Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has transformed old staff uniforms into 5,000 upcycled cups through its ‘Zero Waste Uniform Upcycling Project’, the first of its kind in Hong Kong’s aviation industry.

The old uniforms were made of durable, waterproof blended fibres, which are typically difficult to recycle and often end up in landfill. But now the polyester fibres have been recycled through melt-granulation and other processes into raw plastic granules that can be used to manufacture recyclable plastic cups.

Hactl says the project has demonstrated the unlimited possibilities of zero-waste upcycling of old uniforms for the aviation industry and other sectors.

Wilson Kwong, Hactl’s chief executive, said: “Dealing with old uniforms is an important environmental issue. We hope that through this project, we can break through traditional limitations and recycle old uniforms to achieve ‘zero waste upcycling’ and reduce the burden on landfills, while encouraging the industry to contribute towards a circular economy and sustainable development.”

Since launching its ‘Green Terminal’ programme in 2018, Hactl has been making positive impacts on the community and environment, including its committment to achieving a 75% waste recycling rate by 2030. The ‘Zero Waste Uniform Upcycling Project’ is one of Hactl’s most significant initiatives to help realise this goal.

According to statistics released by the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong’s textile waste recycling rate increased from about 4% in 2018 to nearly 11% in 2022.

However, workplace uniforms are mostly made of blended materials and are rarely recycled. Even when recycled, they are only used to create recycled textile fibres for manufacturing new clothing.

Hactl says that upcycledcups can be recycled again in the future, demonstrating the possibilities of creating other high-value products and the potential of achieving a circular economy.

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