7-Eleven Hong Kong & Macau wins dual accolades at ESGBusiness Awards 2025
The company has been recognised for advancing circular economy practices and pioneering upcycling initiatives in Hong Kong.
7-Eleven Hong Kong & Macau received the Circular Economy Award - Hong Kong and the Initiative Award - Hong Kong for Upcycling at the ESGBusiness Awards 2025. These honours highlight the company’s commitment to minimising waste and addressing social needs through practical, community-based solutions.
At the heart of this achievement is the Grounds to Green Coffee Grounds Upcycling Program. Launched in July 2024, the initiative collects used coffee grounds from 7CAFÉ outlets and, in partnership with the Foodlink Foundation and Senior Buddy Charity Farm, repurposes them into organic fertiliser. The fertiliser is used to grow fresh vegetables, which are then donated to ten NGOs, including Pei Ho Counterparts, to prepare hot, nutritious meals for vulnerable groups across Hong Kong.
With more than 1,100 stores, over 700 of them featuring 7CAFÉ, 7-Eleven leveraged its logistics network to integrate coffee ground collection into existing delivery routes. This model reduces additional travel and emissions whilst ensuring a steady supply of grounds for composting. In its first year, the initiative is expected to recycle up to 1.2 million cups of 7CAFÉ coffee, potentially avoiding around 19,256 kg of greenhouse gas emissions and helping to prepare 10,000 meals for people in need.
7-Eleven’s collaboration with Foodlink Foundation laid the groundwork for Grounds to Green. Between 2023 and 2024, more than 190,000 surplus food items were donated to Foodlink and its partners. Building on this success, the company has embarked on a multi-phase circular economy strategy. Phase 2, Coffee BOB, is already underway – a partnership with Maxim’s Group that transforms coffee grounds and surplus bread into an award-winning craft beer. Phase 3, Grounds to Goodness, a Farm to Table initiative, will complete the cycle by turning vegetables grown with upcycled fertiliser into 7-Eleven’s own-brand products. Together, these initiatives cement the company’s commitment to reducing waste, creating value and shaping a more sustainable future.
The ESGBusiness Awards celebrate companies leading the way in building a sustainable future, recognising those that demonstrate outstanding commitment and achievement in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
The ESGBusiness Awards is presented by ESGBusiness. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding commitment and achievement in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].
