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Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Restricted (Hactl) – Hong Kong’s finest self sustaining handler – has successfully transformed its broken-down team uniforms into 5,000 upcycled cups thru its “Zero Demolish Uniform Upcycling Venture”.

The initiative marks the fundamental zero-spoil upcycling project for broken-down garments in the ancient past of Hong Kong’s aviation industry.

The broken-down uniforms were made of sturdy, water-resistant blended fibres, which would possibly be generally powerful to recycle and ceaselessly stop up in landfill. Via the “Zero Demolish Uniform Upcycling Venture”, polyester fibres from the broken-down uniforms were recycled thru melt-granulation and diverse processes into raw plastic granules that were then used to invent recyclable plastic cups. The project has demonstrated the unlimited potentialities of zero-spoil upcycling of broken-down uniforms for the aviation industry and diverse sectors.

Says Hactl Chief Executive Wilson Kwong: “In Hong Kong, the aviation industry, relish many industries, affords uniforms for frontline team. Going thru broken-down uniforms is a in point of fact powerful environmental project. We hope that thru this project, we can spoil thru oldschool barriers and recycle broken-down uniforms to originate ‘zero spoil upcycling’ and reduce succor the burden on landfills, whereas encouraging the industry to contribute in direction of a circular financial system and sustainable pattern.”

Since launching its “Green Terminal” programme in 2018, Hactl has been ensuring impacts on the community and atmosphere. It has committed to achieving a 75% spoil recycling rate by 2030. The “Zero Demolish Uniform Upcycling Venture” is one of Hactl’s most considerable initiatives to help realise this scheme.

In step with statistics launched by the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong’s textile spoil recycling rate elevated from about 4% in 2018 to almost 11% in 2022. Then again, company uniforms are mainly made of blended affords and are infrequently ever recycled. Even when recycled, they’re totally used to design recycled textile fibres for manufacturing unique garments. By upcycling broken-down uniforms into non-textile merchandise, Hactl’s “Zero Demolish Uniform Upcycling Venture” has opened the door to unique potentialities for raw plastics derived from garments. Most importantly, the proven truth that these 5,000 cups, made of upcycled affords, would possibly even be recycled again in future to design diverse excessive-mark merchandise demonstrates the likelihood and potential of conducting a circular financial system.

Caitlin DiMare-Oliver