Shifting aviation’s mindset on sustainability targets

BRUSSELS — Sustainability in aviation largely centers on ambitious targets of reaching Net Zero by 2050, yet concerns remain regarding the cost and availability of sustainable aviation fuels and how air cargo equipment can be more sustainable. [caption id="attachment_57138212" align="alignleft" width="300"] Air Cargo Next Associate Editor Courtney Blackann, left, moderated the Air Cargo Tech Summit 2023 panel "Sustainability in air cargo equipment and fuel: How far can we go in 2023," featuring panelists, from left, Chris Bowden, Celine Crahay, Michiel Potjer and Mike Van Berkel. (Photo/Air Cargo Next)[/caption] While many questions — sometimes taking a negative bent — loom, experts say the focus should shift from reasons why the aviation industry cannot meet these goals to reasons why it can and must. During the session “Sustainability in air cargo equipment and beyond: How far can we go in 2023?” at the Air Cargo Tech Summit today, panelists from Cathay Pacific Airways , 3CeL SaRL , VRR and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo said that, instead of looking at how far the air cargo community still must go, the industry needs to look at how far it has come. “Before I worked at Cathay, I spent a lot of time working in East Africa” and on medical projects around East Africa, panelist Chris Bowden , head of global partnerships at Cathay Pacific, said. “I never thought, 15 years ago, you would one day see drones delivering medicine to isolated communities in Rwanda. That’s now a reality.” While each panelist agreed the Net Zero targets can feel daunting, they said the mindset has been shifting over the last few years as awareness has increased and more initiatives have launched. “I think it’s one of the profound things that I saw in the last couple of years, is the shift in mindset,” panelist Michiel Potjer, strategic sustainability lead at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, said. “A couple years ago, sustainability was a topic that was just addressed and maybe very limited. It has become more and more central to what we do, … which makes me very positive that we are maturing and that we are willing to take that step.” Emerging technologies offer support, not only to streamlining cargo operations but also to solving sustainability challenges. “From our perspective, we rethink and reshape the products we offer to clients,” panelist Mike van Berkel , account manager at VRR, a sustainable unit load device developer, said. “So, we try to find a sustainable material, sustainable suppliers, really rethinking the use of the container, or you will be recycling part of it as well. And we actually just started a project where we want to make that visible, how sustainable the project really is.” This is further demonstrated “with the use of drone technology” and “electrification of engines and power,” Bowden said. “We’ve seen [technology] come from nothing to where it is now with electric cars, drones and [more]. The [drone] is my favorite example that really gives hope that there is major change happening out there.” While sustainable aviation fuel is the surest way to decarbonize the aviation industry, the pathway to Net Zero begins with collaboration and awareness, the speakers agreed. “I think it goes to show the awareness is rising,” panelist Celine Crahay , 3CeL SaRL’s founder and managing director, said. “I mean, we talk about it, we have been talking about sustainability. So, we are all aware, and there are many different initiatives. ... This is really positive.”

Shifting aviation’s mindset on sustainability targets

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