Sino Group Announces Sustainability Vision 2030

Creating Better Lifescapes through Initiatives in Adopting Renewable Energy, Reducing Single-Use Plastics and Redefining Property Development Philosophy

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HONG KONG, CHINA
- Media OutReach - 23
October 2020 – Sino Group today announced its Sustainability Vision 2030
(‘SV2030’) initiative in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (UNSDGs). Under its SV2030, the Group has set sustainability goals that
align with the six key areas of focus under its ‘Creating Better Lifescapes’
vision, and adopt a new 3R Strategy (Renew, Reduce, Redefine) to address Hong
Kong’s sustainability challenges. This includes the adoption of over 3,200 solar
panels to generate renewable energy sources, reducing consumption of single-use
plastics (SUP) by 50% across all business lines by 2022, and developing green properties
that are wellness-centric.

Sino
Group’s plan to install over
3,200 photovoltaic panels on the rooftops and exteriors across 19 properties
and three hotels will complete in 2021.

‘At Sino,
sustainability is integrated in every aspect of operations as we seek to create
values for stakeholders and make business a driver of sustainability for a
better future. The Sustainability Vision 2030, covering crucial areas such as
renewable energy, plastic reduction, green building certification and
innovative sustainability solutions, is an important blueprint charting the
course for 2030 and beyond. I would like to thank our partners for the staunch
support, and look forward to creating better lifescapes as we continue on our
sustainability journey,’ remarks Mr Daryl Ng, Deputy Chairman of Sino Group.

RENEW: Renewable Energy
Sufficient to Power 1,200+ Households

As an early
responder to the air pollution issue, Sino Group has committed to a 30 per cent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from the 2012 level.

The Group’s work
on building a sustainable future for Hong Kong actually predates the SV2030
initiative. In 2018, the Group was one of the earliest industry players to
install photovoltaic systems on its properties, and its plan to install over 3,200
panels on the rooftops and exteriors across 19 properties and three hotels will
complete in 2021. To date, over 3,000 photovoltaic panels have already been
installed. Over 8,000,000 kWh of energy will be generated through the
photovoltaic system by 2030 from the 2012 level – equivalent to the energy
consumption of 1,279 local households for one year. Pilot projects to explore other
renewable energy sources that can work within the space limitations of Hong
Kong are also underway, such as the Group’s award-winning in-building hydropower
system and rooftop wind turbines.

Since September
2019, the Group has also worked closely with local PropTech company, Negawatt,
to leverage big data, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
to enhance the Group’s energy efficiency levels. The pilot programme at
Exchange Tower has achieved an eight per cent year-on-year reduction in chiller
plant energy consumption while maintaining the same level of indoor comfort.
The energy saved is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 37 local households.
The system is expected to be deployed at another 13 buildings under the Group.

REDUCE: Reducing Single-Use
Plastic Consumption by 50% Across all Business Lines

The Group will
continue its effort to reduce the consumption of Single-Use Plastics (SUP) as
part of its SV2030 commitment. The initiative aims to halve the Group’s SUP
consumption by 2022 (from 2017 level) across all business lines. Since 2018,
the Group has saved over 1.98 million plastic bottles by installing smart
filtered water stations at its malls and hotels. This has translated into
carbon emission reduction by around 3,140,000 kg, equivalent to planting 136,539
trees.

‘Sino Group is
among the first in the industry in setting a plastic reduction target and
installing smart filtered water stations at its premises. Currently, the Group
has the largest network of smart water dispensers in Hong Kong. We
are glad to see the Group’s swift execution in contributing to protecting the
Earth through reducing the use of plastics,’ Ms Ada Yip, CEO of Urban Spring
remarks.

REDEFINE: Pursuing WELL™ for
All

‘We believe in
the well-being of both the environment and people and target to achieve WELL™ certification
for all of our new projects in Hong Kong, on top of BEAM Plus certification,’
said Mr Ng. ‘Our focus on WELL™ underscores our people-centric design
philosophy and commitment to supporting the health and well-being needs of our
users in the post-COVID new normal.’

The Group currently
has the largest number of new buildings in Hong Kong that are registered and
listed under the WELL v2™ project directory. 133 Portofino, the Group’s new
project at Sai Kung was the first residential property in Hong Kong to receive
WELL Core v2™ pre-certification, followed by St. George’s Mansions and the
Group’s new commercial development at Wong Chuk Hang. WELL™ is the world’s
first architectural benchmark focused exclusively on human health and wellness
to improve sustainability, WELL™ identifies 10 concepts of the built
environment that make a positive impact on human health and well-being, namely air,
water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind
and community.

