In 2018, AS Watson launched its first-ever global sustainability campaign “Give a Smile” with Operation Smile. To date, they have supported over 6,500 children born with cleft lips with their physical condition and mental wellbeing. The company first aimed to transform 10,000 smiles by 2030 and now expects to surpass this target by 2026.
The programme also supports women in medicine. Operation Smile’s Women in Medicine provides educational pathways for women in the medical and health sectors.
Hutchison Ports is ready to Go Green around the world
Hutchison Ports, from Pakistan to the Bahamas, is taking big green steps to do their part for the planet. Hutchison Ports KICT saw more than 40 staff plant trees and shrubs at the Clifton Urban Forest, Karachi. The project respects local know-how by using the Miyawaki technique to plant and nurture tree saplings of dozens of species, including moringa, sukhchain, oleander, date palms and wild almonds.
In the Bahamas, Team Hutchison Ports FHC went green by repeating their mission to collect mangrove propagules, with a view to re-planting them along the island’s coastlines. So far this year, the team has harvested and potted 2,045 propagules as part of their overall sustainability plan.
Jabiru Power Station in the Northern Territory, Australia has completed 500 days of operation – providing renewable energy from solar power to local residents and businesses in the remote township, surrounded by the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.
In a powerful blend of clean energy and environmental conservation, global sustainable energy producer EDL has partnered with the Northern Territory Government, Parks Australia and local Djurrubu Rangers to safeguard the black-footed tree-rat and its habitat.
An established 1,000-hectare conservation zone will be carefully managed through a plan and monitoring programme, including controlling feral animals and weeds, managing fires on a small scale and conducting surveys to keep track of the local wildlife.
Cenovus is contributing C$100,000 to the building of a children’s park. This will provide an inclusive space for residents and visitors alike to interact and build positive experiences in the town of Lamont, Alberta.
“Tawâw” means “Come in, you’re welcome” or “There is always room for one more” in the language of the local Indigenous people, the Cree. The development is part of Cenovus’ commitment to supporting healthy, safe and resilient communities. There will also be several Indigenous elements, including an orange footbridge to emphasise the importance of a safe space for children – the colour orange reflects that every child matters and represents Orange Shirt Day, a Canadian movement established in response to past injustices visited on Indigenous people and especially their children. Indigenous youth artists will also be invited to decorate the space.
HK Electric co-hosted an opening ceremony for the city’s first offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal with its project partner, CLP Power. The supply of low-carbon LNG to Hong Kong’s electricity generation and distribution companies will help the city in its transition to carbon neutrality by 2050.
The project was the collective success of business partners, marine experts, engineers, technicians, construction workers and other colleagues from the two power companies. The city has also benefited from the Hong Kong SAR Government’s environmental policies that have facilitated the construction of this complex but important infrastructure.
Hutchison Ports BEST has welcomed six hybrid shuttle carriers that will enable a 40% reduction of carbon emissions through the use of a super-efficient regenerative energy system. The Barcelona port took on the new cranes that help to move containers from one part of the facility to another. All electricity at the port is generated from renewable sources, so every electric-powered element is a big step forward. As more and more European companies seek to reduce the carbon footprint of their transportation networks, BEST is looking like the best option for international transport.
Trekpleister, AS Watson’s health and beauty brand in the Netherlands, has launched its new concept stores in two towns, Putten and Bodegraven. The new concept prioritises the O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience. These stores are the pioneers that future stores will follow, both in concept and layout. They feature a fresh and stylish beauty corner, as well as a new cashier area with a digital screen. Additionally, the stores are fully equipped with LED lighting, demonstrating Trekpleister's commitment to accelerating sustainability efforts. Keep it fresh, Trekpleister!
Hydrogen is the future of Queensland, and Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) is building that future. Construction has started on Hydrogen Park (HyP) Gladstone, located on Australia’s northeast coast. The plant will enable AGIG to introduce a 10% blend of renewable hydrogen into the natural gas currently used by homes and businesses. The renewable hydrogen burns clean with no carbon emissions and can be increased as a percentage of the flow over time. Around 770 homes and businesses will be online by early 2024 – and as the project reaches its full potential, it will save over 57 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere each year.
HK Electric has introduced a powerful, mobile electricity-generating unit that can step in to provide a green supply in case of an emergency. It is a two-truck system that could also be deployed as a backup power source for major events. It can provide up to two hours of continuous power supply for more than 650 households. In Hong Kong, it debuted at the FIA World Rallycross Championship in autumn 2023.
The innovative system’s dual-pronged approach features an energy storage truck and a power changeover truck that allows an uninterrupted power supply. Batteries are replacing traditional diesel systems – they are quieter and greener in operation.
CK Hutchison was cited for an “Excellence Report Award” at the 2023 Best Annual Reports Awards. The Awards are presented by the Hong Kong Management Association and recognise not only timely and accurate reporting but also accessibility, clarity and the quality of environmental, social and governance reporting in the Annual Report. Congratulations!
