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Jimmy Chow

Hongkonger George Chen Dah-ren is on a mission to combat the growing global problem of plastic waste using innovative approaches, after years of frustration from tackling misconceptions about what true sustainability means.
With this in mind, he founded green biotech company Ecoinno.
“Confusion abounds about what is ‘eco-friendly’ and what is ‘biodegradable’. An eco-friendly product may shrink or break into smaller pieces, but that’s not the same as being truly biodegradable,” Chen explained.
His company offers real, science-based solutions to the environmental crisis with its patented Green Composite Material (GCM), a 100 per cent biodegradable alternative to single-use plastics.
“What we’ve done is fundamentally different. Our GCM uses quintillion hydrogen bonding technology, and we’ve mastered a 3D, multilevel, low-pressure solidification process,” he said.
“It’s stable, innovative, and, most importantly, biodegradable at ambient temperature.”
Chen is not just focused on delivering green products, but highly effective ones too.
Ecoinno’s GCM is already being used in a range of products such as in-flight meal kits and food packaging, attracting interest due to its ability to outperform traditional materials in terms of sustainability and functionality.
But the company founder said he was far from satisfied with the pace of change in the industry.
“People like to say they’re environmentally friendly because it sounds good,” he said. “But without a real scientific basis, it’s all just talk. We’re not here to make claims – our material delivers.”

Chen said one of the company’s biggest obstacles was scaling up production, but the opening of a flagship facility in the mainland Chinese city of Dongguan represented a major milestone.
“Cost and scalability have been our biggest challenges. However, we’ve made remarkable progress in both material innovation and the manufacturing process,” he said.
“We’ve now reached the point where industrial-scale production is a reality.”
One of the company’s most high-profile partnerships is with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
“Through our ‘Zero Plastic Takeaway Container Pilot Programme’, we replaced plastic-lined lunchboxes in the university canteen with our GCM containers,” he said.
“What would’ve gone to landfill was instead broken down with food waste and converted into clean energy.”
The programme won HKUST the IASAS Global Summit Award, a testament to the university’s and Ecoinno’s commitment to sustainability.
Chen’s work has also attracted the attention of major aviation industry players, leading to partnerships with airlines to help produce sustainable in-flight meal kits.
“Aviation packaging is notoriously difficult to change because of safety and regulatory requirements,” he said.
“But our product meets all their high functional requirements, and at the same time, free from plastic and toxic chemicals. Feedback from them has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Chen also noted that Ecoinno’s commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, went beyond simply replacing plastics
The company had also found ways to convert agricultural waste into clean energy and organic fertiliser, which fit squarely into its broader goal of creating a circular economy, he added.
“We’re not just replacing single-use plastics with another product,” he said. “We’re creating solutions that allow waste to be reused, helping to close the loop.”
Chen said his selection as an “innovation” category finalist for the 12th Spirit of Hong Kong Awards had validated his company’s effort, but also served as a reminder that its work was far from over.
The awards are an annual event jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group to honour remarkable individuals whose endeavours might otherwise go unnoticed.
“Being shortlisted is an honour, but it reminds us to keep pushing forward,” Chen said.
“We’re not just making noise – we want to lead by example and show what’s possible when science and sustainability go hand in hand.”


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Spirit of Hong Kong

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: biotech company goes beyond talk with green products

Ecoinno founder George Chen is on a mission to help curb plastic waste. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

Ecoinno’s products are being used by airlines and even a local university. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: equipping young leaders to thrive, take on future challenges

Hong Kong academic Tse Sze-hei is the founder of the Social Entrepreneurship School Education Programme and head of strategic innovation at the Fullness Social Enterprises Society. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

Tse Sze-hei (third from left) has trained more than 70,000 young people to bring social good through their work in the past 10 years. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: start-up shows sustainability can begin with a meal box

ReCube founders Kelvin Tsui and Amy Lai are championing sustainable tableware. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

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Civil engineer Dixon Kwok believes in giving people the tools to help rebuild their own lives with dignity. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

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Hong Kong

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Ecoinno founder George Chen named as finalist in ‘innovation’ category for 12th Spirit of Hong Kong Awards


Ecoinno founder George Chen named as finalist in ‘innovation’ category for 12th Spirit of Hong Kong Awards.
