Towngas, Gold Peak Industries and Sun Hung Kai Properties receive Hong Kong Awards for Industries in Environmental Performance
(23 January 2008, Hong Kong) Hon Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, presented The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) the Grand Award of 2007 Hong Kong Awards for Industries (HKAI) in Environmental Performance at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today. Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Limited (Gold Peak) and Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd (SHK) took Performance Awards. Organized by the Business Environment Council (BEC), the Award aims to recognize Hong Kong enterprises in both industrial and services of all sectors that exemplify outstanding environmental achievements.
Dr Andrew Thomson, Chief Executive Officer of BEC said, "Today we celebrate green leaders who have put environmental and social responsibility at the heart of their corporate success. It is important that we publicly recognize their commitment and reward their achievements in actively raising their environmental performance and setting the bar for the industry as a whole."
Dr Thomson highlighted that global climate change has become both a challenge and opportunity that every corporate citizen has to address. "Our award winners have taken essential steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve every aspect of their service and product life cycle. They have clearly demonstrated to their peers that environmental excellence in business is fast becoming an imperative for commercial success and future leadership."
"The quantity and quality of entrants have been truly inspiring this year, representing industrial and services companies of various sizes and sectors. These companies present countless examples of the business case for sustainable development. They have embraced best practices beyond regulatory compliance integrating aspects such as resource efficiency, pollution prevention, waste minimization and community engagement from strategy through operation." Dr Thomson said.
Further to last winning the Grand Award in 2004, Towngas again wins the Grand Award this year. Towngas has showcased remarkable efforts in reducing environmental footprint while supplying safe and reliable gas. They have introduced natural gas as a partial feedstock replacement for naphtha to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx), injecting ammonia into flue gas, and using a special catalyst to convert NOx into nitrogen and water vapour to reduce NOx concentration. Towngas' Turning Waste into Value program recycled used appliances that has been generated over 1 million dollars for its Green Creativity Fund since 2003. Its Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment System has also saved 103,000 cubic meters of water and 1,000 tons of chemicals each year from 2006 onwards. Its Environmental Working Committee constantly reviewed the development of its own environmental policies. Towngas is accredited with the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 international standards. It recently won a Bronze Award of Hong Kong Eco-Products Award 2007.
Gold Peak and SHK received the Environmental Performance Awards. Gold Peak saved over 2 million kilowatt of electricity and 9,000 tonnes of water, while CO2, NOx and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) were much reduced by over 2,000 tonnes, 5 tonnes and 3 tonnes respectively these past twelve months. Gold Peak has also developed eco-friendly products such as the rechargeable and recyclable ReCyko+ battery and solar charger.
SHK has integrated green practices from planning and design to construction, material sourcing, landscaping and property management. SHK has the largest private water treatment plant in Palm Springs and Royal Palms to treat 180,000 cubic metres of water each month and reuse it to clean the streets and water the plants. SHK's Ma Wan Park Nature Garden uses renewable energy from solar, wind power, geothermic, hydro and biomass generating systems. The park is a vehicle for spreading the green message.
Nine companies were granted the Certificate of Merit: Hang Seng Bank Limited, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, Hongkong International Terminals Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Limited, Leader Civil Engineering Corporation Ltd, Maeda Corporation, Metro City Management Limited, NWS Holdings Limited, and Shui On Building Contractors Limited - Eastern Harbour Crossing Site Phase 4.
Dr Thomson concluded, "All the winners and the entrants are environmental leaders and ambassadors. They have the ability to empower the business community to understand and adopt more sustainable practices. And the challenge in the coming years is for all the business sectors acting together to build on this momentum, make Hong Kong a sustainable environment for the citizens and the future generations."
About the Business Environment Council (www.bec.org.hk)
The Business Environment Council (BEC) is an independent, non-profit organization set up by business for business as an environmental solutions provider. BEC's services include consultancy, research, training and award programs for companies across all sectors and at any stage of their corporate sustainability journey. BEC is based in Hong Kong with offices in Beijing and Shenzhen.
Established in 1989, BEC has expanded to a network of more than 20,000 companies with a combined market capitalisation of HK$3 trillion and 1 million employees. Our membership comprises of organizations of all sizes across all sectors including China Light and Power, China Resources Enterprise, Dunwell Enviro-Tech, Fook Tin Technologies Limited, Gammon Construction, Great Eagle Company, Hongkong Electric Company, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Hongkong International Terminals, Jardine Pacific, Johnson Stokes & Masters, Kowloon Motor Bus, PCCW, Shell, the Swire Group, Modern Terminals, Wheelock, Peking University, China Environmental and Culture Promotion Association of State Environmental Protection Administration, China Association of Environmental Protection Industry, Alxa SEE Ecological Association, Consulate-General of Japan, New Zealand Consulate-General and various leading industry, academic and community organizations.
About the Award (www.hkindustryaward.org)
2007 Hong Kong Awards for Industries in Environmental Performance organized by the Business Environment Council (BEC) aims to recognize Hong Kong enterprises that exemplify outstanding environmental achievements. Initiated by BEC in 1992, the Hong Kong Awards for Industry was merged with the Hong Kong Awards for Services to form the Hong Kong Awards for Industries in 2005. Winners are selected by an independent panel of industry, services and environmental experts. They have demonstrated a very high level of commitment in pollution prevention, waste reduction, resource use, legal compliance, staff and community engagement.