Hang Lung Properties Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Wed, 03 May 2023 12:03:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 Case study: How Hang Lung Properties creates economic value for its stakeholders https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-hang-lung-properties-creates-economic-value-for-its-stakeholders/ Wed, 03 May 2023 06:00:11 +0000 https://sustaincase.com/?p=17736 Headquartered in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties develops and manages a diversified portfolio of world-class properties in Hong Kong and mainland China, and is recognised for its growing leadership role in enhanced sustainability initiatives in real estate as it pursues sustainable growth by connecting customers and communities. Hang Lung Properties aspires to become one of the world’s most sustainable real estate companies and is, accordingly, committed to creating sustainable value for all its stakeholders. This case study is based on the 2021 Sustainability Report by Hang Lung Properties, prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards, that can be found at this […]

The post Case study: How Hang Lung Properties creates economic value for its stakeholders appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Headquartered in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties develops and manages a diversified portfolio of world-class properties in Hong Kong and mainland China, and is recognised for its growing leadership role in enhanced sustainability initiatives in real estate as it pursues sustainable growth by connecting customers and communities. Hang Lung Properties aspires to become one of the world’s most sustainable real estate companies and is, accordingly, committed to creating sustainable value for all its stakeholders.

This case study is based on the 2021 Sustainability Report by Hang Lung Properties, prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards, that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Promoting the long-term development and wellbeing of its communities and ensuring value creation for all its stakeholders are, both, key priorities for Hang Lung Properties.  Tweet This! In order to create economic value for its stakeholders Hang Lung Properties took action to:

  • create economic value for employees
  • create economic value for shareholders
  • create economic value for the government
  • create economic value for communities

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2021 Sustainability Report Hang Lung Properties identified a range of material issues, such as energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction, ethics and integrity, employee wellbeing, adaptability to climate change impacts. Among these, creating economic value for its stakeholders stands out as a key material issue for Hang Lung Properties.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Hang Lung Properties engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees  

 

 

 

 

 ·      Biannual two-way performance check-in and review

·      Regular drinks sessions with management

·      Annual dinner

·      Bi-monthly corporate newsletter

·      Annual sustainability-focused interviews and focus groups

·       Annual employee engagement survey

·      Emerald Award, CEO Award, Long Service Award

·      Annual conference (management conference, function conference)

·      Ongoing digital platform communication through intranet, WeChat

·      Regular staff activities

·      Exit interviews
Investors and Shareholders ·      Annual sustainability reporting, benchmarks and indices

·      Regular investor interviews, meetings, roadshows, and investor conferences

·      Annual General Meeting
Tenants and Customers

 

 

 ·      Regular customer engagement surveys

·      Annual tenant satisfaction surveys and interviews

·      Ongoing social media communication through various media

·      Bi-monthly corporate newsletter
Suppliers and Contractors ·      Regular project meetings

·      Screening and performance evaluation

·      Focus group discussions
Communities

 

 ·      Regular two-way communication with international and local communities at the Board level

·      Ongoing community programmes

·      Monthly community events

·      Bi-monthly corporate newsletter
NGO partners, Academia and Industry Associations ·      Regular collaboration on sustainability community investment initiatives

·      Regular participation in conferences, seminars, and networking events
Governments and Regulators ·      Regular meetings

·      Occasional site visits by government officials

·      Government consultations
Media

 

 ·      Biannual results announcements and press conferences

·      Occasional media briefings and luncheons

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Hang Lung Properties engaged with its stakeholders through surveys.

What actions were taken by Hang Lung Properties to create economic value for its stakeholders?

