A New Era for Sustainable Building and Construction
[Hong Kong, 27 May 2025] – The Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) successfully launched the CIC Green Product Certification Scheme 2.0 yesterday (26 May) at the CIC-Zero Carbon Park. The launching ceremony was officiated by Mr David LAM, Under Secretary for Development of The Government of the HKSAR, as the Guest of Honour, alongside Ir Prof. Thomas HO, Chairman of the CIC, and Dr CHEUNG Tin-cheung, Chairman of the HKGBC. Over 600 participants, including government officials, industry leaders, developers, contractors, manufacturers, and sustainability advocates, joined in person and online to mark a new milestone in Hong Kong’s green building journey.
Ir Prof. Thomas HO, Chairman of the CIC, stated in his Welcome Remarks, “Over 30% of global carbon emissions are related to construction activities. Among them, embodied carbon from materials like steel and cement accounts for nearly 20%. Meanwhile, the impact of building materials on human health, energy efficiency, and durability is gaining public attention. Choosing green building materials not only helps mitigate climate change but also enhances living quality and benefits the community.”
Dr CHEUNG Tin-cheung, Chairman of the HKGBC, added in his Opening Speech, “The CIC Green Product Certification Scheme 2.0 is more than just an upgrade. It is a comprehensive green and low-carbon solution covering the entire lifecycle of buildings. It promotes the use of low-carbon, non-toxic, and sustainable materials, and encourages material reuse. Through this initiative, we aim to position Hong Kong as a model for green building in the Greater Bay Area.”
Mr David LAM, Under Secretary for Development, The Government of the HKSAR, stated in his keynote address, “The green transformation of Hong Kong’s construction industry is not only an environmental necessity, but also a crucial step in enhancing our international competitiveness. I sincerely invite manufacturing partners to participate in the CIC Green Product Certification Scheme. Your involvement is a powerful driving force behind the success of this initiative. At the same time, I strongly encourage our contractor partners to adopt these certified green building materials. Every choice you make contributes to a more environmentally friendly city. With the concerted efforts and support from all sectors of the industry, I am confident that Hong Kong will achieve its decarbonisation target of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2035, and continue striving towards carbon neutrality by 2050.”
To promote the adoption of eco-friendly construction materials, the CIC and the HKGBC first launched the CIC Green Product Certification Scheme (the Scheme) in 2019, making it a powerful catalyst in advancing Hong Kong’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Since its inception, over 1,000 products from various sectors have been certified. At the launch ceremony, Ir Albert CHENG, Executive Director of the CIC, Ir Harry LAI, Executive Director of the HKGBC, Ar. Clarence LEUNG, Chairperson of Committee on Environment and Sustainability of the CIC and Ir Prof. PAN Shu-jie, Chairman of CIC GPC Steering Committee of the HKGBC, respectively joined Mr David LAM in expressing appreciation to representatives from 40 manufacturers and suppliers, who actively participated in the certification scheme, in recognition of their efforts and contributions.
Expanding the Scope in Scheme 2.0 with New Product Categories and Sustainability Labels
With the growing demand for green building materials in society, the Scheme keeps pace with the time and has been updated to Version 2.0. The number of Product Categories has increased from 28 to 32, with four new additionsincluding Photovoltaic Module, Precast Concrete, Flooring, and General Green Products. It also introduces five Sustainability Labels: Carbon, Environment, InnoSmart, Performance and Resource.These enhancements ensure certified products meet sustainability standards and enable the industry to make a more precise procurement decisions.
Certified products under the Scheme not only meet stringent environmental and sustainability criteria but also empower developers to comply with green building standards such as BEAM Plus. By adopting certified materials, industry players can reduce environmental impact and gain a competitive edge in a market increasingly focused on sustainability.
The CIC Green Product Certification Scheme is owned by the CIC, and operated by the HKGBC. Its website serves as a one-stop platform for industry professionals and the public to learn about Version 2.0, application details, and browse certified green materials and eco-products. For more details, please visit: https://cicgpc.hkgbc.org.hk
