Today, Alaska Airlines
outlined its commitment and roadmap to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 — as
well as goals to greatly reduce its carbon, waste and water impacts by 2025.
Alaska and its regional subsidiary, Horizon Air, have identified the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as the airlines’ most impactful area for
climate action.
“At Alaska Airlines, we know that travel can make a big difference in people’s
lives,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. “Air travel connects us to
our friends and families, helps us understand one another, and helps communities
across the globe grow and thrive. But we know that to live our purpose, creating
an airline people love, we must operate every day in a way that cares for both
people and our planet. That’s why we’ve set out on this bold path to reduce our
climate impact near and long term.”
Alaska’s roadmap to 2040 includes five focus areas to reach net-zero emissions:
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Fleet renewal — with a recent Boeing 737 MAX order, Alaska’s newest
aircraft have 22 percent better fuel-efficiency on a seat-by-seat basis than
the aircraft they replace.
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Operational efficiency — improving flight
efficiency
is an industry-wide priority. Alaska says it will continue to standardize best
practices, and expand use of first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence and
machine learning technology to optimize routes. And as part of its near-term
goals, the airline has committed to cut emissions from its ground services equipment by 2025 through the purchase and use of electric ground
equipment and other renewables.
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Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — Long-term plans for reaching net-zero
emissions include expanding the market for
SAF.
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Novel propulsion — Alaska is also exploring and advancing novel
propulsion approaches that support electrification technology for regional
flying that are either not dependent on fossil fuels, or more efficient than
current methods.
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Credible, high-quality, carbon-offsetting technology — because aviation
is one of the most difficult sectors to
decarbonize,
Alaska will also work with science and technical advisory Carbon
Direct to identify and vet credible, high-
quality, carbon-offsetting
technologies
to close any remaining gaps on its path to net zero.
“After a difficult year, this is an exciting time for our company — as we return
to growth while embedding sustainability even deeper in our culture, set bold
goals, and collaborate with innovative partners to keep our company, our
communities, and our environment strong and healthy for the long term,” said
Diana Birkett Rakow, Alaska Airlines’ VP of public affairs and
sustainability. “The pandemic sharpened the
clarity of our purpose and led us to a stronger path forward. But we also know
we can’t do this alone and that we must work together with government,
manufacturers, innovators and other industry partners to decarbonize aviation.”
Joining the Amazon Climate Pledge
Along with its 2040 net-zero strategy, Alaska Airlines has also signed
onto Amazon’s Climate
Pledge
— a multisector commitment to reaching net zero 10 years ahead of the Paris
Agreement.
The airline has also set five-year goals to reduce waste through more
sustainable packaging, restarting its industry-leading inflight recycling
post-COVID, and reminding employees and passengers to
#FillBeforeYouFly;
while offsetting 100 percent of its operational water use through investments
in high-quality habitat
projects
by 2025.
Engaging 22K employees to help reduce climate impacts, increase DEI
This year, Alaska has included a carbon-emissions target in the incentive pay
program for all 22,000 employees. And the airline joins companies including
Chipotle and
Nike
in linking long-term executive compensation to KPIs around diversity, equity and
inclusion.
“We know that setting ambitious goals, measuring our progress — and then holding
ourselves accountable — is the key to real progress,” Birkett Rakow said.
Learn more about Alaska's new climate commitments here.
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Apr 21, 2021 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST