(Application Deadline: 31 December 2021)
Please complete and submit the below online application form.
Please select one of the following sectors:
HKAEE Schemes
Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE)
Aims and Eligibility
AIMS
The Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) aims to:
- encourage companies and organisations to adopt green management;
- benchmark their performance with the best practices within their sectors; and
- recognise the achievements of the best-performing companies and organisations.
ELIGIBILITY
All organisations and their key management / operation functions in Hong Kong are generally eligible to apply for the HKAEE, with reference to their core business fulfilling the definition of respective sector(s). Functional units within an organisation can enter the same or separate sectors but each functional unit is limited to enter into one sector only. If an organisation has multiple functional units intending to join the same sector, each functional unit should demonstrate that it has its own environmental initiatives within its operation before being considered admissible to the HKAEE.
To encourage wider participation, the Gold Awardee of each sector / sub-sector of the previous year will not be eligible for the HKAEE within next two years. In other words, Gold Awardees of 2021 and 2022 is not eligible to participate in the 2023 HKAEE, and Gold Award winners of 2023 HKAEE will not be eligible for entering 2024 and 2025 HKAEE.
The Organisers reserve the right to determine the eligibility of any applicant.
Assessment
In 2023, there are 10 sectors designated for large organisations and 4 sectors designated for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)@.
The 10 Sectors for non-SMEs are:
- Construction Industry *;
- Hotels and Recreational Clubs;
- Manufacturing and Industrial Services ^;
- Property Management (Commercial & Industrial (C&I) / Residential);
- Public and Community Services;
- Restaurants;
- Schools (Pre-school / Primary / Secondary);
- Servicing and Trading#;
- Shops and Retailers; and
- Transport and Logistics.
The 4 Sectors for SMEs are:
- Construction, Manufacturing and Industrial Services ^;
- Servicing Industry;
- Shops and Retailers; and
- Trading
@ Under the HKAEE, an SME is an organisation that (i) meets the definition of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) adopted by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; ii) has substantive business operation in Hong Kong; and (iii) its parent company (if applicable) or itself should not be a listed company.
An SME under the definition of HKSAR Government is a manufacturing business which employs fewer than 100 persons in Hong Kong; or a non-manufacturing business which employs fewer than 50 persons in Hong Kong. The “number of persons employed” include individual proprietors, partners and shareholders actively engaged in the work of the organisation; and salaried employees of the organisation, including full-time or part-time salaried personnel directly paid by the organisation, both permanent and temporary, at the time of submitting applications.
* The nominated construction project(s) should have at least one-third of the project work completed (according to the contract period) at the time of assessment.
^ Hong Kong based companies with their factories in the Greater Bay Area will also be eligible to join the HKAEE under the Manufacturing and Industrial Services Sector (for non-SMEs), or Construction, Manufacturing and Industrial Services Sector (for SMEs).
# Starting from 2022 HKAEE, the “Media and Communication” sector will be subsumed under the “Servicing and Trading” sector.
The Organisers reserve the right to determine the eligibility of any applicant.
Winners will be selected from a rigorous assessment process comprising three stages:
Stage 1 - Initial Assessment
Upon receipt of the application form, eligible applicants will be invited to submit detailed information on their green policies and practices as well as environmental achievements via an online questionnaire. All information submitted by the applicants will be reviewed according to the assessment criteria of the awards. The Organisers may request additional documents for the purpose of information verification. The Organisers will then select applicants for detailed assessment in Stage 2.
All eligible applicants who have completed Stage 1 assessment and yet do not receive any award will receive a Participation Certificate after the completion of all assessment processes.
Stage 2 - Detailed Assessment
Organisations selected for detailed assessment will be visited by a team of assessors. The visit will include a tour of applicant’s facilities and interviews with key representatives of the organisation including top management, department heads and general staff. The applicants should arrange the necessary permits and transportation between the Hong Kong-Shenzhen border and the premises in Mainland China, if necessary, for the assessment visit. During the site visit, applicants are encouraged to introduce their environmental performance to the assessors to provide them with an in-depth understanding of their environmental initiatives and the status of implementation.
The assessors will then prepare the assessment reports for submission to the Organisers for further short-listing into the final adjudication in Stage 3.
Applicants successfully completing Stage 2 assessment will receive a complimentary report on their environmental performance. The report will outline the organisation’s strengths and highlight areas where improvements in environmental management could be made.
Stage 3 - Final Assessment
Adjudicating Panels will review the environmental performance of applicants. During the final assessment phase, the Adjudicating Panels may invite candidates to further present their achievements in a meeting. Each Adjudicating Panel will comprise representatives from various trade associations, government departments, professional bodies and the like.
