In an era where sustainability is more crucial than ever, the concept of circularity is transforming how we think about resources and waste.
Innovative changemakers from PippaSwap (PS) and Spare-it (SI) are leading this transformation, developing sustainable solutions that emphasize reuse, recycling, and community involvement.
Read the full article to explore how circularity can reshape our world for the better.
PippaSwap co-founders Josie Pierlot (left) and Samantha Ng (right)
Can you briefly introduce your company? Which part in the circularity model are you trying to address?
PS: We are a toy rental service based in Hong Kong that lets families access high-quality, educational toys without the need to buy new ones. Through our flexible subscription model and curated toy library, we aim to reduce waste, clutter, and overconsumption—while promoting early childhood development.
Within the circular economy model, we focus on product-as-a-service, encouraging reuse and extending the lifecycle of toys through sharing, repair, and responsible circulation.
SI: We are a Prop-tech company transforming how organisations measure, report, and reduce in-building waste. We focus on the waste intelligence and resource efficiency stages of the circularity model, using smart scales, AI, and data to drive waste reduction.
The biggest challenge of circularity, we often hear, is scalability. How do you address this in your organisation? What is the one thing you believe needs to change the most?
PS: Scalability for us means balancing logistics — like toy delivery and sanitisation — with growing demand while ensuring toy quality. We’ve tackled this through digital streamlining, route optimisation, and community-based awareness. But beyond operations, we believe the biggest shift needed is a mindset change: circularity needs to be seen not as an alternative, but as the norm that something families trust, adopt, and recommend.
SI: More Data. Less Waste.
At Spare-it, we address scalability head-on by making it simple to start and grow. We provide an easy-to-install system of secure, Wi-Fi-free scales and AI that transforms waste into actionable intelligence. Our non-intrusive technology allows organisations to “Go Live in Weeks. Not Months” and get quick sustainability wins while planning bigger projects. Our platform is built for effortless scalability across teams and locations, delivering consistent results organisation-wide.
Beyond our solution, the one thing that needs to change is the lack of accountability. A sustainable future requires stronger policies and government regulation to hold companies responsible for the waste they generate and for managing it responsibly. Circularity will only work when society, corporations, and government work together.
PippaSwap provides members with a digital platform to browse their extensive toy library.
What measurable impact have you achieved in promoting circularity?
PS: Since launching, we’ve saved toys from being prematurely discarded or forgotten in storage. We’ve helped families reduce toy clutter and make more conscious consumption choices. Through our social programmes, we’ve also provided free or discounted toy rentals to underserved families, making sustainable practices accessible across income levels.
SI: We’ve helped clients monitor thousands of square feet, divert tons of waste from landfills, and engage thousands of employees in sustainability efforts across APAC, the US, and Europe.
Spare-it empowers organisations with accurate data and helps them achieve an average waste reduction of 18 percent year-over-year. We offer transparent and traceable data on circularity to help organisations understand waste quantities and material composition.
Since 2019, we have measured over 1,000 tons of waste, helping our customers achieve an average diversion rate of 50% or more, with our best customers reaching over 80% diversion, and preventing over 600 tons of CO2 equivalent.
Spare-it provides businesses with accurate data to drive smart waste reduction
How can Dream Impact’s network and resources continue to help accelerate your mission and increase your impact?
PS: Dream Impact’s ecosystem is invaluable for cross-sector collaboration, visibility, and credibility. Continued support in community partnerships, storytelling platforms, and social innovation funding will help us deepen our social reach and scale our online platform — especially to serve more SEN and low-income families in Hong Kong.
SI: Dream Impact’s network is vital for accelerating our mission and increasing our impact. First, the network can connect us with a community of corporate champions and impact-driven investors dedicated to circularity. This will help us expand our reach, scale our solution faster, and secure the awareness and funding we need to accelerate our impact.
Second, beyond direct resources, being part of Dream Impact inspires us to build bridges with like-minded individuals and organisations. This community helps us grow the important conversations around sustainability and social responsibility that we care about, ultimately enabling us to better support our corporate customers on their own sustainability journeys.
Dream Impact founder, Dorothy and Spare-it members took part in an event
In one sentence, tell us your vision for circularity in Hong Kong.
PS: A Hong Kong where every child can learn and grow through shared resources, because circularity isn’t just about the planet, it’s about equity.
SI: For Hong Kong to lead in circularity, where businesses are empowered by data-driven waste intelligence and a collaborative ecosystem of government, industry, and individual champions to scale sustainable practices citywide.
About Dream Impact
Coworking | Event venue | Membership
Dream Impact is Hong Kong’s leading network of social enterprises and impact ventures. We support changemakers from different sectors through transformative experiences and community building initiatives that lead to more sustainable business models.
We envision a world where nurturing relationships with ourselves, each other, and the environment will create a harmonious, sustainable future. Through our network membership, coworking spaces, and event venues, we foster a close-knit, supportive community of social entrepreneurs and changemakers. This allows our partners to collaborate, connect, and upskill together.
Additionally, our flagship Transformative Retreat is designed to help purpose-driven professionals integrate sustainability into both their personal and professional lives, achieving greater alignment in their own journeys as well as within their organisations.
Interested in becoming our member? Sign up here and come visit with a free day pass.
