Abu Dhabi’s biggest freight carrier Etihad Cargo, has become the first Middle Eastern carrier to join a global sustainability verification programme as part of its efforts to run greener operations by 2050.
TIACA’s multi-sector BlueSky verification programme, will include an assessment process to enable Etihad Cargo to measure the carrier’s performance and track its sustainability progress benefitting customers and the wider air cargo industry, the airline said in a statement.
The carrier will assess its sustainability against eight criteria across environment, society, and culture and leadership.
The criteria include:
- Decarbonisation
- Waste elimination
- Biodiversity protection
- Support for local economies and communities
- Impact on society improvement
- Efficiency and profitability
- Employee engagement
- Retention, development and partnership building
On completion of the assessment, Etihad Cargo will receive a “personalised dashboard which displays the carrier’s performance against the criteria,” the statement said, adding the programme will include an optional full onsite audit with a report that highlights areas for improvement, at a later stage.
“Although the air cargo industry has historically been considered less sustainable than other methods of transportation, the sector is making great strides in developing more sustainable solutions and is investing in fleet modernisation, fuel efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel and carbon compensation initiatives,” Etihad Cargo’s senior vice president of global sales and cargo Martin Drew said.
According to the company’s sustainability report of 2020 to 2021, the airline’s carbon footprint amounted to 4,310,592 tonnes last year compared with 9,828,970 tonnes three years earlier.
Etihad Cargo is one of the first participants to join the programme’s live operations. Other participants include organisations from airline, airport, ground handler, and general sales and service agents sectors, the statement added.
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