The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) announced the release of the 5th edition of its annual Air Cargo Sustainability Insights Report, offering a comprehensive analysis of the industry’s ongoing sustainability transformation.
This year’s report is compiled from 274 responses from the entire industry, covering airlines, airports, freight forwarders, ground handlers, shippers, equipment manufacturers, IT providers, and other organisations. The report analyses data by industry sector as well as organisational size with a good mix of small, medium and large businesses.
Key Findings:
· Sustainability Commitment Strengthens Across Leadership:
o 96% of respondents confirm support from their CEOs, while 88% report CFO engagement in sustainability initiatives.
o 71% of companies now have a dedicated sustainability strategy, with larger firms leading at 84% compared to 60% of small businesses.
· Increased Investment in Sustainability:
o 42% of surveyed organizations have a dedicated sustainability budget, and 53% now have a sustainability team, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to ESG initiatives.
· Decarbonization and Energy Efficiency Take Center Stage:
o 72% of companies are prioritizing energy efficiency to decarbonize operations and reduce costs.
o Fleet modernization, digitalization, and innovation are key focus areas, with 84% actively investing in digital solutions and 83% in innovation-driven sustainability measures.
· Shift in Focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF):
o The report notes a decline in engagement with SAF and carbon offset initiatives, with only 32% of companies actively investing in SAF solutions and 35% utilizing carbon offsets.
· Industry-Wide Push to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics:
o 91% of respondents indicate active measures to phase out single-use plastics and foam, reinforcing a strong commitment to waste reduction.
· People-Centric Sustainability Priorities:
o 83% of companies invest in employee training, 81% focus on enhancing employee experience, and 74% implement diversity and inclusion initiatives.
TIACA continues to advocate for sustainable transformation across the air cargo ecosystem through its BlueSky sustainability assessment program. The organisation calls on all industry stakeholders to:
1. Set concrete sustainability targets.
2. Measure and track progress through data-driven insights.
3. Transparently communicate achievements.
4. Seek recognition through industry-wide assessment programs.
“With increasing regulatory and customer expectations, the air cargo sector must continue to innovate and collaborate to achieve long-term sustainability,” said Steven Polmans, Chair of TIACA. “This report showcases significant progress but also highlights the road ahead. The industry must take decisive steps to integrate sustainability into core business strategies.”
“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete this year’s survey as the results are extremely useful in demonstrating the industry’s commitment to improving the impact we have on people, the planet and global prosperity. We also encourage everyone to consider undertaking the BlueSky assessment which would provide them a personalized organizational dashboard of their sustainability progress,” stated Glyn Hughes, Director General TIACA.
