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Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited earned the 2026 The International Air Cargo Association corporate sustainability award for its project to replace single-use shipping plastics with fully recycled materials
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Hactl developed an industry-first, 100% post-consumer recycled aviation-grade plastic sheeting by partnering with the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute
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The company’s new closed-loop system at SuperTerminal 1, which converts used plastic into new materials, is expected to divert 700 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills annually while reducing dependence on virgin petrochemical resins
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Hactl Acting Chief Executive Michelle Choi described the initiative as a scalable model for industrial sectors
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) received the 2026 The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) Air Cargo Sustainability Award in the corporate category for its initiative to replace single-use plastics in freight operations.
The award, Hactl said in a statement, recognizes the company’s project, “Redefining Cargo Packaging Through Circular Materials,” which involves the development of aviation-grade polyethylene plastic sheets made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.
Hactl is the first air cargo terminal operator to develop and validate a closed-loop system for plastic sheets that meets required mechanical and operational standards.
Hactl began integrating recycled content into its packaging in 2022. While the company initially utilized 30% to 50% recycled material, technical limitations — such as loss of tensile strength and elasticity—previously prevented the use of higher percentages. To address this, Hactl partnered with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) — now part of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute—to engineer a multi-layer film structure.
The resulting process allows for a 100% closed-loop lifecycle. Used plastic sheets are collected at Hactl’s SuperTerminal 1 facility, processed into pellets, and remanufactured into new sheets.
According to the company, the transition to 100% recycled content is projected to divert approximately 700 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills annually while reducing reliance on virgin petrochemical resins.
“This is more than a material breakthrough; it offers a scalable model that combines environmental benefit, technical integrity and commercial viability,” said Hactl Acting Chief Executive Michelle Choi.
The project is intended to serve as a model for other sectors that require high-performance, industrial-grade packaging.
