As part of our Eco Heroes series for our Sustainability issue, we talk to five of the city’s most innovative eco-warriors saving Mother Earth, one impactful idea at a time. Here, Sonalie Figueiras, founder of eco-wellness platform Green Queen, shares her story
With her eco-wellness media platform Green Queen, Sonalie Figueiras is bringing sustainability to the masses. One of the first online media outlets in Hong Kong to provide Asia-focused environmental and wellness content, Green Queen attracts 160,000 visits a month from an audience Sonalie describes as made up of eco- and health-conscious professionals.
The eco-entrepreneur came up with the concept a decade ago when she was dealing with two chronic health issues, Hashimoto’s disease and endometriosis. “There is no cure, but I could manage them with a healthy diet and lifestyle,” says the Generation T 2019 honouree.
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Following her “eco-awakening,” Sonalie dived into the world of wellness, learning about the benefits of organic produce, plant-based recipes and sustainable cosmetics. In 2011 she published her “little green book” online, filled with recommendations on the best sustainable restaurants, brands and shops. It immediately became a massive hit.
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A year later she launched Ekowarehouse, a digital platform that connects buyers and suppliers of organic products. “We make safe and high-quality food easier to source, and we give visibility to smaller farmers and producers by offering them a fairly priced marketing solution,” says Sonalie.
In 2018 she launched the Zero Waste Journey Podcast, which covers such topics as plastic pollution and food waste. “Back then, mainstream outlets weren’t covering these topics,” she says. “Our impact comes from making our audience feel like they are a key part of the solution for huge issues like climate change and food security.”
For more information, visit greenqueen.com.hk