AS Watson has received prestigious accolades at the BW Confidential Beauty Party in Cannes, France. BW Confidential is a leading media group covering the ins and outs of the beauty retail industry.
AS Watson was honoured with the title of Beauty Retailer of the Year, a huge achievement in a year that posed many challenges to the industry. The award recognises foci on innovation, technology, customer relationship management and customer understanding and sustainability. Ms Malina Ngai, CEO of AS Watson (Asia & Europe), was also named Executive of the Year.
Hutchison Ports BEST in Barcelona now has a direct rail connection service to Toulouse in France, more than 400km by rail. There are three weekly trains that can carry 108 TEU to reduce transit time for shippers. The logistics company, Hutchison Logistics Synergy, is making this connection possible and bringing new opportunities to European exporters and importers keen to capitalise on BEST’s contribution to lowering their carbon footprint in their supply chain. They will also benefit from more flexible and dependable transport options. BEST has three gauges of rail, meaning they can take shipments from a wide variety of sources. The BEST of all worlds, indeed.
SA Power Networks’ “Flexible Exports” project has won the Australian Institute of Energy’s SA Energy Project of the Year Award 2023. The award is offered to the most significant and successful energy-related project, such as research, policy, legal, commercial, engineering and construction, over the past 12 months.
SA Power Networks engaged with more than 6,000 national and international stakeholders to successfully develop and deploy Flexible Exports, which allow solar customers to export up to 10kW of energy depending on grid capacity at the time. It’s a game-changer for both the industry and customers alike who now have an even bigger stake in producing zero-emission energy.
If you don’t have a Supply Chain Day, perhaps you should consider organising one. UK Power Networks (UKPN) does, and it tells suppliers how important they are and how they can help.
On Supply Chain Day, 135 suppliers, representing 80% of suppliers, committed to honouring UKPN’s new green Code of Conduct. More are signing on. UKPN also provides support for micro- and small-business suppliers that may lack the resources of larger firms.
The Code addresses actions that include committing to the circular economy, reducing carbon emissions, improving social mobility and upholding high ethical standards, among other requirements.
Global sustainable energy producer EDL and key project stakeholders Republic Services, NW Natural Renewables and Pennant Midwest have commenced operations at the Limestone Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility near Youngstown, Ohio, USA.
EDL has upgraded an existing landfill gas-to-energy power plant to an RNG facility near Republic Services’ Carbon Limestone Landfill.
This new facility is helping to tackle the issue of carbon-heavy landfill gas (LFG) that typically escapes into the atmosphere due to the decomposition of rubbish. The LFG is processed and conditioned into pipeline-quality RNG – reducing harmful emissions and providing a reliable source of green energy for local residents and businesses.
The Limestone RNG facility is designed to produce 1.7 million MMBtu (million British thermal units) of RNG in 2024 – comparable to removing the emissions from 13,170 passenger vehicles from roads each year.
Wales & West Utilities have partnered with ARUP, a global engineering consultant, to produce a report to explore how hydrogen could transform the aviation sector across their region. Hydrogen in Aviation explores how hydrogen could be used at airports in Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Newquay.
The report also helps potential users and suppliers to make practical plans to incorporate hydrogen into their operations. Pipeline builders can use the report to plan infrastructure changes and support the advancement of the hydrogen economy. This is an exciting first step in decarbonising our air travel.
3 Ireland is undertaking a number of initiatives to promote sustainable mobile phone use. ThreeRecycle provides cash incentives to encourage mobile phone users to turn in their mobile phones, tablets and electronic wearables to save them from landfill. They are also replacing normal plastic SIM cards with eco-SIMs made from recycled polystyrene waste. 3 Ireland is excelling at making the circular economy real!
Drei Austria is innovating to show people new ways to have fun and charge their phones in a sustainable manner. They can reconnect with their childhoods on park swings that use the energy of the swinging motion to charge their phones. This has helped them to win a Bronze in the category of Corporate Public Events at the Austrian Event Award and a Silver Award for the Best Ambient Media Campaign in Combination with People Interaction. Keep on swinging Drei!
HK Electric and its partner, CLP Power, have opened their liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to receive LNG for power generation. This offshore terminal features the world’s largest Floating Storage and Regasification Unit vessel, the Bauhinia Spirit, with an LNG storage capacity of 263,000m3. The LNG is stored onboard the Bauhinia Spirit until it is regasified and sent on to the two power stations including HK Electric’s, contributing to the green energy transition in Hong Kong.
Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA) has ramped up the supply of hydrogen to customers in South Australia. In May 2023, the current 700 customers ballooned to 4,000 homes and businesses in Mitchell Park, Clovelly Park and parts of Marion. Happy customers over the past two years of HyP SA’s operation merit the expansion of the platform that produces hydrogen and then adds it to natural gas flows to customers. HyP SA currently has Australia’s biggest electrolyser to create stored hydrogen power and will hold that title until the next wave of projects come online, including Australian Gas Infrastructure Group’s 10MW HyP Murray Valley project, in mid-2025.
