World Water Day: Hong Kong firms can fight climate change with water-saving device giveaways, Swiss firm says
- Installation of water-saving devices costing less than US$10 can help each Hong Kong household save some 60,000 litres of water annually, Neoperl executive says
- The Swiss firm is in talks with Hong Kong firms to supply and distribute water-saving devices to their employees for free as part of their CSR initiatives
Hong Kong, like other jurisdictions with low water prices, should appeal to consumers’ environmental consciousness through corporate campaigns to drive conservation and climate resilience, according to a water-saving devices maker.
In the absence of mandatory water-saving device retrofitting policies, companies can make a contribution through engagement programmes with employees as part of their sustainability initiatives, said Tommy Burk, president of Far East operations at Neoperl, one of the world’s biggest suppliers of faucet components.
The Swiss firm is in talks on potential tie-ups with companies in Hong Kong to supply and distribute water-saving devices to their employees for free as part of their corporate responsibility initiatives.
“Many nations shy away from increasing water tariffs because water is a highly political thing,” he told the Post ahead of World Water Day on March 22, which highlights the importance of fresh water. “In Hong Kong, the rates are so low water is almost free compared to levels in Europe.”
Water and climate change are inextricably linked. Extreme weather events are making water more scarce, more unpredictable, more polluted or all three. Sustainable water management can help society adapt to climate change by building resilience, protecting health and saving lives.
