Living and BreathingSustainability

A major international airport and cargo hub would appear to be an unlikely breeding ground for creative sustainability programmes. But Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) – Hong Kong International Airport’s largest independent cargo handler’s employees are certainly challenging that notion.

Hactl has pioneered many sustainability programmes that have positively impacted the company’s bottom line, corporate reputation and team spirit.

On top of its current solar power project, recycling and awareness programmes, carbon reduction initiatives and community outreach, Benny Siu, Hactl’s Senior Manager of Safety, Sustainability and Quality Assurance – and in-house ‘green evangelist’ – wants to develop a rooftop farm and more.

In this interview, he talks about Hactl’s sustainability approach, standout programmes, and how it has become ingrained in the Hactl culture.

Green team: Hactl volunteers set their sights on a sustainable future.

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Perspective

(physical cargo handling, ramp handling and documentation handling)

Handling capacity

Service offered

Carbon Intensity

About Hactl

Number of employees 2,400

Up to 3.5 million tonnes (P.A.)

Recycling rate: Paper 95% Plastic 98%

Air Cargo Handling

Founded in 1976 Total site area 174,600 sq.m. Total floor area 395,000 sq.m.

Reduction in Carbon Intensity (2015-2018) 28%

Carbon emission/100kg cargo handled

Dressed to impress: the ‘Don’t Wait Act Now’ upcycled fashion show.

Hactl enjoys an enviable reputation as a leader in sustainability across the Group and in Hong Kong – can you run through some of the main projects?

Hactl is a long-time supporter of activities to minimise the environmental impact of our operations and we are proud of the awards that we have won that recognise our efforts.

Green Terminal is our flagship. It was launched off the back of our Year of Green Terminal initiative in 2018, where we installed 81 water dispensers and distributed reusable water bottles, lunch boxes and eco tote bags to our 2,400 staff. We also staged the ‘Don’t Wait Act Now’ fashion show featuring upcycled clothing, modelled by management and staff, which was a programme highlight.

And last year, we installed a 160 kilowatt solar power system, comprising 516 panels, on the SuperTerminal 1 to power some of our operations.

We also run an annual Green Week initiative where like-minded partners and social enterprises come to share their sustainability successes and learnings with our staff and tenant users. Last year, we invited other Jardines Group companies in Hong Kong to join Green Week and we look forward to more collaborations in the future.

Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world – what opportunities and challenges does this present in terms of sustainability initiatives?

Yes, the nature of our business and our unique geographical location offers some very special challenges and opportunities. Our recent project, Sustainable Tree is a good example. Last year, we had to remove some eucalyptus trees from our rooftop as they were a potential aviation safety concern. Rather than chop them down, we wanted to replant them, but we had to find a replanting area close to the airport because the trees could not be transported too far.

Eventually we contacted a local NGO who connected us with schools in nearby Tung Chung, where we planted the trees. The remaining trees were shredded for mushroom cultivation workshops run for the students – this was a great example of community outreach and we continue to visit these schools.

In terms of opportunity, the space and openness of the airport is well suited for solar and wind energy projects and following our recent solar power initiative, we hope to introduce more soon.

We have also installed an electric vehicle (EV) charging station which is available for Hactl vehicles and EVs used by Hactl tenants. A focus on EVs and renewable energy is a high priority because we often record high levels of air pollution due to heavy traffic in the air and roads around the airport.

Benny Siu in action.

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Full house: Hactl’s Green Film Festival is a sell-out!

Does Hactl have a dedicated sustainability team and is sustainability used as a benchmark when the company sets annual objectives?

My team is responsible for sustainability as well as safety and quality assurance. But we don’t see ourselves as the only experts on the topic – that’s why we pro-actively engage other colleagues and internal and external specialists so we can learn from them.

We have three groups, including our initial Green Team, to manage the Green Terminal initiatives. The team consists of senior staff who are experienced in driving new initiatives, and youngsters who are creative and passionate, and bring energy and new ideas to the table.

There is also a Green Support Group which includes representatives from all departments. Their role is to promote new initiatives to their colleagues and give us feedback on what is working well and what needs to change. And we also have an Environmental, Health and Safety Committee that focuses on operation activities – especially related to the different environmental aspects of our business.

And yes, when we set business objectives today, sustainability is a very important benchmark for us. We respect both qualitative and quantitative measurements and always remind ourselves to be driven by our mission, not just by the targets set.

How does driving such a strong sustainability agenda benefit Hactl’s business?

We have found over the years that being eco-friendly makes good business sense. We reduce operational costs when we reduce energy use and waste. This has been particularly obvious since our adoption of company-wide mobile computing, which has reduced

ramp vehicle use and emissions, cut fuel costs, and improved resource utilisation.

Between 2011 to 2019, we reduced energy consumption by over 20%. This statistic makes a major difference to a company which operates 24/7, in one of the largest air cargo terminals in the world and uses a lot of heavy equipment. We want to lead by example, and we are always happy to talk about and work with a wide range of partners – internal and external.

What are Hactl’s sustainability areas of focus for the next 12-18 months and beyond?

Organic farming is a hot topic and we recently invited local farmers to share their tips on organic farming. This really struck a chord with colleagues and we plan to redesign a part of our rooftop to become an organic farm and leisure space.

We are also renovating our workspaces – which haven’t changed much over the past 20 years – into a modern workspace with many sustainability elements in it. Moreover, echoing the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we are planning for a long-term decarbonisation strategy to make our sustainability efforts even more comprehensive and integrated across our daily operations and future projects.

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Perspective

2019

Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards – Best Green Air Cargo Terminal Operator

Organiser / Asia Cargo News

2018

Hong Kong International Airport Environmental Management Recognition Scheme – Grand Award

Organiser / Hong Kong International Airport

2017

Hong Kong International Airport Carbon Reduction Award – Champion in the ‘Above 10,000 tonnes’ category

Organiser / Hong Kong International Airport

2016 - 2017

Payload Asia Awards – Green Award

Organiser / Payload Asia

2015Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence – Transport and Logistics – Gold Award

Organiser / Environmental Campaign Committee,Environmental Bureau HKSAR

Clean energy: Solar power installation in Hactl’s building.

Is employee engagement a big factor in your programmes?

Very much so, we have platforms for colleagues to share their ideas and lead new initiatives – their creativity and energy is incredible.

In 2018, we ran the Green Terminal mini-movie competition and six teams from various departments produced wonderful mini-movies to promote sustainability messages to their colleagues. Tree planting is another very popular activity – participants are even willing take part in this event even during holiday periods – we are very proud and lucky to have such devoted colleagues who show the true Hactl spirit!

Do you live a sustainable life outside of the office? And do you have any easy green tips we can adopt at home?

I get asked this a lot. My suggestion has always been the same, don’t overthink it, just start from what you can do! Everyone needs motivation, so why force yourself into things you cannot do right now?

To adopt a new lifestyle, you have to learn to enjoy it, and it could be spending a weekend on an organic farm or volunteering with a local NGO.

Last year, I went to Hong Kong’s New Life Farm with a colleague to learn about organic farming. We also organised a volunteer service at Food Angel, a charity which repurposes food waste in a sustainable way and creates meals for disadvantaged people. Once you understand the brilliance of having a greener lifestyle, you will naturally be more aware of what you can do, and do more.

Hactl’s Sustainability Accolades

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