Preserve the marine environment for our next generation

In Hong Kong, around 3.2 billion pieces of minuscule plastic pollutants flow from drains into the sea every day, which are toxic and adversely affect the development of animals and humans*. With reducing impacts to land and habitats as one of our key sustainability approaches, ExxonMobil Hong Kong (EMHK) focuses on raising colleagues’ awareness of the threat posed to ocean habitats by human activities and engage them in regular volunteer activities to help preserve marine ecosystems.

Following a number of environmental protection campaigns hosted by A Plastic Ocean (APO) over the years, EMHK joined hands with APO again on November 27 for a cleanup event at Lung Ha Wan under APO’s #OneTonneLess initiative endorsed by the United Nations. Over 30 EMHK volunteers were briefed on the unique ecological value of the beach, and how their work saved marine life from being endangered by marine pollution. After several hours of collective effort, almost 148 kg of waste, including abandoned fishing nets (also known as ghost nets), straws, plastic bottles, and disposable food containers were cleared away.

“At ExxonMobil, we believe the way we preserve land and habitats is critical to the communities in which we operate,” said Tony Kwok, EMHK Hong Kong/Macau Fuels Sales Director, who led the beach cleanup event. “Kudos to all participating colleagues who volunteered to join the event for helping to fight against marine litter, and to create a clean environment for our next generation, which embodied Protect Tomorrow. Today, our guiding principle for progressing environmental initiatives.”

^{*Pollution alert: Hong Kong drains pour billions of tiny plastic bits into the sea, a threat to marine life, study shows, Lo Hoi-ying, SCMP, Jan 3, 2023}