70pc of eateries scrap plastic cutlery one month after ban

A survey has found that more than 70 percent of restaurants and eateries in Hong Kong have switched to non-plastic disposable tableware after a ban on single-use plastics was implemented over a month ago.

The ban, which went into effect on April 22, has also led over 90 percent of hotels and retail stores to abandon single-use plastics.

Tam Jai International, a local restaurant group with over 190 outlets, made the switch to eco-friendly tableware like wooden chopsticks and pulp-made spoons last October.

The company’s corporate planning director Ken Or said customers are developing a “plastic-free” habit, with 70 percent of takeaway customers now refusing disposable tableware.

While the eco-friendly alternatives are slightly more expensive, Or said the group’s overall operating costs have not been impacted as more customers are willing to purchase the sustainable options.

To prepare for the new legislation, Tam Jai provided staff training on the operational changes and educating customers on the environmental benefits, a Tam Jai frontline staff member said.

Similarly, Hotel Stage in Yau Ma Tei has reduced its use of over 3,000 disposable water bottles and 5,000 bath product bottles within a month by installing filtered water dispensers and refillable shower amenity stations. The hotel also replaced seven types of plastic toiletries with eco-friendly materials.

General Manager Alex Wu said: “No guests have expressed dissatisfaction with these plastic-free measures.”

He said that with the prevalence of eco-tourism in recent years, similar plastic withdrawal policies have become commonplace in various regions that many travelers have become accustomed to bringing their own toiletries.

The retail sector has also adapted – with many suppliers switching to paper or bamboo cotton swabs ahead of the ban.

A Sha Tin pharmacy representative noted the environmentally-friendly alternatives cost about the same as plastic.

Members of the public appear to be embracing the plastic-free transition as well.

A local, Hannah, reported using reusable tableware for takeout, while mainland visitor Xu expressed support for the ban and said she preferred using reusable toiletries to plastic.