HKUST’s Impact Makers Tackle Hong Kong’s Clothing Waste at Redress
In May 2025, a dedicated group of 20 HKUST staff members came together for a purposeful volunteering experience at Redress, a local charity committed to reducing the environmental impact of fashion. As part of the HKUST Impact Makers staff volunteering program, these volunteers gave their time to support Redress’ Takeback Program, which focuses on collecting, sorting, and recirculating unwanted clothing from the public to save it from landfills.
During the sorting session at Redress’s warehouse, where they receive around 2-3 metric tons of clothes from their public collection points monthly, our volunteers sorted through 735 kg of unwanted clothing in just one afternoon for reuse, resale, recycling, and downcycling. This effort plays a crucial role in ensuring that the majority of clothes are recirculated, thereby minimizing waste and reducing the burden on landfills in our city.
The sorted clothes were donated to Redress’ 20+ local charity partners, while select items were resold at Redress’s charity shop to fund their ongoing initiatives. Through their efforts, our HKUST Impact Makers not only addressed clothing waste but also provided valuable support to the Hong Kong community and sustainability efforts.
Before diving into the sorting tasks, volunteers were introduced to the pressing sustainability issues surrounding fashion in Hong Kong. Many were surprised by the sheer volume of clothing collected, with one volunteer remarking, “I didn’t realize how much clothing goes into the collection bins we see around the city. It really opened my eyes to the scale of the problem.”
As they began inspecting each clothing item, the volunteers quickly learned the importance of thorough quality checks. They meticulously examined garments for stains and rips, ensuring that only clothing in wearable condition was sent to charity partners. One staff member shared, “When sorting secondhand clothes, it’s important that we check the quality to ensure that charity beneficiaries receive items that are clean and in good condition. Otherwise, we cannot truly say that we are ‘donating’ clothes; we would just be treating collection bins as a dumping ground. This experience was eye-opening in terms of seeing our city’s consumption habits.”
The activity was organized through HKUST’s Impact Makers Program, which encourages staff to engage in community service on issues they are passionate about. This Redress sorting activity followed another Impact Makers event at The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), where HKUST staff members learned about sustainable textile innovations in Hong Kong and participated in hands-on recycling efforts by cutting off trims and buttons from clothes to prepare them for recycling.
About the HKUST Impact Makers Program
The Impact Makers Program, organized by the Sustainability / Net-Zero Office in collaboration with the Human Resources Office, encourages staff to dedicate their time to meaningful causes. Volunteering not only supports the community—it also fosters well-being, connection, and team spirit. Participation in these activities is supported under the University’s Special Leave policy.
