Sustainability Report 2021/22

Value Created for the Environment Waste Management Meanwhile, our property management subsidiaries participated for a fifth year in Greeners Action’s Umbrella Bags Reduction scheme, in which 44 of our properties achieved Gold certificates. 171 of our properties, shopping malls and hotels are signatories to the Environmental Protection Department’s Glass Container Recycling Charter. To prepare for the government’s municipal solid waste (MSW) charging scheme, our residential and commercial properties have begun to reduce plastic waste – an issue exacerbated by increased use of disposable plastics during the pandemic. Kai Shing devised the Plastic Free at Restaurant Charter with Community Leap at Life@KCC, and more than 80% of its food-and-beverage tenants have committed to reducing plastic consumption. A total of 27 properties under Hong Yip also actively participated in the Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme in Eastern District, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin organized by the Environmental Protection Department to encourage recycling of disposable plastic items and packaging materials to tackle the increasing demand of takeaways and to get prepared for the MSW charging scheme. To ease our community into the government’s MSW charging scheme, two of our properties held waste reduction pilot programmes. The programme at Metropolis Plaza (Commercial) involved more than 70% of its tenants, while East Point City (Residential) engaged more than 650 households. Food waste is a problem in Hong Kong. We tackle it by: • Promoting food waste separation and recycling at our properties • Supporting the government’s A Food Waste & Yard Waste Plan for Hong Kong 2014-2022 since 2018 • Mobilizing food-and-beverage tenants from our hotels, shopping malls and residential buildings to deliver food waste to the Organic Resources Recovery Centre for treatment • Implementing food waste management at 31 of our commercial and residential properties. We have introduced food waste machines and collected approximately 2,800 kg per day in total • Promoting upcycling with NGOs and appointing third-parties to collect and recycle food waste from our tenants, and turn it into animal feed • Organizing educational courses for restaurant tenants to promote the reduction of food waste In line with the government’s waste management initiatives – including the Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022 – we practise a three-tier waste-management strategy: prevention where possible, and reduction and recovery where unavoidable. Construction and demolition waste from our construction work and general waste from our properties are the major waste source we generated. For the progress of our 10-year target on construction waste diversion, this year, we have achieved around 97% construction waste diversion rate. Innovative practices enable us to reduce waste and material consumption. BIM design simulation, precast units and the Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) concept streamline construction work. They reduce errors and unnecessary consumption of raw materials, and hence raise productivity, enhance quality and minimize the waste associated with faulty design. We purchase raw materials in appropriate quantities and sizes and seek to transfer excavated sand and soil to other sites for backfilling, reclamation and other purposes. We reuse and recycle scrap steel such as bored piles and I-beams. We use prefabricated steel reinforcing bars and deploy turntables when installing dual-use bridges at The YOHO Hub. During design and building stages, we work with contractors to reduce waste by standardizing the dimensions of materials and setting up recycling facilities. Where possible, we prioritize deconstruction instead of demolition. Paper, cardboard, metal, aluminium, plastic and glass are sent to local recycling centres. We seek to reduce and divert waste at our hotels and property management subsidiaries by engaging internal and external stakeholders. We promote responsible consumption, provide recycling bins and reverse vending machines, and invite tenants and customers to participate in events including Green Recycling Carnival Day and initiatives such as festive food or red envelope recycling. A weekly Tai Po Market recycling booth was organized, and smart recycling machines were installed in selected shopping malls and residential properties to collect recyclables. We support external partners’ efforts to encourage recycling and minimize waste. This year, selected shopping malls participated in campaigns such as the Environmental Protection Department’s Source Separation of Commercial and Industrial Waste and Greeners Action’s Tetrapak Clean Recycling Pilot Scheme. 19 Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited • Sustainability Report 2021/22