The assessment criteria for the HKAEE are based on the well-established “Eco-Business Model”. This model is designed to exemplify the strong relationship between the internal operation of a business and the surrounding environment. The key factors, including Green Leadership, Programme and Performance and Partner Synergy, are generally considered to be vital in the overall integration of environmental measures within an organisation.
Green Leadership
Green leadership refers to the level of commitment demonstrated by an organisation’s senior management in the pursuit of environmental objectives within the organisation and the commitment of managers and staff to the implementation of environmental initiatives. Indicators to be reviewed include the types of environmental programmes established by management, the amount of training provided and resources used for the programmes, the degree of staff involvement in carrying out programme tasks, and the manner in which programme progress is monitored for continual improvement.
Programme and Performance
This aspect evaluates the accomplishments achieved by organisations when carrying out their environmental programmes. Environmental measures undertaken during the daily operations of the organisation will be evaluated for effectiveness. The scope of evaluation includes the extent to which an organisation has complied with environmental regulations, conserved energy and water, reduced / reused / recycled waste material, as well as improved environmental qualities such as noise control, ambient and indoor air quality.
Partner Synergy
Partner synergy looks at how an organisation explores opportunities to inform and influence suppliers and contractors about the importance of environmental management and encourage them to adopt their own environmental strategies in their individual operations. The extent to which the organisation participates in environmental education for its customers and the general community is also relevant.
| Green Leadership | Programme and Performance | Partner Synergy | |
| The 10 Sectors for non-SMEs | |||
| Construction Industry | 20% | 60% | 20% |
| Hotels and Recreational Clubs | 20% | 45% | 35% |
| Manufacturing and Industrial Services | 20% | 60% | 20% |
| Property Management | 20% | 45% | 35% |
| Public and Community Services | 20% | 45% | 35% |
| Restaurants | 20% | 45% | 35% |
| Schools | 20% | 55% | 25% |
| Servicing and Trading | 20% | 45% | 35% |
| Shops and Retailers | 20% | 45% | 35% |
| Transport and Logistics | 20% | 60% | 20% |
| The 4 Sectors for SMEs | |||
| Construction, Manufacturing and Industrial Services | 20% | 60% | 20% |
| Servicing Industry | 30% | 40% | 30% |
| Shops and Retailers | 30% | 40% | 30% |
| Trading | 30% | 40% | 30% |
In order to recognise applicants’ efforts to promote the HKAEE as well as their achievements in the Hong Kong Green Organisation Certification (HKGOC) and other recognised certification or award schemes, a maximum of 10 bonus points will be given to the applicants during Stage 2 assessment of the HKAEE, as follows:
Bonus Points Awarded for Efforts in promoting HKAEE (maximum 3 bonus points)
- Applicants who have promoted HKAEE through their business / school network and / or promotional channels / platforms (e.g. display the awarded logos and stickers in premises, website, and electronic screens, etc.; imprint the awarded logo in name cards, letterhead; and publish featured articles through media) will earn a maximum of 1 bonus point.
- Applicants who have successfully referred their business / school partners (e.g. suppliers) to join the HKAEE will earn a maximum of 2 bonus points.
Applicants who have promoted HKAEE through their business / school network and successfully referred their business / school partners may also be awarded with the title of “Outstanding HKAEE Promotional Partner” if they have fulfilled certain criteria, please refer to "Outstanding Promotional Partner Commendation Scheme" for details.
Bonus Points Awarded for Efforts in Hong Kong Green Organisation Certification (HKGOC) (maximum 4 bonus points)
- Applicants who possess a valid Wastewi$e / Energywi$e / IAQwi$e / Carbon Reduction Certificate / recognition of Hong Kong Green Organisation will earn 1 bonus point per Certificate.
Bonus Points Awarded for Efforts in Other Schemes (maximum 3 bonus points) [Except Schools Sector]
- Applicants who possess a valid certificate from environmental schemes such as ISO 14001, ISO 20121, ISO 50001, IECQ HSPM QC 080000, Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Manufacturing) Recognition Scheme, Hong Kong Green Mark Certification Scheme, WWF-Hong Kong’s Low-carbon Operation Programme (LOOPPLUS) and Low Carbon Manufacturing Programme (LCMP), Quality Restaurant Environmental Management Scheme, CLP Smart Energy Award, WGO's Green Office Awards Labelling Scheme (GOALS), FHKI's BOCHK Corporate Low-Carbon Environmental Leadership Awards, BEAM Plus New Buildings / BEAM Plus Existing Buildings / BEAM Plus Interiors, Hong Kong Green Shop Alliance Award or other schemes recognised by the Organisers will earn 1 bonus point. The Organisers reserve the right to grant bonus points to any applicants.
