Podcast: Play in new window | Embed
Fanny Moritz’s mission is to make a Zero Waste lifestyle more accessible here in Hong Kong.
Fanny felt inspired by reading fellow French native Bea Johnson’s influential book Zero Waste Home. However, when she tried to put into action all that she learned, she found that there were very few shops that thought holistically about packaging reduction or that offered alternatives to the plastic products so pervasive in Hong Kong.
The challenge – why Zero Waste?
Fanny founded NO!W No Waste, an online marketplace to empower people that are interested in challenging themselves to live a Zero Waste life.
Chatting with Fanny Moritz, Founder of NO!W No Waste about all things Zero Waste lifestyle
The problem – Plastic waste is growing exponentially
As we learned last week hearing from adventurers Esther Röling and Paul Niel, Hong Kong has a huge problem with plastic waste littering its coasts. In a recent South China Morning Post article, it reads that last year a devastating 5.2 million plastic bottles were dumped in Hong Kong every day, more than enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Luckily, Fanny had a great skill to help her on her journey to becoming an e-commerce entrepreneur – 10 years in website design.
All that experience is obvious when looking around NO!W NoWaste’s beautiful, minimalist website.
“I think of you when I put my trash out,” Fanny’s friends say.
Fanny takes this as a compliment. She understands that not everyone is going to aspire to a full zero waste lifestyle, but she has been encouraged by her friends who are starting to make small changes – for instance from liquid to bar soap.
Fanny Moritz and Berenice Guinel in action. You will often find them out and about educating and sharing their experience on how to lead a Zero Waste life. Meet them at one of their next events.
Changing hearts and minds of people in Hong Kong about reducing consumption is difficult, as, unlike France where Fanny grew up, recycling isn’t universally available and environmental issues are not front of mind.
There are also specific challenges in Hong Kong, like the poor quality tap water, which leads to the consumption of so many plastic bottles.
Fanny is hopeful that Hong Kong can change. Share on XThe mission – Each little step counts
Fanny is hopeful that Hong Kong can change. As in the month that her website has been live, most of the purchases are local Hong Kongers. She and her staff know that they need to work hard to get the conversation started, and not just with early adopters. They host a monthly pop-up store, where potential customers can evaluate the products and ask questions of Fanny and her team.
“I take out the trash once every two weeks,” Fanny shares.
This is inconceivable to most of us living in tiny Hong Kong apartments with no or minimal recycling on offer. Especially unthinkable when you have a little person at home! Fanny’s remaining waste is mainly food waste as she doesn’t have a place to compost.
Fanny describes some of her favourite products, including reusable beeswax food wrap and microfibre cleansing cloths that eliminate the need for cotton pads and make-up remover.
Stop by at the NO!W No Waste website. An online platform for people interested in learning about a Zero Waste lifestyle.
Currently, they’re only shipping in Hong Kong, but they have already started doing events in other countries, and are active in the wider Asian Zero Waste movement. Fanny also hopes to start taking their waste reduction message to businesses, as places like hotels and restaurants produce even more trash than households.
#impACT
- Look at your trash – see what you are throwing away the most.
- Activate your curiosity and Google it – “what’s an alternative for…” As Fanny points out, the products are out there; we just have to look.
- Check out the products and resources on NO!W No Waste and other Hong Kong Zero Waste blogs. You’ll find information on stores that sell goods in bulk and with minimal packaging and workshops to learn more. If you are based in Hong Kong, make sure to stop by at one of Fanny’s next NO!W No Waste events.