Hutchison Ports is constantly making major capital expenditure (CapEx) investments to create safer, greener and more efficient operations at its ports. Hutchison Ports Thailand is beefing up its electric vehicle (EV) fleet and welcomed nine new autonomous trucks that deliver on efficiency and the environment at Terminal D, Laem Chabang Port.
Hutchison Ports HIT in Hong Kong launched the city’s first quay cranes equipped with solar panels on top of the machinery house. It is also expanding its fleet of remote control rail-mounted gantry cranes. Hutchison Ports Pakistan is also investing in new electric remote control quay cranes and remote control rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RCRTGCs).
Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has taken delivery of the first six of seventeen semi-automated remote control electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RCRTGs) as part of its upgrade path. It has also signed a deal for 100 new autonomous trucks – all EVs. New EVs in ports around the world will result in quieter, safer and cleaner yards for staff, from Hong Kong to the UK.
CK Hutchison’s Global Climate Action Conference is the first gathering of business CEOs to share how they are setting targets, taking action and proving their accountability on reducing their carbon footprint. Sphere’s three-part series on the Conference provides a sense of what was covered in depth for over 400 team members at the online event.
CKHH companies are enacting adaptive strategies to mitigate climate change, including leading the charge in the hydrogen revolution. Day 2 of the Global Climate Action Conference explored how CKHH companies deal with climate-change extreme events and how they are transitioning to climate-friendly energy generation.
CKHH companies aren’t just spending money on traditional renewable energy – they are investing in original R&D to bring innovative solutions to bear. Pilot projects advance to become invaluable solutions to mass adoption of green technologies that just might save us all.
CK Hutchison Group Telecom (CKHGT) received approval of its near-term science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. CKHGT is committed to reducing its carbon footprint through actions such as sourcing more renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and working with suppliers to also reduce their carbon footprint in the supply chain. The process of continuous reduction of the company’s carbon output will include mapping out a plan for net-zero status by 2050.
Hutchison Ports Yantian showcased at the United Nations Climate Change Conference
Hutchison Ports Yantian received an invitation from the Yantian District Government to participate in the world’s largest gathering to address climate change concerns, the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt late last year. Its presentation on resource husbanding and its efforts to build an environmentally friendly society included the Port of Yantian for its efforts in developing a leading international, green and low-carbon port operation.
Watsons has been selected by Inside Retail Asia as one of Asia’s Most Innovative Sustainable Retailers for its work across the region. They often bring select partners along with them on their green journey. Watsons has launched a region-wide recycling programme in Asia to educate customers as well as engage them to go green and is constantly seeking out new ways to improve processes so that the company and customers can contribute to a healthier planet.
Northumbrian Water (NWG) has a zero-carbon target to hit in 2027 – and they just hit another important milestone on the way there. Carbon emissions have fallen more than 90% since 2008, when they stood at 303,000 tonnes. In 2021, NWG improved further, reducing carbon output by more than 50% year-on-year to their current level of 22,000 tonnes.
All of NWG’s 1,886 sites are now powered with renewable energy. The popular “Power from Poo” programme sees NWG transform 100% of wastewater sludge into power. Advanced Anaerobic Digestion plants on Tyneside and Teesside process around 2 million cubic metres of sludge to generate 10MW of energy – enough to power around 20,000 homes. Every little bit helps as NWG moves to net-zero Carbon.
Hutchison Ports Yantian is LNG bunkering to clean the air.
Port of Yantian has become only the fourth port in the world to offer liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering. LNG bunkering refers to the practice of providing LNG to specially designed ships so that they power themselves with this much cleaner fossil fuel instead of dirtier traditional alternatives such as heavy fuel oil, marine diesel fuel and marine gas oil. The port launched its service by hosting the 23,000-TEU M/V CMA CGM SORBONNE, the world’s largest LNG-powered container ship.
A.S. Watson Benelux has opened a new 14,000 sqm distribution centre. The facility is powered by 14,000 solar panels, generating energy equivalent to that normally consumed by 2,000 households. This facility, the third in the region, reduces carbon consumption by placing the distribution centre closer to Kruidvat’s retail outlets. The centre’s new home in Oosterhout, the Netherlands, will provide employment for the surrounding communities, a win for all concerned.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), carbon-neutral hydrogen heating boilers, low-pressure hydrogen storage innovations and other solutions are coming together as H2GO Power (“H2GO”) at Northern Gas Networks’ Low Thornley Test Facility in the UK to bring cleaner energy to the people. H2GO will be powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels using an AI-enabled optimisation software platform to ensure the most efficient use of renewable energy to distribute gas. The project is funded through the UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s £26 million Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator Programme to advance an end-to-end industrial fuel switch from natural gas to hydrogen.