In its 2021 Sustainability Report Hang Lung Properties reports that it took the following actions for creating economic value for its stakeholders:

  • Creating economic value for employees
  • In 2021, Hang Lung Properties paid HK$ 1,793 million for employee wages and benefits.
  • Creating economic value for shareholders
  • In 2021, Hang Lung Properties paid HK$ 3,463 million in dividends and HK$ 465 million in dividends paid to non-controlling interests.
  • Creating economic value for the government
  • In 2021, Hang Lung Properties paid HK$ 1,346 million in income taxes to the government.
  • Creating economic value for communities
  • In 2021, Hang Lung Properties paid HK$ 17 million in community investments.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated and distributed

Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated and distributed corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

This case study is based on published information by Hang Lung Properties, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.hanglung.com/getmedia/fd40764f-4c56-4428-bbd0-e22049b4ebd5/hlp-sustainability-report-2021-en.pdf

Note to Hang Lung Properties: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Hang Lung Properties creates economic value for its stakeholders appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Hang Lung Properties promotes sustainability among its suppliers https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-hang-lung-properties-promotes-sustainability-among-its-suppliers/ Fri, 15 Jul 2022 06:00:08 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=13867 Headquartered in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties develops and manages a diversified portfolio of world-class properties in Hong Kong and the nine Mainland cities of Shanghai, Shenyang, Jinan, Wuxi, Tianjin, Dalian, Kunming, Wuhan and Hangzhou. The sustainability performance of its suppliers and contractors directly impacts Hang Lung Properties’ performance as well. Accordingly, Hang Lung Properties engages with them to ensure that their goals are aligned. This case study is based on the 2020 Sustainability Report by Hang Lung Properties, prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards, that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate […]

The post Case study: How Hang Lung Properties promotes sustainability among its suppliers appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Headquartered in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties develops and manages a diversified portfolio of world-class properties in Hong Kong and the nine Mainland cities of Shanghai, Shenyang, Jinan, Wuxi, Tianjin, Dalian, Kunming, Wuhan and Hangzhou. The sustainability performance of its suppliers and contractors directly impacts Hang Lung Properties’ performance as well. Accordingly, Hang Lung Properties engages with them to ensure that their goals are aligned.

This case study is based on the 2020 Sustainability Report by Hang Lung Properties, prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards, that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Hang Lung Properties regularly assesses the sustainability performance of its suppliers and service providers  Tweet This!, to make sure they share its commitment to sustainable development. In order to promote sustainability among its suppliers Hang Lung Properties took action to:

  • embed sustainability principles in its supply chain
  • promote sustainable procurement

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2020 Sustainability Report Hang Lung Properties identified a range of material issues, such as customer health and safety, ethics and integrity, energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction, employee wellbeing. Among these, promoting sustainability among its suppliers stands out as a key material issue for Hang Lung Properties.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Hang Lung Properties engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics Hang Lung Properties engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels: 

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees  

 

 

 

 

 ·      Biannual two-way performance appraisal and ongoing performance discussion

·      Monthly staff focus group discussions

·      Annual staff interviews on sustainability

·      Bi-monthly corporate newsletter
Investors and Shareholders ·      Annual sustainability reporting, benchmarks and indices

·      Regular investor interviews, meetings, roadshows, and investor conferences

·      Annual General Meetings
Tenants and Customers

 

 

 ·      Continuous customer engagement surveys

·      Annual tenant satisfaction surveys and interviews

·      Continuous social media communication

·      Bi-monthly corporate newsletter
Suppliers and Contractors

 

 

 ·      Regular project meetings

·      Screening and performance evaluation

·      Focus group discussions

·      Online surveys
Communities

 

 ·      Regular two-way communication with international and local communities at Board level

·      Continuous flagship community programmes

·      Monthly community events

·      Bi-monthly corporate newsletter
NGO partners, Academia and Industry Associations ·      Regular collaboration on sustainability initiatives

·      Regular conferences, seminars, and networking events

 
Governments and Regulators ·      Regular meetings

·      Occasional site visits by government officials

·      Government consultations
Media

 

 ·      Annual media interviews and meetings

·      Media announcements and press releases on needed basis

What actions were taken by Hang Lung Properties to promote sustainability among its suppliers?