REDEFINE: Incubating Innovative
Sustainability Solutions for the Property Sector

Sino Group also believes
Hong Kong’s path to a sustainable future is paved with technology. It will
further explore innovations that improve sustainability and wellness as part of
its SV2030. Working with Sino Inno Lab, the Group will support and partner with
start-ups and inventors, as well as invest in PropTech (property technology) solutions.

Established in
2018, Sino Inno Lab serves as a sandbox platform for technology companies and
start-ups to test out innovative solutions that benefit the industry as a
whole. So far, it has already nurtured more than 100 PropTech solutions,
connecting more than 400 companies on technology sourcing.

Sino SV2030 is
the Group’s latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitment in
line with the UNSDGs and sets clear directions in embracing sustainability
across the Group’s six strategic pillars — Green, Wellness, Design, Innovation,
Heritage and Culture, and Community.

Note
to Editors

<Refer to the appendix for details of
the sustainability goals under SV2030>

Appendix 

Sino Group Sustainability Vision 2030

Sustainability Goals

Green

• By
  2030, achieve a GHG emission reduction of 30% from our 2012 baseline (covering
  the common areas of 51 properties under our management)
• By
  2022, reduce single-use plastic consumption by 50% across all business lines
  from our 2017 baseline
• By
  2030, achieve a renewable energy generation of 8,000,000 kWh from the 2012
  level
• By
  2025, 60% of seafood served at the Group’s hotels will be purchased from
  sustainable sources

Design

• Achieve
  BEAM Plus certification for all of our new buildings in Hong Kong
• Seek
  to achieve WELL™ certification for all of our new buildings in Hong Kong
• Continue
  to adopt sustainable building standards and invest in improvements across our
  portfolio

Wellness

• Deliver
  products and services that enhance the wellness of our stakeholders
• Improve
  the wellbeing of our employees through wellness programmes covering work,
  family, physical health and mental health
• Increase
  training hours per employee by 50% by 2025 and 100% by 2030 from 2019 level
• Increase
  recruitment diversity by employing different ethnic groups and less-abled
  personnel

Innovation

• Foster
  a culture of innovation that enables colleagues and external innovators to test
  out new ideas and build a mechanism to apply new technologies in our business
  operations
• Receive
  ISO 27001 (Information security management) certification by 2025

Heritage & Culture

• Work
  on revitalisation of heritage building, promote appreciation of heritage
  conservation as well as arts and culture to enrich life

Community

By 2025

• Improve
  the well-being of 5,000 less-resourced families
• Establish
  a wellness education programme to promote health education in the community
• Support
  150 primary schools and enhance the school environment by providing wellness
  education
• Collaborate
  with local NGOs to promote social inclusion
• Collaborate
  with NGOs to help women from less-resourced families contribute to the
  community

By 2030

• Develop
  long-term, mutually-beneficial relationships aimed at

· enhancing
the quality of life of all our stakeholders, including individuals, groups and
the wider community; and

· promoting
social inclusion

About Sino Group

Sino Group is one of the leading property
developers in Hong Kong. It comprises three listed companies — Sino Land
Company Limited (HKSE: 083), Tsim Sha Tsui Properties Limited (HKSE: 0247) and
Sino Hotels (Holdings) Limited (HKSE: 1221) as well as private companies held
by the Ng Family.

The Group’s core business is developing
residential, office, industrial and retail properties for sale and investment.
In addition to an extensive portfolio in Hong Kong, the Group has footprints in
mainland China, Singapore and Australia. The Group has developed more than 220
projects, spanning a total plot ratio area of over 84.6 million sq. ft. Our
core business is complemented by the gamut of property services encompassing
management, security and environmental services to ensure a seamless Sino
Experience. We are also a key player in hotel and club management.

The Group employs more than 10,000
committed staff members, who share the vision of creating better lifescapes.
Lifescape is our vision — to build a better life together, where the community
thrives in harmony by embracing green living and wellness, by engaging with all
and pursuing meaningful designs, and by seeking innovation while respecting
heritage and culture. Committed and together, we create a better community
where people live, work and play.

The Group focuses its sustainability
efforts on six areas, namely Green, Wellness, Design, Innovation, Heritage
& Culture, and Community. Sino Land Company Limited (083) has been a
constituent member of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series since
September 2012 for its continual efforts in promoting sustainability.

www.sino.com