3 Denmark has signed up with a local startup, the 0-Mission, to replace the energy it consumes from the power grid with solar-generated electricity. It supports the 0-Mission’s privately funded solar park through a subscription that reduces its carbon footprint from electricity usage. Normally companies would have to undertake to build their own renewable energy capacity, a time-consuming process. Through this initiative, 3 Denmark can start to offset its environmental impact immediately, doing good now rather than later.
Jabiru (Northern Territory, Australia) is home to EDL’s award-winning Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Project. This project has enabled the town to significantly reduce diesel use, with 100% solar energy produced during the day. Excess solar energy is stored for use after dark, enabling over 50% of total energy consumption to come from renewables. It also promotes equity by ensuring 99.9% energy reliability for all of Jabiru’s residents. Preventing 6,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and promoting equity won the project the 2022 Asian Power Awards’ Solar Power Project of the Year – Australia!
CK Hutchison is taking big steps in empowering the net-zero transition. Join us to learn about the significant steps being taken across the Group’s core businesses of Ports, Retail, Telecommunications and Infrastructure to create a greener future.
During the virtual conference you will hear from Executive Directors and business-level CEOs that are setting the tone from the top. You will learn how Ports, Retail and Telecommunications have set - and will achieve - their science-based targets and net-zero commitments. The companies within the Infrastructure division will share the leadership steps they are taking in renewable and other clean energy, developing a circular economy, promoting climate adaptation and protecting biodiversity.
The inaugural conference has been organised Group-wide and we welcome delegates from across the Group. The agenda is available here.
Please sign up here by February 1 to secure a (limited) spot. Space is limited, priority will be given to CK Hutchison Group colleagues.
The team at CK Hutchison head office put a lot of effort into the annual reports and their hard work is rewarded year after year at the ARC Awards for excellence in annual reports. This year they won a Silver award for the Cover/Photo Design in the Diversified Business category. They were also recognised with a Bronze award in the category of Traditional Annual Report. The Hong Kong Management Association was also impressed, bestowing a Best Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting Award and an Excellence Report Award to CK Hutchison. Well done!
HK Electric won the Sustainable Business Award at the BOCHK Corporate Environmental Leadership Awards 2021. It also took the Gold Award – the top spot – in the “Manufacturing” category. This was in recognition of HK Electric’s outstanding work utilising green energy, promoting decarbonisation and assisting Hong Kong to achieve its carbon neutrality target, namely being totally carbon neutral by 2050.
Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is at the forefront of the extensive research, planning and testing needed to ensure that hydrogen can be used safely and efficiently in the UK gas network. The pilot HyDeploy project saw 668 homes in Winlaton, Gateshead receive an 80:20 gas–hydrogen blend to heat their homes and for use in their appliances, in a 10-month demonstration that concluded in June.
NGN has also received permission from the regulator Ofgem to plan for a two-year hydrogen test-run of home hydrogen use in Redcar, Teesside. If investment and the final green light are forthcoming, up to 2,000 homes and businesses will receive locally produced green hydrogen. It will see boilers designed for 100% hydrogen used as part of the attempt to create a complete “hydrogen village”.
A.S. Watson’s drive to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has seen it beat its targets set in 2015. It was aiming for a 40% reduction by 2030, but in 2021, it hit 42%. The target has been reset to a 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, using 2018 as the stricter baseline. It also aims to have 33% of its suppliers committed to science-based targets for GHG emissions reduction by 2027. A.S. Watson is aiming to meet its goals and then set higher ones. Onwards and downwards for GHG emissions!
New Zealand’s Beast is eating up timber – and that’s the solution, not the problem! Unwanted waste wood makes up 12% of all waste filling up the Kiwi nation’s landfill sites. EnviroNZ’s new heavy machinery, known as “the Beast” chews up waste wood and converts it into wood pellets. Those pellets are then sold to a cement factory which uses them as biofuel. This keeps construction and demolition timber out of landfill sites and reduces the use of fossil fuels – a double win, courtesy of the Beast!
Wind Tre is the exclusive “real-world” sales channel in Italy for the new Nothing Phone (1). This unique phone has a transparent casing embodying both the literal and metaphorical values of transparency. The frame uses 100% recycled aluminium and 50% recycled plastic. Global lifestyle leader Wallpaper called the phone “a radical re-interpretation of mobile tech” – and Wind Tre is the only place you can see before you buy.
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has joined forces with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Indonesia) to promote environmental preservation of marine habitats in Bali. They are working together to advance four main objectives: the rehabilitation of marine habitats, improving plastic waste management in coastal areas, strengthening turtle conservation communities, and empowering communities in the surrounding environment to improve ocean ecology. The Corporate Social Responsibility Marine Conservation programme is the first step towards helping repair the damage humans have done to our oceans.
UK Power Networks is investing over £100 million of infrastructure in London and the East and South East of England. Over 100 projects will see upgrades of substations, transformers and circuit breakers to support more than 8.4 million homes and businesses. Of the total investment amount, £66 million will be dedicated to Green Recovery scheme projects that will fast-track low carbon at 86 sites, advancing the nation to hit targets set out in the government’s Ten Point Plan towards Net Zero by 2050.