In its 2020 Sustainability Report Hang Lung Properties reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability among its suppliers:

  • Embedding sustainability principles in the supply chain
  • All Hang Lung Properties suppliers are subject to Hang Lung Properties’ Code of Conduct for Contractors, which stipulates its sustainability principles and minimum requirements, including compliance with local laws and regulations, labour practices, health and safety standards, environmental protection and the prevention of corruption and bribery. In order to facilitate fair competition and optimise value for the Group, Hang Lung Properties implements a set of stringent procurement and tendering policies. Before the start of any tendering process, Hang Lung Properties invites new suppliers to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire to demonstrate the quality of their work and their product or service expertise, and to share details of their partnerships, customer service, timeliness and safety records. Hang Lung Properties also conducts regular assessments of all suppliers and annual performance reviews of major suppliers to monitor and assess their work and sustainability performance. Suppliers and service providers who fail to meet Hang Lung Properties’ requirements may be excluded from future tendering. In serious situations, Hang Lung Properties may even terminate their contract early.
  • Promoting sustainable procurement
  • Hang Lung Properties’ Sustainable Procurement Policy for Goods and Services encourages its employees, suppliers and contractors in Hong Kong to source environmentally responsible materials, adopt simple packaging, and recycle waste. By implementing this policy, green specifications referencing external guidelines (such as the green specifications adopted by the Hong Kong government) have been incorporated in the tendering documents in order to balance quality, price and environmental impact in Hang Lung Properties’ procurement process. Hang Lung Properties also purchases goods and services locally as much as possible to minimise the environmental footprint arising from transportation, and to benefit the local economy. In 2020, 100% of Hang Lung Properties’ spending on goods and services for its operations in Hong Kong was sourced from 300 local suppliers by its Central Purchasing Department. In 2020, Hang Lung Properties also established a central purchasing function under its China management office with the aim of driving sustainable procurement across its operations in mainland China in a more coordinated manner.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

2) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

 

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

This case study is based on published information by Hang Lung Properties, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.hanglung.com/getmedia/0c4a28a3-19d2-4c5c-94b8-dc9f99bc052f/sr2020_hlp_en_final.pdf?ext=.pdf

Note to Hang Lung Properties: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Hang Lung Properties promotes sustainability among its suppliers appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Hang Lung Properties supports employees’ growth https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-hang-lung-properties-supports-employees-growth/ Wed, 30 Oct 2019 07:14:53 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=10157 Hang Lung Properties is a leading Hong Kong property developer, possessing and managing top quality properties across Hong Kong and mainland China. With the ongoing expansion of its business, Hang Lung Properties seeks to continually develop its talent pool and aims to acquire top-class professionals, providing a wide range of incentives, including training and development opportunities. This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Hang Lung Properties published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly […]

The post Case study: How Hang Lung Properties supports employees’ growth appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Hang Lung Properties is a leading Hong Kong property developer, possessing and managing top quality properties across Hong Kong and mainland China. With the ongoing expansion of its business, Hang Lung Properties seeks to continually develop its talent pool and aims to acquire top-class professionals, providing a wide range of incentives, including training and development opportunities.

This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Hang Lung Properties published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Hang Lung Properties aims to create a desirable work environment for its people, address their needs, and provide them with adequate support to seize future opportunities  Tweet This!, making them feel valued at work so that everyone is working together to further the company as a whole. In order to support employees’ growth Hang Lung Properties took action to:

  • promote learning and employee development
  • foster knowledge transfer

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Hang Lung Properties identified a range of material issues, such as legal compliance, ethics and integrity, energy efficiency, occupational health and safety, customer health, safety and security, risk and crisis management. Among these, supporting employees’ growth stands out as a key material issue for Hang Lung Properties.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Hang Lung Properties engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees  

 

 

 

 

 ·      Biannual two-way performance appraisal

·      Biannual town hall meetings

·      Breakfast/ lunch with senior executives

·      Staff focus group discussions

·      Team building activities

·      Staff intranet and corporate newsletter
Investors & Shareholders ·      Sustainability reporting, benchmarks and indices

·      Investors interviews, meetings and site visits

·      Annual General Meeting
Tenants & Customers

 

 

 ·      Customer engagement surveys

·      Tenant satisfaction surveys and interviews

·      Social media and corporate newsletter
Suppliers & Contractors

 

 

 ·      Regular project meetings

·      Regular screening and performance evaluation

·      Focus group discussion

·      Online survey
Local Communities

 

