Hong Kong strengthens position as Asia's sustainable fashion hub

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has released its 2026 ESG Index for the fashion industry, showing an increase to 65.5, up 2.3 percentage points from 2025. This rise indicates growing industry confidence in Hong Kong as a premier platform for sustainable fashion and ESG-related business opportunities.

The report highlights the increasing commercial value of sustainability. Among exhibitors offering ESG-related products or services, 61% reported achieving additional profit margins of at least 10%. Additionally, 47% of buyers sourcing ESG-related products expressed a willingness to pay a premium of 10% or more.

Industry practitioners increasingly view ESG as essential, with the proportion rising from 85% in 2025 to 92% in 2026. This trend was particularly pronounced among respondents from Mainland China, where 45% regarded ESG as ‘very important’ for business decision-making, a 27 percentage-point increase from the previous year. HKTDC Principal Economist Alice Tsang noted that sustainability is becoming a significant commercial driver, helping to create tangible business value through higher profit margins and buyer premiums.