The HKSAR Government is actively positioning the city as a premier hub for mega events, with a series of large-scale exhibitions and events held each year. However, after the events, a large number of unusable uniforms, T-shirts, tablecloths, etc. would be left behind. In addition, schools would also add to this stream of textile waste, with old school uniforms ending up in landfills.
Hanin Enterprises Limited, a garment manufacturing enterprise rooted in Hong Kong for 50 years, is offering a sustainable solution. By partnering with both event organizers and schools, the enterprise collects the discarded textiles and upcycles them into new products. What was once considered waste is now being transformed into items like bear dolls, floor mats, and coasters, demonstrating that environmental protection can also bring business opportunities.
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Mr. Paul Chan observed a massive amount of textile waste being discarded annually. Photo source: offered by the interviewee
Through recycling, the discarded materials could be transformed into eco-friendly carpets with antibacterial and flame-retardant properties. Photo source: offered by the interviewee
ESG School HK previously collaborated with Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School to hold a "Used School Uniform Recycling Upgrade Workshop". Photo source: offered by the interviewee
Old clothing could be converted into carpets, coasters, yoga mats, passport holders, and other products. Photo source: offered by the interviewee
In addition to the aforementioned recycling and reprocessing, ESG School HK also manufactures its own school uniforms. Photo source: offered by the interviewee
Mr. Paul Chan, the Chief Creative Officer of ESG School HK, Photo by Bastille Post
20 Pieces Per Person: Our Annual Clothing Discard
In Bastille Post's interview, Mr. Paul Chan, the Chief Creative Officer of ESG School HK—an eco-friendly school uniform brand under Hanin Enterprises Limited—observed a massive amount of textile waste being discarded annually, which he considered extremely wasteful. According to the “Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong - Waste Statistics for 2023” released by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), an average of 402 tonnes of textile waste was discarded daily in 2023, totaling nearly 147,000 tonnes annually, with a recycling rate of approximately 16.2%. Based on a population of 7 million in Hong Kong, the figure equates to approximately 20 pieces of clothing discarded per person.
Mr. Paul Chan observed a massive amount of textile waste being discarded annually. Photo source: offered by the interviewee
This alarming figure inspired Mr. Chan to explore the possibility of recycling old garments. However, the path is fraught with challenges. Used clothing carries risks of contamination and bacteria, while the complex blend of materials in most garments makes traditional mechanical recycling ineffective at separating blended fibers. Although chemical separation technology is feasible, it remains costly and challenging to scale. To tackle these issues at the source, Mr. Chan came up with the idea of recycling school uniforms. By partnering with schools and companies, ESG School HK can ensure standardized material composition, enabling traceability and brand protection while preventing discarded uniforms from entering the grey market.
In fact, schools, hotels, and medical institutions discard even more uniforms due to frequent updates. Since there will be specific uniforms for large events, which may feature specific prints or logos that make reuse difficult. As for schools, the rapid growth of children means uniforms would be quickly outgrown, rarely lasting through entire primary and secondary education, resulting in old school uniforms ending up in landfills.
Eco-friendly Lion Doll: Cooperation with MGM
One of the enterprise's key partners is the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), whose packed annual calendar of exhibitions and events generates significant quantities of used clothing, tablecloths, and carpets—materials that were once simply discarded. Nevertheless, at present, with the cooperation of Mr. Chan's team, HKCEC can collect approximately four tons of old uniforms and other textiles. Through recycling, these materials were transformed into eco-friendly carpets with antibacterial and flame-retardant properties, which were supplied back to HKCEC—realizing the loop from "old waste to new carpets."
Through recycling, the discarded materials could be transformed into eco-friendly carpets with antibacterial and flame-retardant properties. Photo source: offered by the interviewee
Beyond HKCEC, the team will partner with MGM hotels to release eco-friendly lion dolls, with a cape made from recycled plastic bottles, a body incorporating corn and bamboo fibers, and a heart crafted from recycled carpets. Through this adorable doll figure, the message of environmental protection can be vividly conveyed.