Bonus Points Awarded for Efforts in Other Schemes (maximum 3 bonus points)[Applicable for the Schools Sector]
If schools have participated in and possessed documentary proof / a valid certificate from the following schemes in the 2022/23 school year, 1 bonus point per scheme will be granted: ECC’s Green Prefect Programme and Student Environmental Protection Ambassador Scheme, Council for Sustainable Development’s Sustainable Development School Award Programme (including SD Participation Award and SD Community Project Award), Water Supplies Department’s “Cherish Water Campus” Integrated Education Programme, Environmental Protection Department’s IAQ Certification Scheme, Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Schemes (including Greening School Subsidy Scheme / “One Person, One Flower” Scheme / Planting Herbs in School Scheme), Business Environment Council’s Jockey Club BEAM Plus in Schools Project, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited’s Green Elites Campus Accreditation Programme and The Hongkong Electric Company’s “Happy Green Schools” Label Programme.
*Note :
- HKGOC consists of four Certificates, namely “Wastewi$e Certificate”, “Energywi$e Certificate”, “IAQwi$e Certificate” and “Carbon Reduction Certificate”. Participants can further obtain the recognition of “Hong Kong Green Organisation” by demonstrating the environmental practices in multiple aspects. Please refer to the HKGOC programme booklet for details.
- ISO 14001 is an environmental management system standard published by the International Organization for Standardization.
- ISO 20121 is an event sustainability management system standard published by the International Organization for Standardization.
- ISO 50001 is an energy management system standard published by the International Organization for Standardization.
- IECQ HSPM QC 080000 is a standard on hazardous substances process management published by the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components.
- Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Manufacturing) Recognition Scheme is jointly operated by the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR and the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province.
- Hong Kong Green Mark Certification Scheme is a system certification scheme operated by the Hong Kong Q-Mark Council, Federation of the Hong Kong Industries.
- Low-carbon Operation Programme and Low Carbon Manufacturing Programme are schemes operated by WWF-Hong Kong. The bonus point will only be granted to applicants in applicable Sectors for their operations in Hong Kong or Greater Bay Area (only applicable to Manufacturing and Industrial Services sector (for non-SMEs) or Construction Manufacturing and Industrial Services sector (for SMEs)) .
- Quality Restaurant Environmental Management Scheme is a voluntary environmental accreditation scheme for the food and beverage trade jointly operated by the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants & Related Trades and Hong Kong Productivity Council.
- CLP Smart Energy Award is organised by CLP Power Hong Kong Limited which aims to recognise organisations who have implemented energy conservation measures and achieved outstanding energy saving results.
- Green Office Awards Labelling Scheme (GOALS) is a recognition scheme for offices organised by the World Green Organisation (WGO).
- BOCHK Corporate Low-Carbon Environmental Leadership Awards is organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries aiming to promote environmental practices among the manufacturing and services enterprises in Hong Kong and the Pan Pearl River Delta (PRD) region.
- BEAM Plus is an independent assessment of building sustainability performance. It is certified by Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited (HKGBC) while the assessment is handled by the BEAM Society Limited.
- Hong Kong Green Shop Alliance Award is organised by the Hong Kong Green Building Council, which aims to foster green shopping environment in Hong Kong. Only winners of the main awards, i.e. “Best Green Practice in Malls”, “Best Green Practice in Shops” and “Best Collaborative Effort of Malls and Shops” can earn bonus point in HKAEE.
- The presentation of the award to any winning organisation is still subject to further consideration of prosecutions for or convictions of non-compliance with environmental regulations, if any, before the date of the Presentation Ceremony.
Guidebooks
For more details of the assessment criteria, application procedures and application forms please refer to the designated guidebooks.
The 10 Sectors for non-SMEs
- Guidebook for Construction Industry
- Guidebook for Hotels and Recreational Clubs
- Guidebook for Manufacturing and Industrial Services
- Guidebook for Property Management
- Guidebook for Public and Community Services
- Guidebook for Restaurants
- Guidebook for Schools
- Guidebook for Servicing and Trading
- Guidebook for Shops and Retailers
- Guidebook for Transport and Logistics
The 4 Sectors for SMEs
Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA)
Aims and Eligibility
AIMS
The Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards aims to:
- encourage organisations to develop innovative, green and practicable ideas into equipment or systems to solve environmental problems or improve environmental performance, resulting in real benefits to the environment.