EnviroNZ sees New Zealand as a nation of committed recyclers. The company is supporting the country’s commitment with its new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Timaru, South Island. The new MRF can process up to 5 tonnes of mixed plastics, aluminium, steel, paper and cardboard every hour. Materials are recovered for reuse and are kept out of landfill.
3 Hong Kong has opened the first-ever virtual retail store by a digital operator on the metaverse platform Voxels, best known for supporting the arts community and NFT displays. 3 Hong Kong’s virtual ambassador, Meta Boy, will ‘live’ in the store and provide visitors with information on 3 Hong Kong products and services. Join 3 Hong Kong in the metaverse!
Watsons’ ninth-generation store design ethos is transforming stores into experiential spaces, making the most of their O+O strategy and aligning Watsons with customers’ green hearts. Delivering human connection and a commitment to environmental stewardship is incorporated into features in stores from Hong Kong to Türkiye.
The British energy regulator, Ofgem, has bestowed £500,000 on Northern Gas Networks (NGN) for five projects that will help the UK on their journey to building a net-zero economy. Projects range from supporting a rail decarbonisation strategy to the use of hydrogen in heavy duty transport. In another project, robots using thermal imagery can assess pressure conditions in pipes to reduce methane leakage. Residential energy efficiency and generating power from gas flow round out the five fabulous projects.
A.S. Watson has announced the adoption of a comprehensive framework to make every store, staff member and customer around the world a steward of the earth. The Greener Stores Global Framework touches every aspect of the business including store design, construction, operations and maintenance. There are also elements to encourage customers to bring greener practices into their everyday lives. One set of practical measures that has been achieved are Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission targets. A 40% reduction (from a 2015 baseline) in GHG emissions, targeted for the end of 2030, was beaten by the end of 2021! New targets have been set for A.S. Watson operations, supplier inputs and upstream transportation and distribution.
Hongkong United Dockyards Limited (HUD) held a steel-cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of Hong Kong’s first-ever dual fuel standby vessels. The dual fuel vessels run on liquified natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil. Harmful particulates used in traditional ships will be reduced by 80% by using this innovative vessel. They will support the operations of the first offshore LNG terminal in Hong Kong that will enable the city to be powered by cleaner fuel. Cleaner ships and cleaner power plants are a double win for Hong Kong!
The Perfume Shop was founded in 1992 and is still going strong. To celebrate its 30th “pearl” anniversary, it is looking to the future. Customers will get to enjoy a wide range of celebratory offers and be confident that they are shopping with a responsible retailer. The new anniversary commitments to the planet include reducing its carbon footprint by 90%, planting one million trees and removing 100,000 new bottles from circulation – all by 2030. It is also a strong supporter of the community and has pledged to raise £1 million for its charity partners by 2026.
EnviroNZ has enlisted sustainability champions Deepa Goswami and Danielle Schäche to help New Zealanders waste less and recycle more. The duo empower citizens and businesses to think about waste in new ways in support of regional waste minimisation goals. They work with local government bodies and community groups as part of the team at EnviroWaste.
There is plenty of sun in Oman and Hutchison Ports Sohar is harnessing its power for its new Solar Powered Integrated Inspection Facility Project. The US$30 million project will enhance inspection services and support Oman Customs with safe and efficient security measures as part of the Sultanate’s Oman Logistics Strategy. The inspection facilities will be spread across the 37,000 sqm of Terminal C and are expected to come online mid-2023. The use of solar power will reduce energy usage by about 5,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
Northern Gas Networks is running a world-leading, first-of-its-kind, closed test to replace natural gas with 100% clean burning hydrogen. A disused area with a pipe network that previously supplied homes with gas will be closed off for the experiment. Similar to natural gas, an odourising agent will be added for extra safety. Hydrogen burns with zero emissions, making it a leading contender for helping the UK achieve its net-zero carbon emission targets for the nation.
Responsible waste management is now a concern for all good corporate citizens. The circular economy is an economy where resources are constantly being captured and put to good use instead of going to waste. EnviroNZ is supporting New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon circular economy. These efforts are chronicled in their first ever Sustainability Report, showcasing their work with industry partners to deliver tangible solutions that can bring the circular economy to life.
Watsons is asking Asians to #GetActive! Tailored for the Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand markets, the Watsons VR Get Active Park is an online experience with four exciting zones to help people lead an active and healthy life. Participants can earn rewards while improving their health in the Exercise Arena where they can measure their body mass index (BMI) and work out with virtual trainers. The Watsons VR Get Active Park delivers fun workout challenges, the Wat’s On Air zone provides health tips, and the Brand Expo helps connect people to the health products right for them. It’s time for you to head to the Watsons VR Get Active Park to get healthy!
