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Hong Kong’s dining scene is nothing short of wonderful. From the best dim sum in the world to a smorgasbord of international cuisines, there’s a reason that our city is considered a food paradise. In fact, Hong Kong has one of the highest densities of restaurants in the world, with one restaurant or café for every 600 residents—and a strong culture of dining out that means that most people eat at a restaurant at least once a week. But all that eating comes at a cost, with everything from sourcing to packaging and even the very design of a restaurant having an impact on the environment.
Here to help is Food Made Good Hong Kong, the local chapter of the UK-based organisation of the same name, which champions sustainable practices in all areas of food service. Through its member organisation, the consultancy offers valuable insight to member businesses on how to make their operations better for the planet as a whole—so that one day, dining out will actually have a restorative impact on the planet. Read on for all the ways that Food Made Good is helping the food service industry become more sustainable, one meal at a time.
It’s no secret that raising livestock for meat is an incredibly resource-intensive endeavour—just think about the land, water, energy, and feed required to farm animals—which is why Food Made Good encourages its member restaurants to serve more vegetables and better, smaller portions of meat. “Locally sourced,” “organic,” and “seasonal” are not just buzzwords to get people to spend more—they are qualities that are better both for the consumer and for the planet in the long run, helping to support local food producers and reduce the environmental impact of your ingredients. As part of its consultancy services, Food Made Good helps member restaurants to source better ingredients, whether that means local and seasonal produce, high welfare meat and dairy, or sustainably caught fish.
Besides caring for the planet, sustainability is also about creating a better world for the people that live in it. From ensuring that staff members at its member restaurants are treated well and afforded equal opportunities, to encouraging community events where restaurants give back to their supporters, and providing customers with healthy, balanced meals, investing in the society that we live in is part and parcel of Food Made Good’s mission. Member restaurants are encouraged to be socially inclusive, accessible, and provide fair working conditions—all of which goes a long way towards creating a more sustainable business.
By now, we all know what being eco-friendly entails in daily life: reduce food waste, conserve natural resources wherever possible, and reduce, reuse, recycle. All of these, while great on an individual scale, are even more effective when employed by a vast network of restaurants—especially when you think about the volume of food produced in a professional kitchen! Not only does Food Made Good require its member restaurants to abide by these rules, but it also works with businesses to optimise their operations in order to be more sustainable—whether that means using food waste in innovative ways, streamlining their operations to use less energy and water, or finding suppliers with low-waste, eco-friendly practices.
To raise the profile of their member businesses—and support them on their mission to make the restaurant industry more sustainable—Food Made Good hosts a programme of assessments, campaigns, and awards. Part of that programme is the flagship Food Made Good Awards, an annual event that recognises and celebrates the achievements of its members across 10 key areas of the sustainability framework, and gives winners the opportunities to share the initiatives they have implemented on their sustainability journey.
In 2021, restaurants like Somm at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Mana!, Treehouse, and SpiceBox Organics took home awards for their achievements in overall sustainability, sourcing, environmental impact, and more. Year-round, being part of the Food Made Good network also acts as a sign of quality assurance that telegraphs the restaurant’s verified sustainable status to diners who want to put their money where their mouth is—so they, too, can make informed, planet-friendly choices when dining out.
In all the above ways—and more—Food Made Good is changing the Hong Kong food industry for the better, from small cafés and grab-and-go spots to internationally renowned fine-dining restaurants like Amber, Arcane, and Mott 32. With the backing of renowned chefs like Richard Ekkebus and Shane Osborn, Food Made Good is making a tangible impact on the Hong Kong restaurant industry that we can see (and taste!) for ourselves.
Its efforts have been noticed and supported by big-name players across various industries; the Food Made Good Awards 2021 was made possible by lead sponsor Henderson Land Group and with the support of the UK’s Department for International Trade, Hysan, Fresh Accounting, and InvestHK. To learn more about their mission, find your nearest member restaurant, or even apply for membership for your business, visit the Food Made Good website.
Food Made Good Hong Kong is the local chapter of the UK-based organisation of the same name. Through its membership organisation and consultancy services, Food Made Good is on a mission to build a more sustainable food system.
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