The Cathay Pacific Group has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The aviation industry contributed to less than three per cent of the world’s man-made CO2 emissions before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, passenger aircraft CO2 emissions increased 33 per cent between 2013 and 2019, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCR).
“We recognise that our industry must decarbonise to mitigate the impact of climate change. As one of the leaders in the industry, we aspire to be one of the chief contributors to global efforts. We aim to not only reduce aviation’s impact on climate change and decrease our carbon footprint but also prepare our business to be climate-ready,” stated Rajendran.
To accomplish its goals, Cathay Pacific has set up a dedicated cross-functional Climate Actions Steering Group and has also developed an approach to mitigate climate change. This approach extends from managing its operations to working with industry bodies and helping its customers to reduce their carbon footprint from flying. According to ICCR, 19 per cent of CO2 from commercial aviation in 2019 was linked to passenger movement in premium seating (first and business classes). This is higher than the total share from air freight. A passenger in premium class emitted 2.6 to 4.3 times more CO2 per kilometre than a passenger in economy class, depending on aircraft class.
Cathay Pacific has further identified five core areas of its climate change strategy – Carbon Offsetting and Reduction, Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), sustainable aviation fuel, carbon offset programme, aircraft emissions and ground emissions, and has actively been understanding and enhancing its existing efforts in all these areas.
“We understand tackling climate change will require ambitious, rapid, collaborative action, and we are committed to achieving our target alongside our Oneworld Alliance partners. Our commitment to achieving net-zero emission by 2050 aligns with the aims of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels and pursue efforts to limit this increase to 1.5°C. This is a significant step in our sustainable development journey and coalesces our existing efforts in fuel efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel, carbon offsetting and emissions reduction around a common goal,” Rajendran noted.
The COVID impact
While COVID-19 had a devastating impact on the aviation industry and disrupted Cathay Pacific’s operations, the airline’s sustainability journey remains continuous.
“Understanding the detrimental effects of Climate change, we set the difficult but essential goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This long-term goal provides us with the focus we need in aligning our strategy as we plan for recovery after COVID-19, from network resumption, fleet planning and carbon offsetting,” Rajendran said.
Some of Cathay Pacific’s key initiatives have been:
- Taking delivery of 10 new fuel-efficient aircraft
- Reducing a significant amount of single-use plastic from its baseline
- Investing in technology that provides operational improvements such as eEnabled Aircraft Programmes
- Reducing Engine Taxi-In (RETI) and electronic Flight Folder
- Committed to buying 1.1 million tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) over ten years
The airline’s four recently delivered Airbus A350 aircraft provide an ideal platform for SAF use due to their cutting-edge technology and high fuel efficiency. The airline has also made significant changes to its cargo operations in 2020. It is one of the first to roll out a blockchain-enabled Unit load Device (ULD) Management in Hong Kong and selected stations in The Americas.
Reducing single-use plastics
Cathay Pacific’s efforts to reduce plastic commenced in 2001. The airline has consistently focused on recycling and reusing inflight products or eliminating any waste. This began with sterilising and reusing plastic cutlery in 2001 to introducing biodegradable plastic bags for duty-free purchases and plastic wrapping for blankets, cutlery, and inflight magazines in 2011 and 2012.
In 2013, the airline replaced Styrofoam boxes with reusable cooler bags for inflight ice cream storage, thereby reducing their usage by 44 per cent and phased out Economy Class plastic cups, thereby sending 200,000 of these cups to a recycler to be made into other plastic items.
“We also introduced the redesigned 9oz plastic cup used in Economy Class which was 33 per cent lighter and more pliable and recyclable, and replaced plastic bags used for duty-free purchases with paper bags in 2014 and 2016, respectively. 2018 and 2019 were pivotal years for us, wherein we introduced our ‘4R’ Single-use Plastic Strategy: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We also achieved our goal of making our employee canteens in Hong Kong free of single-use plastic cutlery, bags, straws and stirrers. In 2019 not only did we set our single-use plastic target to reduce by 50 per cent or 387 million pieces a year by the end of 2022, but also adopted the use of cotton bags for the packaging of duvets and blankets in our Business Class cabins. One of the key decisions was to remove plastic straws and stirrers from all Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon flights, lounges, and offices globally, saving over 32 million pieces of plastic waste a year,” said Rajendran. “2020 was an equally important year for us even with the onset of the pandemic, we eliminated 43 million pieces of single-use plastic items from our annual usage baseline and also commenced a product lifecycle analysis to develop a guideline for material selection of inflight equipment.”
Switching to non-plastics
Switching to non-plastic and reuseable items has not been a simple change. Working closely with internal departments to understand Cathay Pacific’s purchases and its suppliers on developing alternative products has been a critical element in the successful switch.
“Through the collaborative efforts of our supplies and non-profit organisations, we have been able to introduce napkins that have been made from 70 per cent sugarcane and 30 per cent wood pulp. We also use birchwood stirrers and paper straws as alternatives to single-use plastic, adding to our growing list of more sustainable inflight products. Together with the support of our 1,000 plus supplies spanning across the world, we aim to minimise our impact on the environment while maintaining overall product quality by delivering products and services to our customers in a sustainable way,” Rajendran stated.
Sustainability and environmental stewardship is an integral part of who Cathay Pacific is as an airline. As the human population grows and has more and more of an impact on the environment, these qualities in a business are no longer a nice-to-have but are essential for the future of the planet.
“A service brand with core values such as thoughtful and progressive, sustainability in all aspects – environment, social, economic and governance is of paramount importance to us. Through our sustainable development strategy policy, we aim to go beyond the jurisdictions of doing business and be a respectful employer, a value-adding community member, and a service provider that exceeds our customers’ expectations,” concluded Rajendran.
Fighting animal trade and protecting biodiversity
Cathay Pacific has banned the transport of certain live animals, and plant and animal products, we well as working closely with leading animal and plant trade NGO, TRAFFIC explains Vishnu Rajendran – Area Manager – Middle East, Cathay Pacific.
As an airline, we play an essential role in protecting vulnerable species and ecosystems globally through responsible cargo management and sustainable sourcing that minimises our impact on the environment. Through engagements with NGO partners, industry associations, conservation organisations, academia, and various stakeholder groups and experts, we play an active role in preventing the illegal trade of endangered flora or fauna.
While we have multiple partnerships that help us develop our carriage policy, the partnership with TRAFFIC, a leading NGO working globally on the trade of wild animals and plants, has been significant for us. Hong Kong is accountable for more than 40 per cent of the global shark fin trade. For every shipment request of any species of shark or shark-related product, our Cargo
