EXO Foundation’s Sustainability Awards were held in September 2023. In this blog we introduce the honorees for the Circular Economy category.
Asia faces a significant challenge with plastic pollution and food waste. The continent, being a major producer and consumer of plastic, has seen its waterways, coasts, and urban areas inundated with plastic debris. This not only poses risks to marine life and ecosystems but also impacts public health and local economies.
Alongside plastic pollution, food waste is another pressing issue. With rapid urbanisation and changing consumption patterns, vast amounts of food are discarded daily, straining landfills and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Tourism further amplifies these environmental concerns in Asia. Travellers’ consumption patterns often result in increased plastic use and food waste.
Thankfully there are inspirational organisations addressing these challenges and working on improving sustainable tourism practices, including waste reduction initiatives and promoting eco-friendly alternatives among both locals and visitors.
The goal of the EXO Foundation Sustainability Awards was to identify, support and promote exemplary projects that seek to innovate sustainability in Asia. We are proud to announce the following awards for the ‘Circular Economy’ category, honouring four organisations working to reduce plastic pollution and food waste.
Sustainability Awards for Circular Economy: Honouring organisations working to reduce plastic pollution and food waste
Winner (Not for Profit): Anambas Foundation
The Anambas Foundation works with local communities in the Anambas Island region to improve the overall ecosystems and elevate the communities’ welfare. Their work focuses on three main pillars: Above (Forest Conservation), Below (Marine Conservation), Beyond (Community Development).
With the money from the EXO Foundation Sustainability Awards, Anambas Foundation will be expanding its Integrated Waste Management program to other villages in the region.
Winner (Tourism private sector):
ReForm Plastic is a social business that upcycles plastic waste, transforming it into durable products such as desks and playground materials. Their goal is to transform the perceptions of waste, providing it value, bringing it back into value chains, and ultimately creating a circular resource.
One recent initiative of ReForm is The Collector Network (TCN) which allows informal waste workers to access sharing sessions with various stakeholders, health and safety training, as well as resources on a digital learning platform.
Runner-up (Not for Profit): PSE
Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (For a Child’s Smile) helps disadvantage children in Cambodia escape the cycle of poverty by equipping them with valuable education and vocational skills. Their training school has integrated Environmental Education into the curriculum and implemented strategies to reduce food waste, eliminate single-use plastics and compost any remaining unused food products.
Runner-up (Tourism Private Sector):
Pimalai is an upscale resort on Thailand’s Koh Lanta Island that balances guest experiences with sustainability. In addition to their water recycling, community education and wildlife preservations efforts, Pimalai has also set ambitious goals around reducing food waste to zero.
About the EXO Foundation Sustainability Awards:
The 2023 ceremony was held on 28 September and hosted by Alexandra Michat, EXO’s Chief Purpose Officer.
The goal of the awards was to identify, support and promote exemplary projects that seek to innovate sustainability in Asia. More than 20 nominees, from the non-profit sector and private tourism companies, were on the ballot competing for prizes totaling over $40,000 USD in value.
A panel of internationally recognised sustainable tourism professionals was enlisted to evaluate each nominee and vote according to its merits. The judges then announced the winners across five categories and a six ‘People’s Choice Award’ was granted based on a month-long public vote. EXO Foundation was joined by two co-sponsors in arranging and supporting this event: LightBlue Consulting and Considerate Group.
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt="">