EnviroEvents HK, which runs the ReThink HK Sustainable Business Forum & Solutions Expo, has become the first event organiser to win a Hong Kong Sustainability Award from the Hong Kong Management Association.
The company also picked up more accolades than any other finalist on the awards night by winning in a further three categories, bringing its awards tally to four.
“We are delighted we are the first event organiser to win a Hong Kong Sustainability Award for ReThink HK,” said founder and CEO, Chris Brown, who also won an individual award for his contribution.
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“It is valuable recognition that our initiatives are having real impact and that the event is providing a platform for businesses to procure real solutions to accelerate sustainable development,” Brown said.
The awards, launched in 2016 and organised by the Hong Kong Management Association to promote sustainability in business, were held at Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott on November 26. Brown said the evening was a resounding success for the ReThink HK team – and recognition of the impact and influence events can have.
ReThink HK’s winning categories:
– Distinguished Sustainability Leader, SME Category – Chris Brown– Merit (for the Company Awards)
– Excellence Award for an Environmental Sustainability Initiative
– Excellence Award for a Social Sustainability Initiative
ReThink HK is an annual event is aimed at uniting the full business and sustainability ecosystem including academia, start-ups, SMEs, listed companies, multinationals and government in a show which covers all aspects of sustainable development.
Launched in October 2020 by Brown during the Covid pandemic, the first edition needed to be significantly revised, but still hosted 788 delegates in-person. It has run every year since, said Brown, with the last outing in September welcoming more than 8,500 attendees.
ReThink HK’s 2024 in numbers
• 6,515 unique in-person attendees (up 40% on 2023)• 8,517 total attendances over two days (day 1 + day 2 attendance) (+36%)
• 2,255 organisations represented (+35%)
• 276 exhibitors (+16%) across 11,466 sqm of venue space (+22%)
• 41% of paying delegates at C-suite or Sustainability Lead roles
Brown said the event strives to be carbon neutral and will soon set out its pathway to achieve zero organiser waste-to-landfill and net zero carbon emissions.
“We’ve moved beyond the low hanging fruit of sustainable events and are the only independent event organiser in Asia piloting Better Stands, the initiative to eliminate disposable exhibition stands,” he said.
“But sustainability covers a wider remit including climate change, health and safety, equality and social impact. All proceeds from delegate fees go to supporting local NGO impact projects through our ReThink Foundation.”
Group Head of Sustainability at Swire Pacific, Mark Harper, said Brown has created the ideal platform for Hong Kong organisations to collaborate for a greener Hong Kong. “Chris has also succeeded in creating a showcase to business and the general public on how to do well by doing good,” Harper said.
Managing director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Monica Lee-Müller, believes ReThink HK, which is held at the venue, has achieved unrivalled scale. “It is most impressive how ReThink HK has secured support from the business community to design and launch a complex event that makes a real difference to our city,” she said.
Brown is confident about the future, with the next show on track to continue building on previous successes.
“ReThink HK demonstrates that live events designed with purpose, people, planet and profit in mind can be instrumental in uniting professional communities to drive innovation, ignite collaboration and fast track progress towards a common goal,” he said.
“When that common goal is the future liveability and prosperity of our incredible city, I cannot think of a more rewarding challenge than to positively support our joint efforts to succeed, because failure is not an option.”
