Sustained eco-friendly culture wins GAC Group Chairman’s Environment Award
GAC Hong Kong’s multiple eco-friendly efforts have been rewarded with the First Prize in the GAC Group Chairman’s Award for Environmental Excellence for 2012, said in the company's press release.
The photo shows GAC Hong Kong Managing Director Alwyn Mendonca (centre) after receiving the Chairman’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 2012 from Björn Engblom, GAC Group Co-Chairman and Principal Trustee (right) at a ceremony also attended by Dan Hjalmarsson, Group Vice President – Asia Pacific (left).
Since 2009, the company has been recycling paper, aluminum, plastic, toner cartridges, electronic equipment and more. In 2011, GAC Hong Kong’s recycling efforts helped it reduce its carbon footprint by almost four tonnes, and earned it the second prize in the Chairman’s Award. In 2012, its broad and sustained commitment continued, and the company’s carbon footprint was reduced by more than five tonnes.
The company’s commitment to preserving the environment went beyond the office, with staff volunteering for coastal clean-ups and tree-planting schemes organised by local environmental groups.
Björn Engblom, GAC Group Co-Chairman and Prinicipal Trustee, says these three schemes show a long-term approach and proof that a green culture is alive, well and thriving at GAC Hong Kong.
Proof that ecological action through small investments can bring significant economic benefits was shown by the efforts of the second prize winner GAC Samudera in Indonesia. By installing an automatic control device in its air-conditioning and lighting systems, the company reduced its electricity consumption by 720 hours for the year, cut its carbon emissions by nearly 228 tonnes and saved approximately USD 22,650.
In Norway, the purchase of two electrical vans for GAC’s bases in Bergen and Monstag, as well as three LPG-fulled forklift trucks demonstrated the company’s to reducing the impact of its vehicle fleet. The electric cars produced savings of about 6.5 tons of CO2, reduced dust and engine noise. Compared to conventional diesel-powered truck the LPG forklifts produce 93% less CO2 emissions. They also earned the company third prize in the Chairman’s Award for 2012.
Patrik Hallden, Group Vice President – Human Resources, says that our strong focus on HSSE means that considering the impact of daily actions on the environment should be second nature throughout the GAC Group.
He adds: “The companies that have been recognised by the Chairman’s Award since its inception clearly demonstrate the many ways that we can make a difference every day, around the world.”
Since it was established in 2009, the First Prize in the GAC Group Chairman’s Award for Enviromental Excellence has been awarded to GAC Pakistan, GAC Nigeria and GAC Sri Lanka, and the scheme has recognised the efforts of GAC companies in Dubai, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore and the USA.