Millions of boxes of mooncake are consumed every year, generating considerable amount of waste such as metal containers and other packaging materials. To help mooncake manufacturers to introduce environmental considerations in the packaging design, the Environmental Protection Department has issued the "Environmental Guidelines on Mooncake Packaging Design" to the trade. By adopting environmentally friendly packaging, mooncake manufacturers will be able to provide add-on value for their products by optimising the various factors during the design stage, such as environmental protection, hygiene, shelf-life, transportation, appearance, brand image and costs.
To encourage mooncake manufacturers to strengthen the environmental management of the packaging materials, the department invited mooncake manufacturers to sign the Voluntary Agreement on Management of Mooncake Packaging since 2008. Under the agreement, the manufacturers commit to conserve resources through better design and production processes, facilitate the re-use and recycling of used packaging materials, and minimise the adverse environmental impact arising from the disposal of used packaging in their manufacturing and retail operations. In particular, the mooncake manufacturers will:
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Contain the use of packaging materials per unit weight of mooncake to the level of the year in which the Agreement was signed, and endeavour to further reduce packaging materials to practicable limit;
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Adopt packaging materials that are recyclable and with minimum environmental impact on post-consumption management; and
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Support and facilitate recovery and recycling of used packaging materials.
The mooncake manufacturers that have signed the voluntary agreement for 2011-12 with EPD are:
- Arome Bakery (HK) Co., Ltd.
- da dolce Gelato Italiano
- Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
- Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
- Hang Heung Cake Shop Co., Ltd.
- Holiday Inn Golden Mile (new)
- Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel
- Kee Wah Bakery Ltd.
- Langham Place Hotel, Mongkok, Hong Kong
- Luna Cake (new)
- Maxim’s Caterers Ltd.
- Panda Hotel
- Saint Honore Cake Shop Ltd.
- Taipan Bread & Cakes Co., Ltd.
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club (new)
How to participate
Mooncake manufacturers interested to join this Voluntary Agreement Scheme may contact the EPD (enquiry@epd.gov.hk).
Workshop on Management of Mooncake Packaging
To further strengthen the environmental management of the mooncake packaging materials and to promote the Voluntary Agreement, the EPD organized a Workshop on the Management of Mooncake Packaging on 25 June 2010 to update the trade on the development in green packaging and printing and the good management practice for mooncake packaging as well as to share some green tips on good mooncake packaging. For more details, please refer to the Workshop's Flier.
Recycling of Mooncake Packaging Materials
Apart from the efforts made by the mooncake manufacturers to reduce waste at source, active participation of the public in the recovery of mooncake packaging materials is indispensable. Public may return mooncake packaging materials for recycling through the following programmes:
Source Separation of Domestic Waste
Press Release
