Happenings

For decades, the textile and apparel industry has been associated with environmentally polluting practices and labour‑intensive production.These have flagged at many fronts of the sustainability agendas. Plenty of brands and companies have progressed and reduced social and environmental harms through innovation and technology. At Esquel, we saw the start of a paradigm shift towards sustainability attainment. Last week, our rural sustainability and corporate sustainability teams had the privilege of attending the Open Day at Integral, located among the scenic landscape of Guilin, China, which embodies the brand’s philosophy of sustainability. In the two fruitful days, our team has had the opportunity to learn about their journey in sustainability transition, Whether through developing innovative waterless dyeing technologies, exploring plant‑based natural dyes, or advancing strategies for quality employment—including workforce upskilling, lifelong learning, and employee wellbeing—the Group demonstrates a holistic approach to sustainable transformation. These initiatives not only reflect the corporate commitment to minimizing its environmental impact and contributing to the community but also demonstrate that the investment in sustainability, though often seen as a long shot, helps the corporation build a competitive advantage in the long run. Through the efforts in research & development, Esquel is able to expand its business portfolio beyond being a manufacturer to a knowledge-based innovation company with the goal of pushing greener standards in the industry. Ultimately, Esquel set its eyes on scaling the application of natural dyes across the textile industry, with the collective effort of academic and research institutions to promote innovation, knowledge transfer and wider adoption of nature-based solutions. There are plenty for our team to learn and reflect upon and we look forward to having future opportunities to exchange further with great minds at Esquel!

Under the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment, the Centre for Civil Society and Governance is delighted to participate in the Hong Kong Inclusion Summit 2026, hosted by @SCMP LIVE, together with all our project partners. Our project set up an exhibition booth to showcase our work and seize this valuable opportunity to connect with new potential partners. The Summit provided a vibrant platform to advance conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in Hong Kong, highlighting how diverse and inclusive workforces drive business success. The event was a great success — let’s keep collaborating to build more inclusive workplaces and communities!

The workshop on the Special Issue in Voluntas: The Nonprofit Sector and ESG, organised by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong, was successfully convened on January 8-9, 2026. This engaging two-day event brought together scholars, as well as professionals from the corporate and nonprofit sectors, to discuss the fascinating research conducted by international authors contributing to this special issue. Each presentation was followed by lively discussion and Q&A sessions, reflecting high engagement and diverse perspectives from participants. The workshop successfully fostered meaningful dialogue on the ways the nonprofit sector intersects with ESG. The workshop featured five comprehensive panels comprising a total of 12 insightful papers, addressing key themes across the ESG landscape: Philosophical and Cultural Perspectives on ESG Highlighted that ESG is not merely a technical framework, but also a deeply normative and culturally embedded concept Governance and Sustainability Examined how ESG is interpreted and implemented in concrete organizational and policy settings Public Perceptions of Nonprofits and ESG Explored how nonprofits are perceived, evaluated, and engaged by the public and other stakeholders: Trust, legitimacy, and participation Collaboration and Cross-Sector Partnerships in ESG Discussed the nuanced treatment of collaboration. Power asymmetries, strategic alignment, and the risks of mission drift. ESG Metrics, Reporting, and Evaluation in the Nonprofit Sector Addressed the need to balance standardization and comparability with contextual sensitivity and mission-specific goals Across these discussions, several cross-cutting themes emerged: ESG is not a one-size-fits all framework. Its meaning and implications vary across cultures, sectors, institutional contexts, and organizational forms Nonprofits are not passive recipients of ESG pressures. They actively interpret, adapt, and sometimes resist ESG frameworks Collaboration is central to advancing ESG for social good 🏬Field Visit to Nan Fung Group at AIRSIDE: Insights into Corporate Sustainability and NGO Collaboration Participants learned about Nan Fung’s sustainability framework, SEWIT, including management tools and impact measurement methods. SEWIT’s pillars: Social Cohesion, Environment, Wellness, Innovation, and Technology, guiding long-term business and community sustainability. Engaged in in-person exchanges with community stakeholders at Good Date Village, grounding the framework in real-world practice. A big thank you to the Nan Fung team for hosting us and for the insightful sharing. We also extend our gratitude to all participants for making this event a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. We look forward to further academic contributions in ESG within the nonprofit sector.