2022: Co-creating Innovation

Lives in many places have returned to normal in 2022, and the textile and clothing industry continues to need to change amid the climate change. In response to these issues, HKRITA adopted a flexible approach to communicating with our stakeholders and launched more solutions for the industry to move towards a circular economy.

Knowledge Transfer without Boundaries

Facing the ups and downs of the pandemic, HKRITA made use of different channels to maintain communication with the industry and the public, organising and joining over 40 exhibitions and talks. A few highlights included the webinar “Hong Kong’s Innovative Solutions to Sustainability Challenges in the Fashion Industry” in May 2022 and I&T Symposium “Innovating Zero” in January this year. The webinar, co-organised by HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week, offered a platform for industrial and R&D partners to explore how regenerative materials and waste management technologies can drive the industry towards circular production, while the symposium was the first in person talk held by HKRITA in three years.

HKRITA’s representatives also presented our works and R&D results in various events. Mr Edwin Keh, CEO, shared how textile technology can facilitate the hotel industry achieving carbon neutrality at the “Green Conference: Hospitality Agenda 2030” held in July last year. In the “Design Knowledge Week 2022” held in September, Mr Keh explained the role of R&D in promoting sustainable design. Dr Gloria Yao, Director (Project Development), introduced the protection offered by intelligence patents in the development and application of technologies in the RTHK programme “IP: New Opportunities”. She also shared the application of textile technology in daily life in the “Lifestyle and Creative Industries Day” held by InvestHK last October.

Experts discuss recycling technologies of clothes made of blended materials, and reusing cotton textile wastes in the webinar

Mr Edwin Keh introduces the latest textile innovation at the Green Conference: Hospitality Agenda 2030

Dr Gloria Yao shares the application of textile technologies in daily life in the Lifestyle and Creative Industries Day

 

We introduced our green technologies to the public at the “Green Hall” launched by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the “Innovation and Technology Carnival 2022” in the Hong Kong Science Park, and “always” exhibition held by the Hong Kong Design Centre at the Central Market in May, October and November respectively. We also showcased our healthcare textiles for the elderly at the “Gerontech and Innovation Expo” in November.

Our promotion work has never been limited to local area. In addition to participating in the China Hi-Tech Fair, we joined hands with the H&M Foundation to introduce our two green technologies: separating disentangled textile fibres and using macroalgae to remove indigo dyes in denim plant wastewater in the China International Import Expo in November.

Ms Katherine Chan, Director (Business Development), introduces The Green Machine, a ground-breaking technology to recycle cotton-polyester blended old garments in “Green Hall”

The public keep abreast of our latest technologies in the InnoCarnival 2022

Interactive animation is used to explain the process of separating disentangled fibres in the China International Import Expo

 

Multilateral Communication to Strengthen Connections

In order to build stronger ties with the industry, we have received groups from different sectors in the last year. In July and August, Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, and her team, and the Hon Sunny Tan, Legislative Councillor (Textiles and Garment Constituency), visited our laboratory to understand the development of our innovations. In the following months, we also hosted tours for the Textile Council of Hong Kong, the Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Clothing Industry Training Authority, and Fashion for Good, an eco-fashion initiative. These tours allowed us to keep in touch with different stakeholders in the supply chain, and exchange views of the application of textile technologies in their business operations.

Professor Sun Dong (2nd right) and Ms Rebecca Pun (1st left) visit HKRITA and are received by Ms Teresa Yang, Chairman of HKRITA (1st right) and Mr Edwin Keh

Mr Edwin Keh introduces the technology of using macroalgae to remove dye from textile waste water to The Hon Sunny Tan, a technology winning a Silver Medal in the Special Edition Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days 2022

Dr Gloria Yao gives an account of the silk recycling technology to CITA members

Ms Katherine Chan introduces 3D breast prothesis and mastectomy bra to the representatives of the Finnish Chamber of Commerce

 

To encourage more of the younger generations to join the innovation and technology industry, we continued our promotion works to schools, sharing with teenagers our textile recycling technologies and recycled materials, as well as arranging local universities and NGO members to visit the Garment-to-Garment (G2G) Recycle System.

In addition, we participated in “Innovation Hub@HK”, an online platform launched by the Innovation and Technology Commission in August to introduce our latest textile technologies and facilitate technology transfer to the industry.

The members of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups visit G2G Recycle System

The Innovation Hub@HK brings together local innovation and technology achievements

Recognition from the Design and Innovation Sectors

Last year, we won awards in the fields of design, R&D, and textile manufacturing. Our star project G2G Recycle System made another milestone by winning our first iF Design Award 2022 Gold, the highest honour of the event. Following its success in commercialisation, The Green Machine was named the winners of the R&D100 2022, a highly reputable event in the R&D world, and the first edition of the ITMF Award by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation which is the award that recognises excellent industrial achievements. In the Special Edition Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days 2022, HKRITA garnered 3 gold and 6 silver medals. One of the gold-medal winners reProLeather: Regenerating Bio-based Leather from Leather Waste also brought us our first World Changing Ideas Award by the USA based media group, Fast Company.

HKRITA’s dedication to the development of innovative technologies in textile, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture bears fruits at the Special Edition Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days 2022

Mr Edwin Keh receives the certificate of ITMF Award on behalf of HKRITA

The G2G Recycle System showcases in iF Design Centre in Chengdu

 

Our award-winning projects also brought us commercialisation opportunities. Last year, Azza Fencing Company licensed the technology developed from Asymmetric Competition Footwear for HK Olympic Fencing Team, the silver award-winner of the 2017 International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, to produce eco-friendly and high performance fencing shoes. In May, an apron made of our CO₂ adsorbing cellulosic material Carbon Looper was tested in the restaurant of Fotografiska, a museum in Stockholm, Sweden. Restaurant staff wore the apron to adsorb CO₂ during operations and placed the apron in the greenhouse after work. CO₂ released from the apron was absorbed by farm products and plants through photosynthesis. Optimising the technology of Carbon Looper to make application easier will be our work this year.

Mr Martin Wall (centre), Executive Chef of Museum Restaurant Fotografiska, Sweden, wears the apron made of Carbon Looper. The project was developed in collaboration with the H&M Foundation and HKRITA. Mrs Christiane Dolva, Strategy Lead Planet Positive of H&M Foundation (left), and Mr Edwin Keh (right)

Sustainable high-performance fencing footwear by Azza Fencing Company

Partnerships to Promote Sustainable Development

In 2023, we will continue to work closely with all sectors to ensure that the technologies developed contribute to industry and society. Our key initiative this year, The Open Lab, encourages cross-sector collaboration through the establishment of a physical R&D space to develop sustainable solutions to address the challenge of climate change.