ELIGIBILITY
All Hong Kong organisations, or their functional units which have implemented a green innovation and involve in adoption of an idea and developing it to fruition to create environmental value are eligible to apply for the HKGIA. In this context, the term "green innovation" refers to any change that increases or enhances environmental benefits in a significantly ingenious manner.
An applicant organisation may submit more than one green innovation entry for competition. Each entry should constitute one green innovation with proven success in terms of measurable improvement to environmental benefits and should be a current and reasonably recent initiative which, as a guideline, should not exceed three years since its full-scale implementation. It must not merely be an idea that has merit and may be successful in the future, or a green innovation brought or directly taken from a third party without any modification or enhancement made by the applicant. The entry should also show proven success in terms of measurable improvement to the environment (e.g. energy conservation, waste management, air quality improvement, water management, noise reduction, etc.).
The Organisers reserve the right to decide whether an application meets the eligibility requirement.
Assessment
Winners will be selected from a rigorous assessment process that comprises two stages:
Stage of Detailed Assessment
Upon receipt of the application form, a questionnaire will be sent to the applicants for collecting detailed information if the entry is considered initially eligible under the scheme. Applicants will also be required to present the entry to a team of assessors so that the team may obtain first-hand details about the entry, including its purpose and environmental performance. All information submitted by the applicant and/or examined during this Stage will be reviewed according to the assessment criteria of the awards. The Organisers will then select from the competing entries for final assessment in the next Stage.
All eligible applicants who have completed Stage of Detailed Assessment and yet do not receive any award will receive a Participation Certificate after completion of all assessment processes.
Stage of Final Assessment
An Adjudicating Panel will be formed to review the entries. During the final assessment stage, the Adjudicating Panel may invite candidates to further present the achievements of their entries in a meeting. The Adjudicating Panel will comprise representatives from various trade associations, government departments, professional bodies and the like.
Assessment Criteria for Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards
The assessment will be made on the following three criteria, each of which will have several component aspects designed to gauge the performance of the competing entries under each criterion.
Level of Innovation
- Existence and recentness of innovative elements
- Degree of originality
Environmental Achievements
- Measurable improvement to the environment
- Ability to generate benefits to multiple environmental aspects
- Accreditations or external stakeholder acknowledgements obtained
Practicability and Contribution to Society
- Applicability in multiple areas
- Level of cost-effectiveness
- Efforts in creating awareness amongst the business community or general public
Weightings of the Assessment Criteria
Level of Innovation : 40%
Environmental Achievements : 30%
Practicability and Contribution to Society : 30%
Guidebook
DOWNLOAD
(Application Deadline: 31 December 2021)
Submit your application NOW by filling the following Online Application Form.
Outstanding Green Achiever Commendation Scheme (OGACS)
Aims and Eligibility
AIMS
The Outstanding Green Achiever Commendation Scheme (OGACS) (the Commendation Scheme) continues to be organised under the 2022 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) to recognise the contributions of outstanding employees for their strong commitment, dedicated efforts as well as exceptional performance and enthusiasm in driving environmental enhancement within their respective organisations or functional units and for the community. It also helps promote a green culture in the workplace and encourage more employees to go an extra mile in their environmental endeavours. To echo the Government's target for Hong Kong to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the emphasis this year continues to be on the individual's achievements in reducing carbon emissions in his/her organisation including the development and application of innovative ideas and technologies and promoting a low carbon lifestyle for the organisation and its stakeholders with a view to instigating behavioural changes.
ELIGIBILITY
- At the time of application and during assessment, the applicant(s) must –
(i) be employed under the same company / organisation or functional unit; and
(ii) NOT be the owner* of his / her company / organisation or functional unit. - The applicant(s) must with the support from his / her respective company / organisation or functional unit for his / her participation in the Commendation Scheme; and
- His / her respective company / organisation or functional unit should also participate in 2023 HKAEE and successfully accomplish Stage 1 Assessment (except for 2021 and 2022 HKAEE Gold Awardees).
- There is no restriction on the number of applications to be supported by each company / organisation or functional unit.
* Examples of “owners” include but not limit to direct and/or indirect shareholders of the respective company, except for scenarios in which shares are distributed to employees as company bonus / award, and/ or shares are obtained by employees due to their employment status with the company.
Benefits
Award winners of the Commendation Scheme –
- will be presented with a trophy and/or a certificate; and
- may be invited to share their achievements and experience in public events.
To recognise the efforts of applicants, Certificate of Appreciation will also be issued to eligible applicants who have completed the Stage of Initial Assessment but are not selected to receive any awards. The respective organisations/functional units of applicant(s) who have completed the Stage of Initial Assessment will also be presented with Certificate of Appreciation.
