Hong Kong is rapidly shifting from waste management to circular economy thinking—leveraging its role as a dense, service-oriented global city to develop scalable, tech-driven, and policy-aligned circular solutions.
Despite space constraints and high consumption patterns, Hong Kong is transforming its urban challenges into circular opportunities through smart regulation, public engagement, and regional collaboration with the Greater Bay Area.
Key signs of circular maturity in Hong Kong:
- Implementation of the Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035, targeting “Waste Reduction‧Resources Circulation‧Zero Landfill”
- Introduction of the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS) for e-waste, plastic beverage containers, and more
- Growth of recycling innovation (e.g. food waste-to-energy, smart bins, blockchain-enabled waste tracking)
- Rise of circular startups and social enterprises in reuse, repair, sustainable packaging, and materials innovation
- Circularity integrated in urban planning, construction standards, and education initiatives
- Strategic partnerships with mainland China to enhance circularity in logistics, manufacturing, and energy sectors
Hong Kong’s model showcases how circularity can thrive in a high-density economy through system thinking and technology—while influencing broader regional transitions.
At CEI, we support urban and regional circular transitions through:
Smart circular diagnostics and KPI frameworks
Circularity in urban master planning
Innovation advisory and ecosystem engagement
Public-private roadmap development
Can Hong Kong become a circular hub for Asia?
It’s well on its way—with policy, innovation, and collaboration driving the journey.