Beyond Recognition: The Caring Company Scheme Brings Hong Kong Caring Culture to New Level

Being as Hong Kong’s most extensive cross-sector recognition platform for two decades, the Caring Company Scheme by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) will bring in international sustainability standards for bridging businesses and non-profits to co-create a caring Hong Kong.

Over the past two decades, the Scheme has mobilised over 4,000 companies or organisations, and more than 500 NGOs, contributing HK$3.9 billion to community projects, creating 90,000 training opportunities for vulnerable groups, and delivering more than 1.8 million volunteer hours.

Entering a new era in 2025, the Scheme will go beyond recognition to align with international sustainability standards. New benchmarks will cover four areas — social, economic, environmental, and partnerships — while a three-tier system will assess companies on governance, data tracking, disclosure, and collaboration. The aim is to localise global sustainability standards, set clear entry points for responsible business, and guide enterprises towards deeper, long-term impact for the society. 

One of the longest-running examples of such collaboration is the partnership between KMB and Suicide Prevention Services (SPS), which began in 2006.
“At first KMB joined our holiday visits, but later it developed into regular visits and even training in emotional support and suicide prevention,” said Justin Leung, Programme Manager of SPS. “The most impressive thing is how their volunteers transformed from casual helpers into people equipped with real knowledge and skills. For NGOs, that is an invaluable resource.”

Carmen Ng, Head of Customer Experience at KMB, said the collaboration has been transformative for the company too. “Through the Caring Company platform, we gradually found how we can contribute to the society besides donation. Our volunteer team now includes not just colleagues but even passengers who join ‘FRIENDS OF KMB’ to serve the community together.”

Meiriki, one of the local small and medium-sized companies, has also maintained a long-standing partnership with the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA) since 2006, co-organising activities for children and families. Since the summer of 2017, the two have launched a two-month summer programme teaching children and parents about healthy eating and nutrition. 

Ophelia Lin, Founder and Managing Director of Meiriki, said: “Businesses are not only about profit, but about taking social responsibility and giving back. That is the true path to sustainable development.”

Lin added that working with BGCA allows the company to invest in Hong Kong’s future: “Young people are the pillars of society’s future. By supporting their growth, we’re supporting the long-term well-being of the community.”

For BGCA, the partnership has been equally impactful. Billie Lau Chung, Executive Director of BGCA, noted: “What’s most valuable is not one-off sponsorships, but a company that walks alongside us for nearly twenty years. This partnership allows more young people to brand new exposure - health information, mentorship, publish music album and perform in live concert; also overseas learning trips.”

As the Caring Company Scheme sets new benchmarks in 2025, the stories of KMB and Meiriki highlight its essence: building sustainable business practices that are inseparable from community well-being, and proving that caring is not a slogan, but a shared responsibility.

Both KMB and Meiriki emphasised that responsible business practices go beyond charitable gestures. Lin explained: “For me, it’s about carrying out responsible business practices in a sustainable way. I don’t see it as simply doing good deeds — it’s about doing the right thing. If what we do benefits society, then that is what truly matters.”

Ng echoed this view, stressing that social care is now embedded in KMB’s corporate DNA: “Caring is not a one-off campaign for us. It’s about building systems that last. Responsible practices mean making sure our business grows together with society, not apart from it.”