PolyU scholar conferred as RGC Senior Research Fellow, spearheading circular economy for global sustainable goal

Rigorous research is crucial to drive the development of the circular economy (CE) for global sustainable production and consumption. In pursuit of this research goal to meet societal needs, Prof. Christina WONG, Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles and Director of Research and Innovation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been awarded by the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SFRS) with a total grant of approximately HK$8 million.

Prof. Wong has been granted the title of “RGC Senior Research Fellow.” Her research project aims to enhance CE governance and promote its institutionalisation and performance impacts.

The CE represents a model of production and consumption in which products and materials are cycled back into the economy until the end of their useful life, thereby reducing global material extraction. However, only 7.2% of global resources that enter the market are recovered and recycled annually, according to the Circularity Gap Report published at the World Economic Forum in 2023.

Despite governments’ efforts in setting action plans and policies on the CE, collective industrial efforts are essential for monitoring and controlling waste and resource efficiency. Considering the knowledge gap on CE governance and its benefits, the research addresses this challenge by demonstrating how different business conditions affect CE governance performance and subsequently driving the establishment of CE governance.

Prof. Wong said, “Receiving this funding award greatly encourages my research in sustainable goal concerning responsible consumption and production. The exceptional capacity, academic and research expertise, specialised facilities, and interdisciplinary resources at PolyU have extensively supported our research, empowering us to generate profound societal impacts.”

The SRFS aims to provide sustained support to exceptionally outstanding researchers at the UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. The supporting university receives a fellowship grant of around HK$8 million per award, over a period of 60 months.

Research detail:

Project Coordinator	Prof. Christina Wong Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles Director of Research and Innovation Office
Project Title	Beyond Regulatory Exertion: Circular Economy Governance, and its Institutionalization and Performance Impacts
Abstract	This project aims to deepen the understanding of Circular Economy (CE) governance and guidelines, promoting the adoption and production of recyclable material products among value chain partners. By demonstrating how various business environment conditions affect CE governance performance and the resulting business outcomes, this project will provide managerial and policy insights, encouraging corporates compliance with governance rules related to product design, production, and end-of-life treatment, ultimately practising environmental responsibility, reducing waste, and avoiding the use of virgin resources. In the long run, these efforts collectively contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12).

***END***