Emirates Group makes strides in recycling, expands scope of report
The Emirates Group released its second annual environment report, marking World Environment Day. The results show that Emirates airline has maintained its leading position in the industry in terms of fuel efficiency due to its young, technologically-advanced fleet.
A key factor in the Group’s environmental strategy, supported by the Boeing 777 order for an additional 50 aircraft in November 2011, is the airline’s eco-efficient fleet, which is at the cutting edge of fuel efficiency and environmental performance. With an average fleet age of only 6.4 years versus the global IATA average of 11.3 years, Emirates fuel efficiency results are 22.5 per cent better than the IATA average and CO2 emissions are 18.1 per cent better than the IATA average.
Emirates recognises that how an aircraft is flown can impact the environment. One recent example featured in the report was Emirates participation in the INSPIRE Programme (Indian Ocean Strategic Partnership to Reduce Emissions). Emirates’ three test flights resulted in a combined fuel savings of nearly seven tonnes of fuel and 22 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This ongoing work identifies potential fuel efficiency improvements and assists Emirates in future flight planning goals.
On top of initiatives and benchmarking of flight operations, the report recognises the constant efforts and success of the Emirates Group employees over the 2011-2012 period, such as:
• Switching to lighter-weight Kevlar Cargo unit loading devices, saving 14,475 tonnes of fuel and 45,595 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Increasing frequency of engine washes by Emirates Engineering, saving an estimated 314 tonnes of fuel and 989 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Eliminating e-waste through recycling obsolete PCs, monitors, laptops, printers, and toner cartridges, saving around 5,800 items from landfills
• Recycling over 33 tonnes of used clothing and shoes through staff donations, saving 40 per cent more than the previous reporting year; and initiating a company-wide switch to recycled paper, saving approximately 1,700 trees, more than 400,000 kWh of electricity, 3.3 million litres of water, and 250 tonnes of CO2 emissions
“As the Emirates Group grows across its various divisions, we fully recognise our environmental responsibility in the locations in which we operate and via the way we fly our aircraft,” said Andrew Parker, Senior Vice-President, Public, Industry, International and Environmental Affairs. “We have identified some clear successes, but the report also serves to highlight where we can look to improve.”
Covering the past financial year (1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012), the audited report analyses environmental performance data from a range of Group activities, including airline operations, data’s cargo and ground handling businesses and a wide range of commercial activities on the ground. Additional information on Emirates’ environmental activities and a full copy of the report are available at www.emirates.com/environmentreport.
In further step towards Emirates’ environment commitment, Tim Clark, president of Emirates airline, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE), by which DCCE will identify emissions reduction related opportunities that could lead to the generation of Certified Emission Reductions for the benefit of the Emirates Group.
Emirates operates a flight from Malta to Dubai on a daily schedule, via Larnaka, Cyprus.