Industry update

8 / INDUSTRY UPDATE

Top stories from across the industry

APEX star ratings to include sustainability

Airline leaders have thrown their weight behind transparent eco policies and on-going change in response to the APEX/IFSA Board of Governors sustainability priority for 2022.

The board unanimously agreed sustainability as one of the top two priorities for this year and has set up and Environment Board, comprised its top 20 airlines, to drive the way the industry regulates itself and shares sustainability information which was previously viewed as propriety. For example, once a product has proved its sustainability credentials with one client, that recognition could be shared. The new sustainability requirements for the APEX Official Airline Ratings mean Four-Star and Five-Star airlines will only earn and maintain their status if they make their sustainability initiatives public and easily available to all. In addition, each airline will have to show incremental improvements to their sustainability efforts each year to ensure an ongoing commitment to sustainable improvement. APEX/IFSA CEO Joe Leader said: "It is important our airlines are advancing and show green is not just a slogan but a journey we are on." apex.aero; ifsa.apex.aero

Airline caterers on course for recovery

Founding members of the Airline Caterers Association joined a global online webinar to report recovery underway and a positive outlook for the next 2-5 years.

ACA chairman Robin Padgett, of dnata Catering & Retail, Erdmann Rauer, CEO LSG Group, and Christoph Schmitz, CEO gategroup, agreed ramping up catering station staffing was currently the biggest challenge as 50% of precovid volumes grows to 80% for summer. Regarding sustainability, Rauer said the greatest room for improvement was in the counting and cutting of waste. He said eliminating 30% of waste should be achievable through investment in consumption analytics, changed crew behaviour and ambitious commitments from airlines and caterers alike. Padgett added: "Our intention is to be as sustainable as possible ourselves and to push our clients to recyclable and reusable options and away from plastics." Flow wrap usage through Covid was temporary only. aca.catering

Eva Air works with suppliers to boost its eco cabin credentials LEED for U.S. caterer

EVA Air is prioritising lighter and more environmentally-friendly products in collaboration with its key cabin suppliers.

Changes include new withdraw bags made from biodegradable material, swizzle sticks and napkins of bamboo plus paper cups instead of plastic. The latest tableware, for premium economy class, replaces some plastic material with glass or lightweight china, and ecoTHREAD fabric was chosen for blankets. The EVA e-Library service, for magazines and printed materials, has cut paper weight significantly. eva.com

Cuisine Solutions' sous vide processing facility in San Antonio, Texas has received LEED certification from the U.S. Green

Building Council. Features include solar installations, storm water management and water recycling systems. cuisinesolutions.com

Top stories from across the industry Top stories from across the industry INDUSTRY UPDATE / 9

Momentum for change builds through ASF membership

Membership and collaborative momentum on inflight sustainability is building following a global online gathering of the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF) Summit, supported by IATA and IFSA.

Over 40 leading airlines, caterers, suppliers and industry bodies joined the ASF’s webinar call last month and since then over 20% of a $650,000 funding target has been raised for the ASF's next round of work. This round will see recommendations being made for the standardisation of disposable F&B packaging materials. Membership costs $10,000 and brings with it access to key sustainability leaders, primary access to ASF research, and a wide range of tools and models to support material selection. The ASF is an independent not-for-profit working to build a portfolio of assets including a materials database of sustainable materials for inflight passenger products. Criteria for these will be based on end-to-end impact, and models that compare materials show CO2 savings and ESG benefits of specific product choices. The first models will focus on disposable packaging for food and beverage, and rotable serviceware. The goals include a recommendation on adopting standardised materials to increase circularity; and the gathering of evidence to support risk-based changes and harmonisation of International Cabin Waste regulation; as well as identifying improvements in waste segregation and management. Mike Pooley, of the ASF, said: "The ASF is committed to collaboration to identify the options for standardising the materials we use to manufacture inflight products and services. Only by working together with the support of our sector's governing bodies and membership groups can solutions be developed that, through regulation change, reduce incineration or landfill and move us all towards recovery and circularity.” aviationsustainabilityforum.com

IATA calls for a united push towards regulatory change

IATA has joined the ASF's Advisory Group reviewing the regulatory framework and looking to bring down barriers blocking the roll out of more sustainable onboard product.

Laying out the legislative challenges airlines face on sustainablity Jon Godson, assistant director environmental and sustainability at IATA, said: "We would love to see all organisations working in this area for some time come together and speak with one voice when we go to see regulators."

Godson highlights the challenges around cabin and catering waste, pointing up the disparity in regulations country by country (and even state by state) relating to single use-plastics, and the out-dated insistence on incineration - driven by animal disease risks which no longer exist in many parts of the world. He added: "We believe by coming together we can drive regulatory change as an enabler to making airline cabins more sustainable in the future." iata.com

10 / INDUSTRY UPDATE

Top stories from across the industry

Release Rebels launches to support 'transformation' leaders

Industry veteran, Jons Hensel, and former gategroup director of innovation & media, Jamie Nuis, have joined forces in the launch of a new transformation agency focused on partnering with CEOs who want to lead change in their business and industry.

With a team which includes all the former gategroup Innovation Centre and Media House staff, the new company – Release Rebels – will continue as gategroup’s dedicated partner while also supporting other companies and other industries. As 'creative changemakers' they are inspired by the past and present to help create the future, and believe the future is defined by those who see things differently. Their goal is to look at what's now, to help shape what's next. CEO Nuis says: "Our approach is based on imagination, inspiration and realisation. We live in very exciting times. Change is everywhere. Our team has learned a lot about change and has the skills to realise change through vision, strategy, communication and content. We combine human skills with technology and data that is in service of the actual output. We are on a mission to share this with those who have the vision to transform but need passionate, proactive support to create, and especially, deliver, the roadmap for change." Chairman Hensel adds: “It is time for leaders to be brave and make bold choices. We have to lead the way forward for the next generation. To do so we must take a new and holistic approach to change, together.” release-rebels.com

Icelandair steps up pre-order meals and eco processes

Icelandair has added economy pre-purchase meals for flights between Iceland and Europe, and Iceland and North America.

The move is designed to reduce food waste as well as aircraft load. Passengers pre-purchase when making a booking, or at least 24 hours before the flight. Other sustainability measures include new eco packaging for onboard product and a new trash-sorting initiative. icelandair.com

Rewards from Etihad Wellness on the menu Pre-order eco push

Etihad Airways has launched a dedicated sustainability-focused corporate rewards programme – Corporate Conscious Choices.

Its incentives proactively support pro-ESG activities and positive employee behaviours. etihad.com

Delta is raising the standard for vegetarian and plant-based meals

onboard. New dishes feature Black Sheep Foods, Impossible Foods and locally-grown vegetables, and are part of a broader mission to promote a 'wellness-focused travel journey.' delta.com

TGV has launched a new menu with Newrest focused on eating well and

cutting waste. 92% of products on the INOUI menu are produced in France and 41% of are labelled BIO, H.V.C or sustainable agriculture. Chefs Alexia Duchêne and Nina Métayer led the design. newrest.eu