School is ESG School HK's primary partner. ESG School HK previously collaborated with Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School to hold a "Used School Uniform Recycling Upgrade Workshop", recording carbon emission reduction data via a specially designed recycling scale. The activity enabled the school to successfully recycle over 253 kilograms of old school uniforms, recording a carbon dioxide emission reduction of 3203.3 kilograms, equivalent to the carbon absorbed by 133 trees in a year. This year, the team will further collaborate with approximately 10 local schools to launch the "Green in School" project, cultivating students' awareness of recycling.
ESG School HK previously collaborated with Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School to hold a "Used School Uniform Recycling Upgrade Workshop". Photo source: offered by the interviewee
From Old Uniforms to Coasters and Passport Holders
ESG School HK collaborates with local social enterprise Dress Green to recycle collected uniforms. After antibacterial disinfection, flame-retardant treatment, hand-cutting of hardware, and color sorting, the old textiles are transformed into handmade shirts and UNI Bear dolls. Simultaneously, in partnership with Eco Hope, ESG School HK utilizes recycled plastic to create granules for filling and develops technology for converting old clothing into granules, adhesives to create carpets, coasters, yoga mats, passport holders, and other products.
Old clothing could be converted into carpets, coasters, yoga mats, passport holders, and other products. Photo source: offered by the interviewee
Mr. Chan stated that as of September 2025, 14,000 pieces of old clothing have been recycled, reducing carbon emissions by 50,000 kilograms, equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of over 2,000 trees.
Eco-friendly Uniforms: Worn by Over 12,000 Students
In addition to the aforementioned recycling and reprocessing, ESG School HK also manufactures its own school uniforms. The purpose of Mr. Chan in founding ESG School HK comes from his own experience of choosing school uniforms for his daughter. Finding the inferior school uniform quality on the market: prone to damage and fading after washing, manufactured by materials that seem to be from 30 or 40 years ago, which is a stark contrast to the technological advancements in clothing nowadays, Mr. Chan questioned, "Why are our everyday clothes becoming increasingly advanced, while school uniforms are stagnating?" With such thought, he decided to bring sustainable concepts to the school uniform industry based on the enterprise's long-standing background in serving international brands in eco- friendly clothing manufacturing.
In addition to the aforementioned recycling and reprocessing, ESG School HK also manufactures its own school uniforms. Photo source: offered by the interviewee
He pointed out that the concept of eco-friendly clothing has gained global maturity, with many internationally renowned brands using recycled or low-carbon materials in 60-70% of their products. However, the Hong Kong school uniform market has long been dominated by a few leading enterprises, lacking an innovative motive. During the pandemic, ESG School HK has successfully developed antibacterial coating technology and established the brand, whose flagship product is the school uniforms made primarily from new eco-friendly materials such as bamboo fiber and corn-derived fiber, offering a cool touch and exceptional elasticity, improving 30% greater durability and wearing comfort compared to traditional school uniforms. while increasing costs by only 10% to 15%.
Mr. Chan stated that in the three years since the brand's establishment, the number of partner schools has increased from the initial 4 to 60. As of September 2025, over 12,000 students have begun to wear eco-friendly uniforms, leading to a cumulative carbon reduction of over 50,000 kilograms. In addition to school uniforms, the enterprise also provides uniform upgrade solutions for hospitals, businesses, hotels, and the catering industry. For example, the enterprise has released chef uniforms made from bamboo fiber, providing a cooling sensation similar to bamboo mats in high-temperature environments, with balanced functionality and comfort.
Mr. Paul Chan, the Chief Creative Officer of ESG School HK, Photo by Bastille Post
In Mr. Chan's eyes, the recycling business still faces significant challenges. From old clothing collection, multiple pre-processing steps, meticulous manual sorting, to processing and manufacturing, each step consumes substantial manpower and resources, directly increasing the cost of recycled products. He admitted that the recycling business would be hard to generate direct profits if solely relying on market operations. The government policy support and relevant legislation would also be important factors to break through the scale bottleneck and truly lead Hong Kong's textile industry towards a sustainable future.