The move to electric vehicles (EVs) is being shifted into high gear by UK Power Networks. Their new innovation project, Optimise Prime, includes the development of a “site planning tool” that is making the conversion of entire fleets of vehicles to EVs quicker, easier and cheaper for fleet managers. The complexity of making the shift is a challenge as managers determine when, where and how vehicles can recharge. Royal Mail, Centrica and Uber now have over 6,000 EVs in the programme.
Northumbrian Water’s Innovation Festival is back! The world’s best and brightest innovators in water management will return for the sixth iteration of this fount of creativity. Online and live attendees will bring their solutions to address issues related to cybersecurity, climate change, water scarcity and other important topics. Scientists and engineers will mingle with musicians, comedians, environmental activists and documentarians at the Newcastle Racecourse in July 2022. Stay wet, Northumbria!
UK Power Networks keeps the lights on day and night in the heart of Leicester Square, London, the entertainment district of the metropolis. While the crowds buzz on the streets above, a freshly upgraded electricity substation will soon hum beneath them, safely transforming electricity to the lower voltages used by residents, businesses and impresarios alike. “Cleaner and greener” gets top billing as the new network elements improve efficiency and reliability.
Wind Tre’s supplier is recycling the insides of old refrigerators into SIM cards called ‘Eco-SIMS’. The process guarantees a carbon-neutral certification for these cards made of 100% recycled material. The SIM card packaging is produced from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified recycled paper and is part of a wide range of eco-friendly measures that permeate Wind Tre operations.
“Every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver”
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words echo through the ages and through the heart of Hutchison Ports. Its global Go Green initiative has seen port staff plant trees around the world. Team FCP (The Bahamas) planted trees and grass, and developed irrigation projects. Nanhai International Container Terminals launched their tree-planting initiative in March as part of their 28th anniversary celebrations. And Team Tanzania joined local government officials to plant more than 200 trees in the Oyster Bay area.
The Port of Felixstowe is leading the hydrogen revolution building in the UK. It aims to transform not only its own operations but the regional eco-economy too. First, the Port – then trains, trucks and homes will follow.
The UK aims to decarbonise the entire rail network. Eversholt Rail, a UK rail company, is leading the way in providing zero-emission hydrogen-powered trains for the UK. Trainspotting is about to get a whole lot greener.
Australian Gas Infrastructure Group is proving itself a public ally by greening the gas supply of Australian homes and taking the first steps to deliver 100% emission-free hydrogen to replace gas.
The CK Hutchison Annual Report 2020 has won accolades across three platforms. The world’s largest Annual Report Competition, ARC Awards, bestowed an Honors Award to CKHH for the Cover Art of the report. The Hong Kong Management Association awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting for CKHH’s “commitment to ethical values and behaviours”. MerComm’s Mercury Awards bequeathed the only Honors designation in the Annual Reports – Overall Presentation (Diverse Business) category. Congratulations!
UK Power Networks supercharges Green Recovery programme
UK Power Networks’ new Green Recovery programme is funding a range of “shovel-ready” projects to supercharge the UK’s march towards its Carbon Zero future. Over £66 million has been committed to supplying heat pumps for local authorities and communities. Eighty-six applications were approved for projects, including district heating for schools and communities, which will provide more efficient use of energy and reduce carbon footprints. The use of electric vehicles has also been promoted with software upgrades that enable a single substation to support up to 500 charging stations without the need for additional investment in hardware such as heavy cabling or new substations.
EDL opened Australia’s largest-ever hybrid microgrid power project, which now provides up to 85% of renewable energy in good weather conditions. The microgrid integrates wind, solar and thermal generation along with batteries to supply the Agnew Gold Mine with 99.99% reliable energy with, on average, 50–60% coming from renewable sources. It is the first in Australia to power a mine mostly with wind-generated electricity. But this is just the start; EDL plans to continue the hybrid renewable journey on this landmark project with the goal being to power the mine with 100% renewable energy.
SA Power Networks’ sunny plans bear powerful fruit
South Australia is a world leader in the adoption of rooftop solar energy. On the sunniest days, home owners now put more energy back into the grid than they take out. In late December, a new record was set with the distribution network operated by SA Power Networks exporting 185MW to the national grid. SA Power Networks’ active support of rooftop solar has resulted in it receiving the South Australian Premier’s Award for Innovation and Collaboration in Energy for its Enhanced Voltage Management Project. This project has improved substation voltage management and local network solar capacity for 80% of SA Power Networks’ customers.
Northern Gas Networks has launched its East Coast Hydrogen Programme in partnership with Cadent and National Grid with an event at the House of Commons. East Coast Hydrogen aims to connect over 7GW of hydrogen production to supply up to 39,000 commercial and industrial sites along with up to 4.4 million homes. This could mark a huge improvement in the carbon impact incurred through heating homes, powering transport and meeting the needs of industries.
