Green Monday (organization)
 | |
| Social enterprise | |
| Founded | Hong Kong （2012） |
| Founder | David Yeung、Francis Ngai |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong |
| Website | http://www.greenmonday.org.hk/ |
Green Monday (GM) is a startup that makes low-carbon and sustainable living simple. Founded in 2012 in Hong Kong, GM is aimed at tackling climate change and ensuring food security. It is selected by FAST COMPANY magazine to be among China's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies of Year 2014. In 2015, Green Monday launched “Green Common” in Hong Kong to empower the community with food choices that are sustainable, innovative, wholesome and responsible.
Green Monday cites references from the United Nations that livestock industry and factory farming are the number one contributor of the world's carbon footprint. Meat production also consumes a disproportionate amount of water and land resources, which directly jeopardizes food security and environmental sustainability.
As of 2014, results of a survey by market research company Ipsos showed that 1.6 million Hong Kong people, or 23% of the city's total population, embrace "Green Monday" - an increase of 18% from 2012,[1] and over 1,000 restaurants in Hong Kong are offering their menus.
History
Green Monday started to grow beyond Hong Kong in 2014. Events that marked their international recognition and growth include:
- The University of Columbia became the first university in the US to launch Green Monday on their campus.[2]
- Fast Company (magazine) named Green Monday among China's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies of Year 2014.[3]
- The US Consulate of Hong Kong, the American Humane Society and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong became Green Monday's partners.[1]
- Green Monday was launched at the Washington University in St. Louis in January 2015, becoming the second university in the US to join the program[4]
- Green Monday's School Program has been sponsored by a local bank Charitable Foundation.[5] As of 2014, More than 800 schools with about 600,000 students from kindergarten to university in Hong Kong pledged to observe "Green Monday".[1] From November 2012 to June 2013, the average vegetarian meal order rate increased from 4% to 42%.
- Major universities in Hong Kong, including the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hong Kong University have also joined the Green Monday School Program.
- Outside Hong Kong, Columbia University, Washington University in St. Louis, UCLA and Tsinghua University have launched Green Monday on their campuses.
Criticism
Although Green Monday is often compared with another movement Meatless Monday, Green Monday insists that they simply want to create more plant-based options in the market and advise against removing conventional meat options.
External links
References
- 1 2 3 "'Green Monday' backed by 1.6m fans". Chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ↑ "Green Monday at Columbia University!". YouTube. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ↑ "快公司中文网". Fastcompany.cn. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ↑ "Sustainable Dining, Green Monday". Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ↑ "Local Bank Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Bochk.com. Retrieved 5 January 2015.