Playtimes HK Magazine April 2018 Issue | Page 36

features the culmination of years of hard work by international wildlife groups and local citizens to turn the tide. Hong Kong continues to benefit from its plastic bag levy, which has been in operation for over eight years now. An amazing statistic from the scheme’s first year: a simple charge of 50c per plastic shopping bag reduced consumer usage by 90 percent. ‘Reduce’ campaigns for 2018 are focusing on microbeads, plastic straws and water bottles, which are pervasive in the world’s oceans and waterways. For years now at Hong Kong schools, students have been encouraged to BYOB – Bring Your Own Bottle or Bring Your Own Bag. This school year, however, FIS has taken grass roots activism a big step further by hiring a full- time sustainable officer. Since September 2017, Julia Leung, Project Manager for Sustainable Development, has been leading the school’s green charge. A marine biologist by training, Leung works across all four FIS campuses organising school programmes, field trips and guest speakers as well as annual Green Weeks. Her full-time employment signals how serious FIS is about environmental awareness. Supported 34 www.playtimes.com.hk