Construction Industry Council - Annual Report 2024

ANNUAL REPORT 2024 171 OUR SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY Our Approach to Our Operations We are committed to reducing carbon emissions and minimising the environmental impacts within our operations. By embedding environmental consciousness, we strive to create greener, more resource-efficient workplaces while aligning with regulatory requirements. Our Commitment to Environmental Management To guide our efforts on low-carbon operations, we have developed an Environmental and Sustainability Charter, which provides strategic directions across key areas such as stakeholder engagement, compliance, natural resource preservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, emergency preparedness, green purchasing, and environmental management systems. The Charter will be reviewed and updated every two years to remain relevant and impactful. Furthermore, we introduced a Green Purchase Policy, encouraging all staff to consider environmental impacts when purchasing applications and making procurement decisions. This policy will be annually reviewed and updated if necessary. We have also implemented workplace enhancement programmes focusing on energy efficiency and waste management. Our operations comply with Hong Kong’s environmental regulations, including the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap 311), the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap 358), the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap 354), the Building Energy Efficiency Ordinance, and so on. Sustainable Practices in Our Premises Water Efficiency and Wastewater Management We have embraced innovative water-saving measures to reduce water usage and prevent unnecessary waste. The real-time Internet of Things (IoT) water leakage sensors have been installed in restrooms to detect and repair leaks promptly, significantly reducing water consumption. Additional measures, such as water flow controllers, flushing sensors, and smart meters, enable precise monitoring and optimisation of water usage. Routine water tank cleaning and water sample testing further ensure the quality and reliability of our water systems. We also manage our wastewater properly. For example, wastewater generated from the painting section in the Hong Kong Construction Industry Trade Testing Centre (HKCITTC) is treated through sedimentation tanks to meet the environmental standards and minimise pollution before discharge. Energy Optimisation and Renewable Energy We have integrated renewable energy solutions into our operations. This includes upgrading EV chargers at CIC-ZCP to promote electric vehicle adoption. We are also replacing corporate gasoline vehicles with electric vehicles and encouraging carpooling among staff travelling to the same destination. Energy efficiency is enhanced by monitoring electricity consumption at our premises, procuring energy-efficient appliances, setting devices to sleep mode when idle, and introducing timers to turn off unused lighting. 233,274 kWh from clean energy sources, such as solar power systems and biodiesel 100 generator