Northumbrian Water has taken an expansive view of improving water in the UK across the North East, Essex and Suffolk by asking the public how they could improve the river and coastal environment where a public right of way exists. Over 30.2km of waterways have been improved, far beyond regulatory requirements, in response to public guidance that prioritised areas as diverse as biodiversity, access and water quality. The area has benefited from improved signage, a red squirrel-protecting ranger, a new osprey observation base for birdwatchers, and river restoration including funding to support visitor facilities, paths and boardwalks across a 404-hectare wetland.
Enerven wins with rapid roll-out of solar and battery solutions for water utility
Enerven, an SA Power Networks company, has won the Australian Construction Achievement Award. Their Zero Cost Energy Future project for SA Water saw Enerven design and build over 242GWh of solar photovoltaic (PV) and 34MWh of energy storage across 33 South Australia water sites in less than 24 months. This storage enables SA Water to manage their excess energy production and feed it back into the grid to achieve a zero-net outcome.
HK Electric has taken a major step forward in transitioning from coal to cleaner gas for the generation of electricity. The new gas-fired unit, L11, has adopted “combined-cycle gas turbine technology”, one of the most efficient, cleanest and most widely used methods for generating electricity from fossil fuels. It began supplying energy to the grid in November 2021. The installation of another gas-fired unit, L12, has begun and will further boost the company’s gas-fired generation capacity when commissioned.
3 Sweden’s 5G Sustainability Awards bestows cash grants, technical support and business training to start-ups developing solutions that use 5G to drive social and environmental sustainability in Sweden. Winners this year included top-spot Buddywise (an AI solution to detect hazards, accidents and illness for safer workplaces), Consenz (adapting old cars with modern safety standards features), and Dronest (drones that deliver images of accidents to inbound first responders for pre-arrival preparation). The winners receive cash, start-up capital, coaching from experts at 3 Sweden, office space in 3Huset at Avicii Arena in Stockholm and technical equipment.
A.S. Watson around the world brings Christmas cheer
A.S. Watson Group brings holiday cheer and support to people in need around the world. Watsons China and Philippines collaborated with Operation Smile to offer surgery for children with a cleft lip and palate. Their Hong Kong counterpart sold masks to support youth sports through the efforts of InspiringHK Sports Foundation, a local charity. Kruidvat raised funds for children’s hospitals in the Netherlands. Superdrug collaborated with Beauty Banks (supporting people living in hygiene poverty) to collect donations for the underprivileged. The Perfume Shop sold personalised ribbons for customers to show their support for Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Marie Keating Foundation (supporting cancer awareness in Ireland).
Citroën’s new 100% electric-powered quadricycle is targeted at the environmentally conscious youth market. It now comes with an exclusive “GIGAMI” package developed by Wind Tre. The package includes unlimited minutes and gigabytes in 5G and 200 SMS messages. Green, connected and mobile: it’s the new Italian style for the 21st century!
CK Hutchison brings seasonal joy to the children of Hong Kong
Among the gardens and forests of The Peak in Hong Kong, CKHH volunteers joined the children of Yan Oi Tong to brighten their lives. Yan Oi Tong works with children and elderly people in need. The Christmas Running Game was the theme of the day as children and volunteers joined forces to complete fun tasks, play games and run around The Peak, leaving everyone exhausted – and exhilarated!
WIND TRE’s manifesto: human working for human workers!
Wind Tre surveyed staff to generate new policies that reflect their desire for smart working across the company, provoking deep thinking about how to enable productive work in the post-pandemic era. This new flexible model includes technological tools supported with training and the establishment of a new collaborative framework: “We-etiquette” encouraging online collaboration while respecting work–life balance and the right to disconnect.
WIND TRE joins UN Global Compact, reports on ESG past and future goals
Wind Tre is committed to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established in 2015 to improve the quality and sustainability of life on earth. Their progress in advancing these universal principles is documented in Wind Tre’s latest Sustainability Report 2020 that records achievements and sets goals to 2030. The ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) objectives are aligned with the UN’s 17 SDGs and supported by the UN Global Compact. Objectives are considered under the four major categories of education, responsibility, inclusion and the contribution of Information and Communication Technology to the environment and quality of life.
£1 million to connect renewable energy to the grid
UK Power Networks will commit almost £1 million to upgrading the electricity grid to allow for renewable energy to be connected to the power grid for households in Kent, Sussex and Surrey. Wind and solar farms will be able to feed energy into the power system, reducing reliance on non-renewable sources. The ‘load blinding relays’ are like safety valves that help to monitor electricity.
New Zealand’s EnviroWaste is setting a target of keeping concrete out of landfill by using an innovative process to recycle the vital building material to create various grades of aggregate. A new recovery and processing plant has been unveiled at its Bombay Resource Recovery facility in South Auckland. The company has a long history of innovative recycling including kerbside collection of recyclables, food scraps and glass recycling. The latest plant will help New Zealand to reduce the environmental impact of its current building boom by bringing old concrete into new projects and reducing the need to mine virgin sand and coarse aggregate.
