Richard Ekkebus
Culinary Director at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Richard Ekkebus is the Culinary Director at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, overseeing all cuisine at one of the city’s most luxurious and distinctive five-star hotels. Under Richard’s supervision and guidance, Amber, the hotel’s contemporary, fine dining restaurant, was bestowed with the Sustainable Restaurant Award, listed No. 31 in the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020 and for the 13 consecutive years, awarded two Michelin stars by the Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau 2021. Being a pioneer in sustainable culinary and restaurant operations, Richard is committed to driving culinary exploration and creativity. He is admired for his innovative and sustainable approach towards contemporary French cuisine.
Judge’s selections
The Amber Price
Seaweed-based biopackaging: sustainable, compostable, circular, and edible
PT Seaweedtama Biopac Indonesia
I am familiar with this company and the product and even have samples. Like trees that draw in CO2 from the air, seaweed draws in CO2 from the ocean. This sequestering of ocean carbon is critically important for a healthy marine ecosystem. It is known that coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seaweeds and seagrasses are known for storing carbon. Often called ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems, they can take up to 20 times more CO2 per acre than forests on land. The ocean draws in about 30% of the atmosphere’s CO2, therefore seaweed plays an important role in absorbing carbon, further is seaweed delicious and full of umami (one of my favourite ingredients to work with), seaweed farming has no negative impact on its environment, seaweed grows fast, and this project shows that we use seaweed to make packaging. The versatility of seaweed seems to be endless.
Plastic Free Ocean Price
Sea2see 100% recycled marine plastic
individual
I have been an activist and avid speaker over the past 8 years to raise awareness on the problems of single used plastic usage & the pollution of single used plastics in our oceans. At LMO we have eliminated single used plastic from our operations, this policy has been implemented in all MOHG hotels worldwide and since March 2021 we operate all our hotels single used plastic free and therefore is the upcycling of ocean plastic a subject close to my heart. Plastic should be recycled and where feasible completely faced out to PLA free alternatives. It is therefore that this project is close to my heart and excited to that single used plastic is given a new life by recycling into useful items.
Mission Zero Waste Prize
Espigoladors Foundation: fighting for a world without food waste
Espigoladors Foundation
As a chef I have a clear understanding of the problems and the scale of food waste problem. Between 33-50% of all food produced globally is never eaten, and the value of this wasted food is worth over $1 trillion. Morally wrong. Meanwhile 800 million people go to bed hungry every night. That is 1 in 9 people on the planet who are starving or malnourished. Over the past decades consumers have been misled that perfection is better, that fruits and vegetables grow uniform. the truth is far from that. I am compelled by this project. I believe in circular food economies and the potential of digital food banks where 'lesser desired" products are sold, a way to reduce food waste and to generate revenue. Our planets usage of our resources is poor and through technology this could be improved. This initiative deals with unwanted fruits and vegetables and make perfect and delicious meals or components for meals. Making from ugly and imperfect fruits and vegetables delicious sauces, jam’s and soups. I can say a wonderful initiative and hope that there will be many more similar initiatives to come worldwide.
The LMO Price
YoutúYou: a global digital platform for the transformation of the waste value chain
greenYng
It is a concept I have been dreaming about for years, the concept of 'One man’s trash is other man’s treasure' and I hope food is an integral part of this concept. This project will create a reduction of unrenewable resources, reduction of waste, reduction of carbon emissions, opens opportunity of small circular businesses. As our world’s population is expected to peak at 10bn in 2050. Our resources, the earth’s raw materials, are not limitless. As a result, global labour and raw material costs are on the increase. Circular economy business opportunities can offer new ways to mitigate these risks to allow businesses to grow and diversify. In a circular economy, products and materials keep circulating in a high value state of use, through supply chains, for as long as possible.