(4 February 2013, Hong Kong) Swire Properties is pleased to announce that One Island East, its landmark office tower in Island East, has won a Gold Award in the "Pure Office" category of the Source Separation of Commercial and Industrial Waste Awards 2011/12, held by the Environmental Protection Department. This is the highest achievable award.
TaiKoo Place and Pacific Place also archived Silver and Bronze Awards respectively in the "Mixed Office" category, while Cityplaza received a Merit Award in the "Mixed Office" category. The awards recognise Swire Properties' continuous efforts in incorporating environmental considerations into its daily operations, and its excellence in implementing waste recycling strategies.
"It is an honour to have our green efforts recognised," said Cary Chan, Swire Properties' General Manager, Technical Services and Sustainability. "Swire Properties is committed to meeting the property needs of our communities in a way that is environmentally responsible. We are grateful for the support of our tenants, shoppers and office workers, and will continue to adopt effective waste separation programmes in our entire portfolio."
The source separation programmes in One Island East and TaiKoo Place cover different varieties of recyclable wastes, from paper, metal and plastic to fluorescent tubes, batteries and food waste. User-friendly waste separation guidelines help raise tenants' awareness, and as many as 1,044 tonnes of waste was recycled in 2012.
Reliable data tracking using the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) database developed by Swire Properties allows accurate and scientific assessment of the Company's waste separation programmes. A Recycling Centre at Warwick House in TaiKoo Place has also recently been revamped to provide a more welcoming and user-friendly environment for the use of tenants.
Proactive communication between the Company and tenants is the key to success. Posters of waste management strategies are distributed to tenants to explain how they can sort waste at source to help make a significant environmental impact, whilst regular recycling campaigns for electronic waste, old books and mooncake tin boxes are held in the office buildings and shopping malls throughout the year.
Swire Properties is also one of 33 property management companies to receive recognition for its outstanding environmental performance, and was invited to participate in the Summit of Community Participation Programme in Collaboration with District Councils on 2 February 2013.
Launched in 2007 by the Environmental Protection Department, the Commendation Scheme on Source Separation of Commercial and Industrial Waste commends property management companies for improving the waste separation and recovery arrangements in commercial and industrial premises.
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About Swire Properties
Swire Properties develops and manages commercial, retail, hotel and residential properties, with a particular focus on mixed-use development in prime locations at major mass transportation intersections. Listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the Company's investment portfolio in Hong Kong totals over 17 million sq ft (over 1.58 million sqm)* of gross floor area, with Island East and Pacific Place as its core holdings. In addition to Hong Kong, the Company has significant investments in Mainland China, the United States and the United Kingdom.
In Mainland China, Swire Properties has a portfolio amounting to over 13.5 million sq ft (approximately 1.26 million sqm)*, including five mixed-use developments in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai. Of these, Sanlitun Village and INDIGO in Beijing and TaiKoo Hui in Guangzhou have opened.
Since 1980, the Company has been developing investment and trading properties on the island of Brickell Key in downtown Miami, Florida where it has created an acclaimed residential and commercial portfolio, including the new large-scale mixed-use project, Brickell CityCentre.
Through Swire Hotels, the Company also creates and manages intriguing urban hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United Kingdom, aimed at providing an exceptional experience for travellers who seek individuality, style and personalised service.
Visit Swire Properties' website at www.swireproperties.com.
* Gross floor area in respect of 100% of the properties excluding car park areas and not on an attributable basis.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Swire Properties Limited
May Lam-Kobayashi
Head of Public Affairs
Tel: (852) 2844 3888 Email: pad@swireproperties.com
Lydia Tsui
Media Relations Manager
Tel: (852) 2844 3038 Email: LydiaTsui@swireproperties.com
Source: Swire Pacific Limited