GREEN WARRIORSÂ 2019
At Green Is The New Black we get to meet some seriously inspiring people. People who are changing the world with their everyday actions. We strongly believe that every little bit counts which is why we are always banging on about #LittleGreenSteps to #LiveMoreConsciously.
We are thrilled to announce our third tribe of Green Warriors. While you may not be familiar with some of them (yet!), we believe they are truly changing the game. The environmental impact of their actions have rippled across the region, and indeed the world. Our philosophy has always been to take #LittleGreenSteps to #LiveMoreConsciously, and this is something our Green Warriors actively practice while empowering others to do the same. The theme of this year’s shoot was inspired by the overwhelming message from scientists that climate change is real. But we’re not talking about the survival of the planet; Earth will take care of itself. The survival of the human race and thousands of animal species is what should be under the spotlight. So during our shoot, we decided to work with water to represent the melting ice caps and rising sea levels. Our Warriors were glammed up to the max, juxtaposing ego with the harsh reality of the climate crisis. We shot our Green Warriors naked and submerged in water. We splished and splashed around to create a variety of different watery effects, with breathtaking results. Our Warriors did a sterling job; we can confirm the water was cold! Alex Marco was our photographer for this year’s shoot. Alex is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in magazines, galleries, and on billboards across the globe. With a diverse and prolific portfolio, his work spans advertising campaigns, fashion photography and two decades of projects with NGOs. He refuses to work for cigarette or car brands and has always pushed large clients to look at the beauty they portray. Alex has fought against retouching models in the edit, instead celebrating the diversity and plurality of life. His current focus is on environmental waste, using his experience and fashion glam aesthetic to the service of the planet.ALL GREEN WARRIORS
Alessandro Bisagni | Founder and President, BEE Incorporations
A Global Green Builder
For conscious engineering solutions for green and healthy buildings worldwide
Alessandro started BEE (Bisagni Environmental Enterprise) 10 years ago with a vision to make sustainability a quality investment and create positive environmental, economic, and social impacts on our built environment. BEE is committed to conscious engineering, and since then, he has worked…
Annabelle Baker | Director and General Manager, Lush Greater China
Making naked great again
For freeing us of beauty packaging and liberating animals from suffering
From a young age, Annabelle has been passionate about the protection of the environment and animals. She discovered LUSH in 1998 when she was 16, starting her career there as a part-time sales assistant in the third ever shop on…
Bjorn Low | Co-founder and Managing Director, Edible Garden City
The Urban Farming Guru
For converting dead city spaces into urban farms
Bjorn started his career as an online marketing specialist after completing his MBA. His stint in marketing brought him to London, where during a particularly harsh winter, he realised that he wanted to be a farmer. Bjorn quit his job, and for the next…
Brian Reilly | Founder and CEO, Revolv [soon MUUSE]
Saying no to single-use
For reducing food and single-use packaging
Brian spent the first 13 years of his career pioneering renewable energy globally, first with wind and then with solar energy. Having experienced the collective capabilities of global environmental movements first hand, he brought his optimism to the world of reusable packaging and founded Revolv in…
Charlz Ng | Co-Founder and Managing Director, Hybrid Group, Iris: Your Escape Fitness & Wellness Festival
Sustainable health and wellness
For awakening Hong Kong through yoga, fitness, meditation, and mindful activities
Charlz Ng is making a massive impact on Hong Kong’s health and wellness sector. He began his career in organising nightlife and music events, but soon realised the toll of many late nights and was motivated to co-found Hybrid Group and…
Christian Mongendre | Founder & CEO, TREEHOUSE
Fueling the heart through food
For creating the biggest plant-based fast-casual restaurant chain
Christian Mongendre is widely recognised in Hong Kong and beyond as one of the visionaries behind the plant-based movement in Hong Kong. He successfully co-founded and opened well-loved restaurants such as Mana! and subsequently Mana! Raw and Mana! Café. From there,…
Christina Dean | Founder & Chair, Redress, Founder & CEO, The R Collective
Fashion's most eco-friendly fashionista
For making the fashion industry more conscious and building a sustainable fashion industry in Asia
Christina Dean is a popular name in the world of sustainable fashion. She is a leading sustainable fashion advocate who founded The R Collective, a social impact upcycled fashion brand that creates luxury upcycled fashion…
Christina Lee | Founder & CEO, Global Green Connect
Sustainability In Business
For empowering and connecting businesses and the next generation to build a sustainable future
A former media professional turned sustainability entrepreneur; Christina is deeply passionate about sustainability and business. She founded Global Green Connect, an integrated sustainability network that provides sustainability consulting, market entry advisory and business accelerator program. Its subsidiary…
Esther An | Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited
A Pioneering Advocate For Sustainability
For being a prominent eco champion proving corporates can lead change in climate action and low carbon economy towards a more sustainable future for all
Esther has been a pioneering advocate for green building and sustainability for over two decades. She is instrumental in establishing CDL’s leadership in sustainability and ESG…
Esther Röling | Co-Founder, Adventure Clean Up Challenge
Extreme Trash Collection
For cleaning up the Hong Kong coast through adventures
Esther is a co-founder of the Adventure Clean up Challenge: the first multi-disciplinary sports event with an environmental purpose. She founded the ACUC after she climbed the entire 80 km coastline of Hong Kong Island alongside her husband, Paul, (who is also a 2019…
Gary Bencheghib | Filmmaker and Activist
Viral Videos That Change The World
For using storytelling to inspire systemic change to end the waste issue in Indonesia
Growing up on the island of Bali from the age of nine, Gary witnessed the devastating effects of the island’s waste problem first-hand. Now 23, this environmental filmmaker is drawing attention to some of the most…
Ho Xiang Tian | Co-Founder, LepakInSG
Shaping a brighter future
For advocating for systemic change for a better future and shifting the conversation away from individual action
Xiang Tian is the co-founder of informal environmental group LepakInSG, with informal referring to his dress code. The group is lauded for being a social calendar of all the green events unfolding in…