UK Power Networks investing in the UK’s net zero future
UK citizens aiming to support the country to hit net zero carbon emissions are benefiting from extra funding to help the United Kingdom get there by 2050. UK Power Networks is carrying out 86 low-carbon energy projects worth £66 million that will help transition the economy to one that has a lower environmental footprint. ‘Shovel-ready’ plans were targeted for immediate impact, including installing rapid electric vehicle charging stations in local communities, energy generators looking to connect more renewable energy to the electricity network, and community energy projects.
3 Ireland’s Green Team commits to reducing carbon emissions
3 Ireland has joined 60 other domestic and international firms to help the country reach its goal of becoming a net zero carbon state by 2050. The operator has committed to record its direct and indirect emissions, reduce direct emissions, work to minimise supply chain emissions, and to report on its progress in a formal annual report. 3 Ireland formed the Green Team, an internal, cross-department team, to work on these commitments as well as a variety of other initiatives that promote sustainability awareness and action across the company. The Emerald Isle is getting a green boost from 3 Ireland’s passionate Green Team!
Watsons’ retail outlets will become the nodes of a city-wide plastic bottle collection network to get plastic bottles into recycling facilities and out of landfill. It’s part of a programme with global consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble and Hong Kong-based circular economy service The Loops. Customers will be incentivised by receiving Plastic Reborn eStamps which they can redeem for products. The bottles will be transported to the New Life Plastics plant in Tuen Mun’s Eco Park where they will be prepared to be reborn into their next incarnation.
Northern Gas Networks Finance raised
£1 million through the sale of a green bond to local investors that will allow them to realise returns of 1.6% a year over 10 years. The funds will be used to upgrade the current network of gas pipes to make them hydrogen ready as Northern Gas Networks builds the zero-emission network of the future. Offering the bond to the public gives people a chance to participate in greening their future.
HK Electric is helping construction sites to reduce their noise and air pollution on site while also decarbonising construction work. In crowded Hong Kong, construction sites are often hemmed in by thousands of pedestrians and neighbours just metres away from noisy diesel generators used to power their reach for the sky. By providing a timely, reliable and adequate grid electricity supply during construction, builders can switch from diesel power on site to quieter, greener electricity. Neighbours and workers will love getting a break from the din of diesel during construction, and carbon emissions can also be reduced by 60%.
100% recyclable. Made of 70% recycled material. AND BPA free!?! This bottle has got it all. Watsons Water has launched an innovative packaging with its new PATHWATER aluminium bottles. The bottles are also designed for re-using, which has been part of their immense popularity since they were launched earlier this year.
Northern Gas Networks has been actively involved in funding and directing projects aimed at using zero-emission hydrogen to reduce the use of fossil fuels across the economy. Partnering with gas distribution company Cadent and the UK government, it has built two homes that are equipped with hydrogen-powered appliances. The semi-detached houses, built near Gateshead, were officially opened in July by the former Energy Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The houses will be models for hydrogen-heated homes, providing the least invasive and most cost-effective route to zero carbon home heating for a large proportion of UK homes in the future.
Hutchison Ports Pakistan and SOHAR are for the kids
Children at the SOS Children’s Villages benefited from the generosity of the Hutchison Ports Pakistan team that donated computer equipment for online classes. The SOS Children’s Villages is an orphanage that delivers not just a home, but also education and job training. The ports team also provided desperately needed hygiene products, a vital support in the COVID-19 era. Likewise, Hutchison Ports Sohar supported the Sheikh Abdullah bin Bashir Al Hadrami School with a donation of laptop and desktop computers.
Installing homes for migratory swifts might not be the first thing you think of a power company doing, but UK Power Networks partnered with North East Herts Swifts Group to do just that. The birds’ population has been declining for years and the power company is helping by installing potential homes, including tempting bird song audio, on the village hall in Albury, southwest of London. Swifts nest as colonies and return to the same home every year after their long migration to Africa, so once established in Albury, they could return annually.
CK Hutchison’s commitment to sustainability in corporate governance was recognised in the Hong Kong Corporate Governance Excellence Awards 2020. Organised by The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies, the Excellence in Sustainability award commends the Group’s comprehensive partnership with a wide range of stakeholders whose input was deliberated on at Board level, demonstrating the importance of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) engagement to investors and ESG ratings agencies. CKHH delivered extraordinary results while meeting the challenging complexity of governance across a conglomerate with over 300,000 employees in about 50 countries across the world.
A.S. Watson Group (ASW) is on a global mission to meet ambitious social purpose and sustainability goals to 2030. The retail group will fund free corrective surgery for 10,000 children with cleft lips and palates. Towards a cleaner world, ASW will reduce its electricity intensity by 30%, greenhouse gas emissions by 40% (both against a 2015 baseline), eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging and phase out PVC plastics – all by 2030.
CK Hutchison published its first stand-alone Sustainability Report in 2020. The Group’s commitment to sustainable practices and increased disclosures have received positive feedback from investors and environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating agencies.
