Hong Kong’s largest independent cargo handler has received an air cargo award for its redefining cargo packaging through circular materials project.
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) won the corporate category at the 2026 TIACA Air Cargo Sustainability Awards for the recent program.
The project aims to reduce single-use plastics in air cargo packaging by developing aviation-grade polyethylene plastic sheets using post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Hactl says it has become the world’s first air cargo terminal to successfully develop and lab-validate 100 per cent closed-loop recycled plastic sheets that meet both mechanical and operational requirements.
Since 2022, Hactl has transitioned to 30 to 50 per cent recycled content, but progress has been constrained at this level due to technical constraints, as higher PCR content typically compromises tensile strength, elasticity and processing performance.
To overcome this, Hactl collaborated with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI), which is now merged with the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, to develop an ecofriendly, multi-layer polyethylene film structure that preserves aviation-grade mechanical performance while increasing recycled content, creating a practical pathway towards fully circular cargo packaging.
The circular lifecycle of 100 per cent closed-loop recycled plastic sheets has now been achieved and can be set as a global standard. Used plastic sheets are collected from Hactl’s SuperTerminal 1, converted into reusable pellets and remanufactured into new films made entirely from 100 per cent PCR material.
By breaking the 50 per cent recycled-content ceiling, the project significantly reduces reliance on virgin petrochemical resins and their associated emissions, with the potential to divert approximately 700 tonnes of plastic waste from landfill annually.
“We sincerely thank the judges for this recognition of our sustainability efforts,” Hactl acting chief executive Michelle Choi says.
“The 100 per cent closed-loop recycled plastic sheets is more than a material breakthrough; it offers a scalable model that combines environmental benefit, technical integrity and commercial viability, demonstrating how sustainable innovation can drive meaningful change across the air cargo industry.”