China Daily Global Edition (USA)
GoalBlue launches project for sustainable lifestyle
Chinese public service organization GoalBlue (Shenzhen) Low Carbon Development & Promotion Centre is leading an effort to heighten public interest in embracing a sustainable lifestyle.
In celebration of the 49th Earth Day on April 22, 2018, the Shenzhen-based organization launched a project called “I CARE”, aiming at coordinating efforts from enterprises nationwide to make commitments to responsible consumerism, building an ecosystem that connects consumers and responsible environmental business solutions.
Specifically, the program unites enterprises from the catering, transportation, chemical, agriculture and fishery industries, to offer low-carbon food and transportation solutions, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, as well as biodegradable materials.
As many as 20 enterprises have already vowed to join I CARE, such as Beijing Midi Music School, Moka Bros, Hatsune restaurant, Panda Brew, Xiao Heng Dumplings and REmakeHub.
May Mei, founder and executive director of GoalBlue, said that “we only have one earth to live on, and protecting the environment requires actions from public interest organizations, commercial institutions and consumers”.
“Through the I CARE project, we aim to get more people to realize that our consumption behavior can make a positive change to the environment that we live in. If you care about it, then take action,” she said.
Xiao Heng Dumplings, a leading Chinese dumpling chain restaurant famous for its take-out service, is among the first batch of enterprises that have made a commitment to use biodegradable meal boxes.
Ji Weijia, senior vice-president of Xiao Heng Dumplings, noted that “previously, the volume of plastic lunch boxes that we delivered each day reached beyond 10,000. Now, as awareness of environmental protection rises, we regard using environmentally friendly packing material as a common practice.”
“Through our commitment, we hope to devote our own effort to make the earth cleaner, and get other enterprises involved into building a better planet,” he said.
Apart from enterprises, consumers can also join the I CARE program through GoalBlue’s official website and its official WeChat account, to take part in or even launch a challenge match, such as refusing plastic straws or eating vegetarian meals once a week.
Apart from the first batch of enterprises, GoalBlue will continue to invite companies from across the nation, and even globally, to join the program.
“I want the world to be immortal. I care about our earth. I care about you, and I care about me, but what I care most about, is what I can do to build a better future,” said American actor Ian Joseph Somerhalder, founder of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, in regards to his motivation to join I CARE.
“For catering enterprises, they choose to offer a vegetarian menu, and biodegradable packages; while for clothing companies, they recycle clothes and produce new ones. We are grateful to see those enterprises make a change,” Mei said.
We are grateful to see those enterprises make a change.”
May Mei, founder and executive director of GoalBlue (Shenzhen) Low Carbon Development & Promotion Centre