Challenge Overview

HKE generates approximately 2.5 million pieces of disposable inflight items every year, of which 630 thousand are disposable SUP. Disposable in-flight items include foil meal boxes, foil sheets and paper traps, cutlery sets, paper cups and lids. HKE is keen to address the challenges faced by a low-cost carrier in phasing out SUP, switching to alternative materials and promoting circularity through waste-to-energy/materials systems in Hong Kong.

Solutions could include but are not limited to:

• Alternative materials,
• Bioplastics,
• Reuse and refill solutions if they comply with aircraft operational constraints,
• Recyclers and suppliers of recycled plastics,
• Supplier offering composting or recycling services.
  
  

Main Requirements

The solutions sought need to:

1.  Store waste in the aircraft as the in-flight crew does not have the capacity to offload the waste at each landing.
   
   
2. Consider current operational constraints - the in-flight crew does not sort the waste, so prefer no requirement on food and disposable items separation (e.g., available to handle at Food Waste Pre-Treatment Facility/ composting facility together with food waste).
   
   
3. Comply with aviation’s food safety and hygiene requirements (e.g., safe, available to reheat via oven & microwave, available to deep freezes).
   
   
4. Be sustainable (e.g., 100% natural, sustainably sourced, chemical free, plastic free, recyclable as paper, home compostable within 3-6 months etc.).

The innovations must take operational constraints into consideration and have the potential to be applied in an efficient, cost-effective, practical, and scalable manner in the geographies where HK Express is located.

What we are not interested in

Solutions that would increase the final amount of waste, even if biodegradable, in a landfill.

Closing date for applications

30 July 2023

How to apply

Please send an overview of the solution, how you will solve the problem, and a pitch deck about the company to adrien.dewalque@cleantech.com

About Swire Pacific / Opco

Hong Kong Express, incorporated in 2004, is a Hong Kong–based low-cost airline owned by Cathay Pacific Airways. It provides scheduled air service to 27 destinations in Asia, including Cambodia, China, Japan, South Korea, the Northern Mariana Islands, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The airline's main hub at Hong Kong International Airport uses a fleet that consists exclusively of the Airbus A320 family. Hong Kong Express takes its responsibility to the environment seriously. To contribute to more sustainable air travel and footprint reduction, it implements various concrete measures such as offsetting carbon emission, using fuel efficient aircraft, and complying with IATA CORSIA regulations.