Hong Kong Developers Join Forces to Tackle Carbon Emission in Construction
The Emergence of the Hong Kong Proptech Alliance
In a groundbreaking move, more than a dozen Hong Kong property developers and construction firms have banded together in a working group to standardize procurement of low-carbon construction materials. This initiative is a vital part of their climate-action strategies aimed at curbing carbon emissions in the building sector.
Addressing Embedded Carbon Challenges
The group, named Hong Kong Proptech Alliance, is focused on addressing emissions embedded in construction materials across the supply chain. Major industry players, including Hongkong Land, Sino Group, and Swire Properties, have joined forces to foster significant procurement shifts, policy incentives, and technical documentation frameworks essential for this transition.
Key Statements from Industry Executives
“The key challenge for us is a lack of transparency on the availability and credibility of low-carbon construction materials,” said Kent Jan, head of digital transformation at Hongkong Land.
According to the UK’s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, 28% of global emissions arise from building operations, and 11% from construction processes.
“We need to send a bigger demand signal for the supply chain to respond,” added Liam Salter, founder of Reset Carbon.
Developing Sustainable Procurement Guidelines
The alliance has crafted a technical procurement guideline aimed at accelerating the growth of the low-carbon construction market. This encompasses standardizing carbon accounting and disclosure, setting performance specifications, recycled content, and the carbon intensity of manufacturing processes.
Efforts are underway to include performance specifications in procurement tenders.
Industry stakeholders, including architects and surveyors, have contributed to these guidelines.
Future Directions for Carbon Emission Reduction
While the government has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, the alliance argues that more regulatory focus is needed on tackling embodied carbon emissions in buildings. Without this support, innovative strategies like mass-engineered timber and carbon dioxide-absorbing concrete cannot progress as needed.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.