DBS Hong Kong and Taikoo Place use food waste to feed the highest urban farm in Hong Kong

©DBS Hong Kong

DBS Hong Kong has partnered with Taikoo Place and Rooftop Republic, a local social enterprise supported by DBS Foundation, to build an urban farm atop One Island East (OIE) in Taikoo Place. Situated 300 meters above ground, the farm is the highest urban farm in Hong Kong. Named The Loop at One Island East, more than 30 organic seasonal crops are grown at the urban farm throughout the year. At the first harvest this September, 24 kilograms of fresh veggies were donated to the local food bank Feeding Hong Kong.

Food waste accounts for 30% of Hong Kong’s municipal solid waste and is a significant source of carbon emissions. When we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. To address the food waste issue, DBS Hong Kong continues to team up with Taikoo Place and will launch a revamped collection process to convert the food waste from its OIE office into compost to nourish crops being grown at the farm.

©DBS Hong Kong

The initiative aligns with the sustainable development strategies of both companies. DBS’ latest Towards Zero Food Waste (TZFW) program aims to raise both the public's and employees’ awareness of reducing food waste and adopting a more sustainable lifestyle. It will also be part of DBS’ effort to achieve net zero operational carbon emissions across the bank by 2022. On the other hand, guided by Swire Properties’ Sustainable Development 2030 Strategy launched in 2016, it's more aggressive Science-based Targets to help limit global temperature rising to 1.5°C were recently approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, with energy conservation and waste reduction a crucial part in its decarbonization journey.