Assessment
The assessment process consists of two stages, including (i) Initial Assessment and (ii) Final Adjudication –
Stage of Initial Assessment
Upon receipt of the application form, a questionnaire will be sent to the eligible applicants for collecting detailed information. The Consultant will conduct on-site/phone interviews with the applicants with reference to information submitted by the applicants and rate their performance according to a comprehensive and rigorous scoring system. The Consultant might also approach the applicants' direct supervisors and peers/subordinates (if applicable) to obtain a more in-depth understanding of the applicants' achievements. Outstanding candidates will then be shortlisted for Final Adjudication.
Stage of Final Adjudication
During the final adjudication stage, shortlisted candidates will be invited to present their achievements to the panel members. The panel will assess the candidates and decide on the final results with reference to the assessment reports prepared by the Consultant. The Final Adjudicating Panel will comprise representatives from various trade associations, government departments, professional bodies and the like.
| Commitment | Achievement | Collaboration | Creativeness | |
| Weighting | 30% | 25% | 25% | 20% |
Commitment
- The applicant attaches high importance to carbon neutrality and/or other environmental issues, has clear goals and objectives to alleviate environmental problems;
- The applicant exhibits enthusiasm in creating a green corporate culture and/or striving towards carbon neutrality; and
- The applicant always goes the extra mile by going beyond his/her job duties and making additional efforts to mitigate carbon emissions and/or other environmental impacts within the community.
Achievement
- The applicant takes pro-active actions in addressing climate change impacts; and
- The applicant always makes use of his/her environmental skills and/or knowledge/experience to enable impactful achievement in carbon reduction/environmental conservation of his/her organisation and/or the community.
Collaboration
- The applicant actively engages their peers, partners and other stakeholders with use of his/her personal or business networks to promote low carbon culture and/or driving environmental enhancement within the community; and
- The applicant demonstrates ability to drive environmental enhancement by transferring his/her professional knowledge and experience to other stakeholders.
Creativeness
- The applicant applies his/her innovative ideas to create environmental values in the community; and
- The applicant puts forth innovative proposals that could lead to transformational and replicable measure to progress towards environmental conversation and/or carbon neutrality.
Guidebook
DOWNLOAD
(Application Deadline: 31 December 2021)
Outstanding Promotional Partner Commendation Scheme (OPPCS)
Aims and Eligibility
AIMS
“Outstanding Promotional Partner Commendation Scheme” (hereafter referred to as the Commendation Scheme) aims to recognise organisations that put in great efforts to help promote the HKAEE to their business partners and other stakeholders.
Companies, organisations or their individual functional units that have participated in the 2022 HKAEE and completed Stage 1 assessment can obtain the title of “Outstanding HKAEE Promotional Partner” subject to their fulfilment of the two requirements:
1. Assisting in Scheme Promotion
Successfully assisted in the promotion of the HKAEE and HKGIA through their business network and / or other promotional channels / platforms (at least three channels):
- Company / Organisation Mobile Application
- Company / Organisation Website
- Corporate Publication
- Social Media
- Activities for External Parties
- Large display screens / advertising panels in shopping malls
- Electronic screens at the external wall / lift lobby of buildings
- Displaying HKAEE posters in public area within the company / organisation
- Distributing relevant leaflets / flyers (printed or electronic version) to the public / visitors / business partners
- Offering free venue for HKAEE roving exhibition
- Other promotional activities accepted by the Organiser
2. Referring Business Partners or Other Companies to Participate in the 2023 HKAEE
Successfully referred at least three of their business partners (e.g. suppliers or contractors) to join 2023 HKAEE and with their business partners successfully completed Stage 1 assessment (to be conducted in 1st quarter of 2024). There should not be any affiliation between the organisation doing the referral and the organisations being referred. Examples include parent company and its subsidiaries or companies under the same business group, etc.
ELIGIBILITY
- Participating companies / organisations have to enroll into 2023 HKAEE first and successfully accomplished Stage 1 Assessment (to be conducted in 1st quarter of 2024).
- 2021 and 2022 HKAEE Gold Awardees are only required to fulfill the two requirements.
Commendation
The "Outstanding HKAEE Promotional Partners" will be granted trophies / certificates in recognition of their substantial efforts for promoting the HKAEE. Their names will also be acknowledged on the HKAEE website. Companies / Organisations with outstanding performance may also have an opportunity to be commended at the Presentation Ceremony of HKAEE.
(Application Deadline: 31 December 2021)
To become “Outstanding HKAEE Promotional Partner”, please complete the below form. Our technical consultant will further approach you on verifying the details.
(Please tick in the appropriate box or please specify in “others”)
* Must be filled in.