Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), Hong Kong’s largest independent cargo handler, has secured the Corporate Category title at the 2026 TIACA Air Cargo Sustainability Awards for its pioneering “Redefining Cargo Packaging Through Circular Materials” initiative, marking a significant milestone in the global air cargo industry’s transition towards circular and sustainable packaging solutions.
Presented by The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), the award recognises organisations delivering measurable environmental innovation and sustainability leadership across the global air freight and logistics sector. Hactl’s project stood out for addressing one of the air cargo industry’s most persistent environmental challenges — the extensive use of single-use plastic packaging materials in cargo operations.
At the centre of the award-winning initiative is the development of aviation-grade polyethylene plastic sheets manufactured entirely from post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. Hactl has become the world’s first air cargo terminal operator to successfully develop and laboratory-validate 100 percent closed-loop recycled plastic sheets capable of meeting the demanding operational and mechanical standards required in aviation cargo handling.
The achievement represents a major breakthrough for the industry, where efforts to increase recycled content in cargo packaging have historically faced technical limitations. Since 2022, Hactl had already transitioned to using plastic sheets containing between 30 percent and 50 percent recycled material. However, increasing recycled content beyond that level proved difficult because higher PCR concentrations typically reduce tensile strength, elasticity and processing stability — all critical requirements in air cargo packaging applications.
To overcome these challenges, Hactl collaborated with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI), which has since merged with the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute. Together, the organisations developed an environmentally friendly, multi-layer polyethylene film structure designed to maintain aviation-grade mechanical performance while substantially increasing recycled content.
The result is a fully circular cargo packaging solution capable of delivering both sustainability and operational reliability without compromising handling efficiency or cargo protection standards.
The project also establishes a complete closed-loop recycling lifecycle within Hactl’s operations. Used plastic sheets collected from the company’s SuperTerminal 1 facility are processed into reusable pellets before being remanufactured into new packaging films made entirely from 100 percent post-consumer recycled material.
Industry observers say the innovation could set a new benchmark for sustainable cargo packaging globally, offering a practical and scalable solution for aviation logistics providers seeking to reduce environmental impact without affecting operational performance.
By breaking through the long-standing 50 percent recycled-content ceiling, the initiative significantly reduces reliance on virgin petrochemical resins and associated carbon emissions. Hactl estimates the project has the potential to divert approximately 700 tonnes of plastic waste from landfill annually while extending the usable lifecycle of packaging materials and supporting broader circular economy objectives.
The project’s implications also extend beyond aviation, potentially providing a replicable model for industries that depend on high-performance packaging materials across complex supply chains.
Commenting on the recognition, Hactl Acting Chief Executive Michelle Choi described the initiative as more than simply a material innovation project, highlighting its broader significance for the future of sustainable logistics.
“We sincerely thank the judges for this recognition of our sustainability efforts,” Choi said. “The 100 percent closed-loop recycled plastic sheets are more than a material breakthrough; they offer a scalable model that combines environmental benefit, technical integrity and commercial viability, demonstrating how sustainable innovation can drive meaningful change across the air cargo industry.”
The recognition further reinforces the growing importance of sustainability transformation within global aviation and logistics, as cargo operators increasingly focus on reducing waste, lowering emissions and developing circular operational models in response to environmental targets and evolving customer expectations.
The TIACA Air Cargo Sustainability Awards, organised in partnership with CHAMP Cargosystems, are among the industry’s most recognised sustainability honours, celebrating innovation, environmental stewardship and operational excellence across the global air cargo ecosystem.
According to TIACA, the project successfully completed laboratory validation and demonstrated that recycled cargo film could achieve the durability, strength and performance requirements necessary for aviation cargo handling operations.
Beyond material innovation, the project also integrates operational deployment and closed-loop recycling processes designed to ensure used packaging materials can be recovered, recycled and reintroduced into the logistics chain.
Industry estimates suggest that full deployment of the initiative could divert approximately 700 tonnes of plastic waste annually away from landfill while significantly reducing lifecycle carbon emissions linked to cargo packaging production and disposal.
The recognition reflects the growing importance of sustainability initiatives across the global air cargo sector, where operators are increasingly seeking scalable solutions to reduce environmental impact while maintaining operational performance and regulatory compliance.
Manuel Galindo, Chief Executive Officer of CHAMP Cargosystems, said HACTL’s project demonstrated how innovation and industry collaboration could generate measurable environmental benefits for the wider logistics community.
“HACTL’s project demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can create practical sustainability solutions with real industry impact,” Galindo said. “Their work not only advances circularity in air cargo operations but also establishes a scalable model that can inspire broader adoption across the global logistics sector.”
TIACA Director General Glyn Hughes said the quality and ambition of this year’s award submissions reflected the industry’s increasing commitment to sustainability transformation.
“The level of innovation and commitment demonstrated by this year’s applicants continues to show how seriously our industry is embracing sustainability,” Hughes said. “HACTL’s initiative stands out because it tackles a long-standing operational challenge with a solution that is practical, measurable and scalable for the wider air cargo community.”
Alongside the Corporate Category winner, TIACA also announced the finalists for the Start-Up and Small Business Category of the 2026 awards, highlighting emerging technologies and sustainability-focused innovations from across the logistics sector.
The shortlisted companies include BioNatur Plastics for its recyclable and biodegradable stretch film solutions, CargoAi for its Cargo2Zero lane-level carbon emissions tracking platform for air freight, and Goods2Load for its data-driven logistics decarbonisation system using smart filtering technologies.
The finalists will present their projects during TIACA’s Executive Summit in Warsaw, scheduled to take place from June 1 to June 3, where attendees will vote to determine the recipient of the USD 10,000 sustainability prize.
The official presentation ceremony for the Air Cargo Sustainability Awards 2026 will also be held during the Warsaw summit, bringing together airlines, handlers, technology providers, freight forwarders and supply chain leaders from across the global air cargo sector.
Roos Bakker of TIACA praised the growing industry participation in sustainability-focused initiatives and acknowledged the increasing momentum behind environmental innovation across the sector.
“To everyone who submitted an entry, thank you for sharing your ideas, innovation and passion,” Bakker said. “These awards continue to highlight the incredible progress being made across the air cargo industry as organisations of every size work toward a more sustainable future.”
The recognition of HACTL’s project comes at a time when sustainability is becoming a central strategic priority for aviation and logistics companies worldwide, driven by increasing regulatory pressure, customer expectations and industry commitments to carbon reduction and waste minimisation.
