Hong Kong, October 24, 2025: Hongkong Land has announced the launch of Hong Kong’s first recycling solution for tempered and laminated glass waste, marking a significant step toward circular construction and sustainability within its Tomorrow’s CENTRAL redevelopment project. The initiative is a result of a three-way collaboration between Hongkong Land, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and Gammon Construction.
The new solution enables the conversion of demolished tempered and laminated glass from shopfronts and curtain walls into partition blocks and low-carbon cement alternatives, which are intended to be reused within the project itself. This circular model supports the Tomorrow’s CENTRAL project’s target of 75% waste diversion, aligning with LEED and BEAM Plus sustainability standards.
Michael Smith, CEO of Hongkong Land, said, “Tomorrow's CENTRAL represents a visionary step in sustainable innovation amid a global and local waste issue that requires immediate attention. At Hongkong Land, we're committed to building a circular economy – one where waste is not a burden but a resource. This project advances the future of climate-resilient construction by delivering scalable, replicable models sure to shape construction practices in Hong Kong and beyond.”
Kevin O’Brien, Chief Executive, Gammon Construction, added, “At Gammon, we believe sustainability must be embedded from the earliest stages of construction. As the main contractor for Tomorrow's CENTRAL, we are proud to support Hongkong Land's bold vision by identifying and implementing circular solutions for demolition materials. By connecting with PolyU in this project, this commercial-academic partnership not only demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can drive meaningful industry-wide change, but also powerfully reflects the spirit of our sustainability strategy, 'United Ambitions'.”
Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Distinguished Research Professor and Director of the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, commented, “Our research team is proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative, which will transform how tempered and laminated glass waste is handled. This technology is set to make a far-reaching impact on Hong Kong's construction industry and beyond, and we are thankful for Hongkong Land's commitment and vision in sustainability.”
The collaboration addresses a pressing waste management challenge in Hong Kong, where construction and demolition waste accounts for nearly 20% of landfill intake, and landfill sites are expected to reach capacity by 2026. During pre-construction studies for Tomorrow’s CENTRAL, Gammon Construction identified more than 50 tonnes of glass waste slated for demolition with no viable recycling solution available locally.
The new recycling technology will repurpose such glass into low-carbon concrete partition blocks that meet the Buildings Department’s standards—an industry first for Hong Kong. The adoption of the solution is targeted for 2026, following completion of research trials across Hongkong Land’s and Gammon’s project portfolios.
Under its 2030 sustainability framework, Hongkong Land aims to divert 50% of commercial waste and 60% of construction waste by 2030, supported by a fully integrated supply chain operating under sustainable procurement policies.
Tomorrow’s CENTRAL, announced in June 2024, is a three-year plan to expand and upgrade Hongkong Land’s LANDMARK retail portfolio in Central, including façade renovations, retail reconfigurations, and modernisation of facilities. The project’s adoption of glass recycling technology marks a milestone for sustainable urban renewal, setting a precedent for Hong Kong’s construction and property sectors to reduce waste and enhance circularity.