 ·      Flagship community partnership programmes

·      Community events

·      Community consultation

·      Corporate newsletter
NGO partners, Academia and Industry Associations ·      Online survey

·      Sustainability Innovation Workshop

·      Conferences, seminars and networking events
Governments & Regulators ·      Regular meetings

·      Site visits by government officials

·      Government consultations
Media

 

 ·      Media interviews and meetings

·      Media announcement and press release

·      Social media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify material topics Hang Lung Properties conducted in-depth interviews with 14 representatives from key stakeholder groups that included senior executives, investors, tenants and NGO partners. To prioritise the topics, Hang Lung Properties carried out an online survey completed by 202 respondents from all internal and external stakeholder groups.

What actions were taken by Hang Lung Properties to support employees’ growth?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Hang Lung Properties reports that it took the following actions for supporting employees’ growth:

  • Promoting learning and employee development
  • Through its learning and development division, Academy 66, Hang Lung Properties provides diversified, internal and external training to employees to equip them with latest knowledge and skills so that they thrive in an ever-changing business environment. Types of training provided include:
    • Onboarding programme
    • Language skills
    • Customer service
    • Professional development
    • Leadership development
    • Health and safety
    • Regulatory compliance
  • In addition to face-to-face training, Hang Lung Properties provides interactive online courses for core modules such as crisis management and IT security, on its e-learning platform e-Academy 66, launched in 2016. This platform enables employees to access courses at any time, through their computer or mobile phone. In 2017, Hang Lung Properties also rolled out an online course on integrity, offering case studies and best practice guidelines to counter corruption at work. Responding to employees’ requests for more personalised training, moving towards tailored personal development programmes, Hang Lung Properties encourages employees and their supervisors to discuss and co-determine the types of training that are beneficial to the employees and the Group, in the one-on-one biannual appraisal. Hang Lung Properties’ Academy 66 then arranges customised training programmes, according to the priority training needs identified. Additionally, Hang Lung Properties provides sponsorship for employees to apply for membership of professional bodies and pursue external training that will enhance their performance and support their career development.
  • Fostering knowledge transfer
  • Hang Lung Properties seeks to strengthen its internal capacity by fostering knowledge transfer, sharing best practices and exchanging viewpoints within departments and across different levels of staff. In 2017, Hang Lung Properties organised two Group-level conferences, including legal and digital marketing. In addition, Hang Lung Properties accelerates the internal movement of staff with appropriate capabilities, nurturing them as future leaders. This facilitates Hang Lung Properties’ succession planning, particularly for key management team members. In 2017, Hang Lung Properties stepped up its efforts in knowledge management by rolling out Library 66 in Hong Kong, which houses collections that are instrumental to employees’ work, such as architecture, business, economics, history and politics for employees to borrow. Library 66 also plays a pivotal role in accumulating and passing on the past knowledge, experience and development history of the Group as Hang Lung Properties continues to expand the collections.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

 

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Business theme: Employee training and education

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Hang Lung Properties, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Hang Lung Properties: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Hang Lung Properties supports employees’ growth appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Hang Lung Properties treats waste responsibly https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-hang-lung-properties-treats-waste-responsibly/ Wed, 01 May 2019 06:49:02 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9361 As a leading Hong Kong property developer, possessing and managing top quality properties across Hong Kong and eight cities in mainland China, including commercial, office, residential, serviced apartment, industrial/ office and car park properties, This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Hang Lung Properties published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and […]

The post Case study: How Hang Lung Properties treats waste responsibly appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> As a leading Hong Kong property developer, possessing and managing top quality properties across Hong Kong and eight cities in mainland China, including commercial, office, residential, serviced apartment, industrial/ office and car park properties, Hang Lung Properties implements a wide range of measures to reduce waste generation at source, facilitate recycling and promote waste disposal in a responsible manner.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Hang Lung Properties published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Waste treatment and disposal is a growing environmental challenge, especially for densely populated cities like Hong Kong and major cities in mainland China. Accordingly, Hang Lung Properties encourages its tenants, customers, suppliers and contractors to join forces in waste reduction. In order to treat waste responsibly Hang Lung Properties took action to:

  • properly handle construction waste
  • dispose of hazardous waste responsibly
  • promote waste recycling

