade, organic, virgin coconut oil.

Coconut Matter makes a social impact by partnering with Kokonut Pacific, an organization that works with rural populations in tropical regions to improve livelihoods by promoting their coconut trades. They also make an environmental impact through their initiative to produce minimal waste as well as their choice of biodegradable packaging.

John Masters Organics

A producer of organic and toxin-free products, John Masters Organics offers a range of haircare, skin care, body care and aromatherapy products. All of the products are formulated with at least 70% or more organic content – excluding water and salt – which includes nature-based ingredients sourced without the use of conventional or synthetic pesticides. Each organic ingredient in their formulas has been certified or approved by the USDA National Organic Program.

Endorsed by PETA, the brand also doesn’t use animal testing. John Masters’ – the founder of John Masters Organics – knowledge of early herbology is practiced in the development of their products, guaranteeing customers nature’s cure-alls – herbs, flowers, oils and grains packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for long-lasting beauty.

Bamboa

Founded in 2008, Bamboa is the first bamboo retailer in Asia. The store is dedicated to producing durable and practical home and lifestyle products made from sustainably sourced bamboo. Bamboa’s products are biodegradable and pesticide-free, guaranteeing no additional harm to the environment. The store offers a bamboo sleepwear collection and bedding set which are hypoallergenic – ideal for customers with sensitive skin. Not limited to home and lifestyle products, Bamboa also offers a range of fashionable bamboo-made accessories including hats, handbags, jewelry and even sunglasses. Bamboa’s products are handmade in rural communities in Asia which also contributes to mitigating poverty in peripheral regions.

Slowood

Inspired by the zero-waste initiatives in New Zealand, Slowood provides a range of eco-alternatives for your daily basic needs. Recycled, biodegradable, zero-waste and ecologically friendly are some of the keywords the brand’s values are associated with – all the building blocks of a sustainable lifestyle.

Slowood sources from more than 100 international and local brands to offer sustainable home and lifestyle products, as well as providing grocery staples in bulk portions. The stores have refill stations where customers can purchase reusable storage containers or bring in their own clean containers to stock up on items such as grains, herbs, nuts and spices at affordable prices. Slowood also offers customers a range of sustainable beauty and clothing items, as well as a reusable mask – which is especially suitable during this pandemic.

Womb

Womb is an online retail platform in Hong Kong, which features several independent brands that offer ethical, vegan and sustainable products – from homeware and cosmetics to fashion accessories. Founded by Kasia Galak and Maria Grzywacz, Womb provides a platform for ecologically friendly brands – from the local apparel company, Cosmos Studio, which introduces a new sustainable dyeing technique, or Miamiko, a biodegradable yoga mat brand to the 100% recycled paper stationery line Magdalena Tekieli – “to nurture and grow."

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