Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), Hong Kong’s largest independent cargo handler, has become the first air cargo terminal worldwide to introduce 100% closed-loop recycled plastic sheets for cargo operations. Developed in partnership with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI), these sheets utilize post-consumer plastic waste generated from Hactl’s own operations and are now being rolled out immediately.
Since 2022, Hactl has used plastic sheets containing 30-50% recycled material, progressively advancing toward a fully recycled solution. The new sheets eliminate virgin plastic entirely, reducing non-biodegradable waste destined for landfills and providing a scalable model for the air cargo industry.
Amy Lam, Hactl’s chief sustainability officer, stated: “Our existing plastic sheets already contained 30-50% recycled material, but we wanted to accelerate our full transition to the circular economy and bring tangible benefits to industry and society at large, and the new 100% closed-loop recycled plastic sheets enable us to achieve that goal.”
Lam added: “We believe there is huge scope to improve the air cargo industry’s performance in this area. By incorporating a higher proportion of recycled content into our plastic sheets, we can achieve closed-loop recycling, significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our industry and keep thousands of tonnes of non-biodegradable plastic out of our landfills.”
Operating SuperTerminal 1 with a 3.5 million-ton annual capacity, Hactl holds certifications including ISAGO, WHO GDP, and all four IATA CEIV standards, positioning it to influence pallet wrapping materials across the supply chain.