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Hang Lung Properties identified a range of material issues, such as legal compliance, ethics and integrity, energy efficiency, occupational health and safety, risk and crisis management, employee attraction and retention. Among these, treating waste responsibly stands out as a key material issue for Hang Lung Properties.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Hang Lung Properties engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees  

 

 

 

 

 ·      Biannual two-way performance appraisal

·      Biannual town hall meetings

·      Breakfast/ lunch with senior executives

·      Staff focus group discussions

·      Team building activities

·      Staff intranet and corporate newsletter
Investors & Shareholders ·      Sustainability reporting, benchmarks and indices

·      Investors interviews, meetings and site visits

·      Annual General Meeting
Tenants & Customers

 

 

 ·      Customer engagement surveys

·      Tenant satisfaction surveys and interviews

·      Social media and corporate newsletter
Suppliers & Contractors

 

 

 ·      Regular project meetings

·      Regular screening and performance evaluation

·      Focus group discussion

·      Online survey
Local Communities

 

 ·      Flagship community partnership programmes

·      Community events

·      Community consultation

·      Corporate newsletter
NGO partners, Academia and Industry Associations ·      Online survey

·      Sustainability Innovation Workshop

·      Conferences, seminars and networking events
Governments & Regulators ·      Regular meetings

·      Site visits by government officials

·      Government consultations
Media

 

 ·      Media interviews and meetings

·      Media announcement and press release

·      Social media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify material topics, Hang Lung Properties carried out in-depth interviews with 14 representatives from key stakeholder groups, including senior executives, investors, tenants and NGO partners. Subsequently, to prioritise the topics identified, Hang Lung Properties conducted an online sustainability survey completed by 202 respondents from all internal and external stakeholder groups.

What actions were taken by Hang Lung Properties to treat waste responsibly?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Hang Lung Properties reports that it took the following actions for treating waste responsibly:

  • Properly handling construction waste
  • In Hang Lung Properties’ large-scale property development projects in mainland China, a significant quantity of construction waste is produced, at its construction sites. To properly handle construction waste, Hang Lung Properties requires its contractors at every site to follow its Construction Waste Management Plan, regarding the recovery, handling, transfer and disposal of construction waste. To minimise waste disposal, Hang Lung Properties has set project-specific recycling targets for individual sites, with at least a 50% construction waste diversion rate from landfills and incineration facilities.
  • Disposing of hazardous waste responsibly
  • There are three main types of hazardous waste generated across Hang Lung Properties’ These are used fluorescent lights, rechargeable batteries, and clinical waste generated by Hang Lung Properties’ tenants with medical services. To minimise pollution and all kinds of environmental risks, Hang Lung Properties commissions licensed service providers for collecting and handling hazardous waste for proper disposal.
  • Promoting waste recycling
  • To facilitate recycling for its customers and tenants, Hang Lung Properties provides recycling bins and arranges collection services for paper, plastics, metal, glass bottles, food waste, rechargeable batteries, toner and ink cartridges at its properties. Additionally, Hang Lung Properties supports festive waste recycling and, for example, collaborates with a contractor to collect Christmas trees for recycling. Moreover, as food waste takes up the greatest share of municipal solid waste in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties provides, since 2013, food waste recycling services to some of its F&B (Food & Beverage) tenants. In 2017, under this service, a total of 15,907 kg of food waste was collected from tenants at The Peak Galleria and Amoy Plaza. In mainland China, Hang Lung Properties’ Riverside 66 in Tianjin also participates, since 2014, in the food waste segregation and recycling pilot scheme organised by the Tianjin Heping Environmental Protection Bureau, to support the local government’s efforts in food waste management. Hang Lung Properties also seeks to raise the environmental awareness of its employees, customers and tenants in waste reduction and recycling and, in 2017, organised various campaigns across its Hong Kong portfolio to promote waste reduction, such as red packet reuse, mooncake sharing and donations, and book exchanges.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is:

Disclosure 306-2 Waste by type and disposal method

 

Disclosure 306-2 Waste by type and disposal method corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

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References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Hang Lung Properties, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Hang Lung Properties: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

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