Companies are gradually recuperating from the economic fallout brought by the pandemic. The COVID-19 brought a nightmare to all corporations and small businesses leading to bankruptcy or forced to reduced operations to mitigate the impact of losses. Major business sectors have been greatly affected and global leaders didn’t anticipate the massive effect of this public health crisis.

However, with determination and focus to revive the dwindling economy, some companies emerge to create not just a collective action but found their way through the pandemic by innovating. One effective innovation is the partnership of airDefender HK and The Star Ferry that inked both companies’ collaboration last November through the sponsorship of Eco Oil Company Limited.

The Star Ferry Company and airDefender HK Collaboration

The Star Ferry has been the major cross-harbor ferry operator in Hong Kong ever since the pandemic outbreak. Prior to that, it has been operating in Hong Kong Island to Kowloon for more than 120 years. Its piers are located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, and Wanchai provinces. This remarkable icon in Hong Kong’s transportation system has even received a citation from National Geographic Traveler as one of the 50 crossing places of a lifetime.

As one of the forefront companies that aggressively fight the coronavirus, Star Ferry has adopted several hygienic methods and health protocols to alleviate the business’ passenger decline due to the pandemic, a major dent in ferry operators in Hong Kong. With the help of Eco Oil Company to further introduce the photocatalyst coating in major vessels and fleet, it was also applied in the three Star Ferry harbors in other locations. They applied it on the company’s public areas to disinfect the ports, elevators, handrails, lobby, toilets, water tour waiting lounge, staff washroom, and other back of house working area. They even placed hand-sanitizers near token vending machines for the passengers’ use.  

airDefender’s 365 Days Solution

The patented 365 days solution is a one-time, one-year application that effectively removes resistant bacteria, formaldehyde, TVOCs, and dust transforming these elements into harmless byproducts. It protects the surface that normally ordinary solutions cannot handle.

Several case studies showed how 365 days solution reduced the rate of infection in different settings. In schools, hospitals, public places, and public transport systems, the treated surface produced an outstanding result in eliminating the rate of infection by up to 95%. The coating works as a barrier in an aqueous form to enable it to stay longer while doing its objective – disinfecting. It prolongs the effect of its antibacterial ingredient, even when used on top of other beauty products and not even affected by hand washing. It also inhibits the reproduction of bacteria by killing the germs immediately and works as fast how it spread.

Among Hong Kong’s local leading brands in hand-sanitizer and disinfection, airDefender through sponsorship has collaborated with Star Ferry to fight the health crisis in the country particularly in Star Ferry’s harbors. airDefender has been in the nanotechnology industry in Hong Kong since 2003 and their NASA-researched TiO2 Quantum-dot Photocatalyst Technology has already received accolades and a warm welcome for using the natural nanocrystal titanium dioxide with the use of UV light. They partnered with independent international laboratories and their products are approved safe in foods, drugs, and cosmetics.

This successful partnership brought new opportunities, built relationships, and future innovation among Hong Kong’s environmentalists and conservationists companies.