To guide Hong Kong’s transition towards a more livable and sustainable city, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) has outlined the following eight sustainability principles to demonstrate the organization’s commitment to improving its environmental performance and provide a concrete framework and model for the aforementioned work goals:
(1) Compliance with regulations:
Comply with legal requirements and relevant environmental protection policies and guidelines to ensure HKFYG’s operations adhere to the law and the spirit of all relevant environmental protection laws, standards, and regulations, as well as the organization’s internal guidelines and procedures. Where possible, we strive to exceed the required standards.
(2) Pollution prevention and emission reduction:
Referring to international environmental and energy management standards like ISO, we continuously improve the environmental performance of our key properties. We also aim to avoid, reduce, and control environmental pollution caused by our daily operations. Additionally, we actively encourage the industry and other Hong Kong organizations to adopt similar systems and measures, such as energy and water conservation, reduction of air emissions and carbon footprint, improvement of indoor air quality, and ecological conservation.
(3) Resource consumption reduction:
Implement waste management to achieve resource reduction, waste minimization, reuse, and recycling of valuable waste. We will continue to improve our operations based on the principles of “using everything to the fullest, utilizing waste, reusing in a cycle, and choosing the best option,” to use natural resources and energy more effectively.
(4) Green procurement:
When purchasing products and services, environmental performance is one of the consideration criteria. In addition to reasonable costs, we also take into account the impact on human health and the environment when selecting high-quality products and services.
(5) Environmentally-friendly buildings:
Incorporate the concepts of green buildings into the design, construction, renovation, operation, and reuse of our premises through resource-saving methods. This aims to protect the health of users, improve employee productivity, optimize the use of energy, water, and other resources, and minimize the overall environmental impact.
(6) Communication and partnerships:
Collaborate with relevant organizations to promote and publicize youth environmental education activities, with the aim of fostering social support and participation. We will also publish an annual environmental report to the general public. Ensure all staff clearly understand the policy content and can explain the details of our policies and related measures to address issues of concern to relevant stakeholders in society.
(7) Staff training:
Provide appropriate training and professional development to ensure all employees have the necessary knowledge and capabilities to fulfill their responsibilities and contribute to the environmental protection work they are involved in.
(8) Environmental education:
Continue to strengthen young people’s awareness and participation in environmental protection and conservation, launch youth-led educational programs to make environmental education more interesting and effective, and call on society to change various aspects of daily life to adopt a cleaner, greener, and higher-quality lifestyle.
Management review:
The organization will review our policies, targets, and action plans for the environment, energy, and sustainable development in response to changes in internal and external factors, to continuously improve our performance.