Menzies makes carbon-neutral commitment

Global aviation logistics specialist Menzies Aviation has committed to make 100% of its operations carbon neutral by the company’s 200-year anniversary in 2033. Menzies believes it is the first aviation services company to make this ground-breaking commitment to carbon neutrality.

Menzies Aviation will formalise the commitment by becoming a signatory to the UN Global Compact in 2021, which supports the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In order to reach carbon neutrality Menzies will focus on investing in electric ground support equipment (GSE), reducing emissions through identifying operational efficiencies and balancing remaining emissions with carbon offsetting initiatives.

The transition to electric and lower-emission GSE is particularly critical to reducing carbon footprint and supporting customers’ sustainability ambitions, and in 2020 Menzies made significant progress in upgrading equipment as part of new contracts.

At Gothenburg and Stockholm airports a new contract with Qatar Airways enabled Menzies to invest in three new electric baggage tractors and two new electric aircraft loaders, as well as an electric towbarless tractor in Stockholm.

In South Africa, a new contract with Mango Airlines saw the Group purchase 15 new electric belt loaders and 12 new electric baggage tractors across three airports in South Africa – Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. In North America, Menzies replaced and retired older, less efficient GSE across four locations and will continue to do so across the region.

Alongside investment in new equipment, Menzies will support teams with implementing processes to make zero fuel spills a daily target throughout the business as well as local initiatives to reduce energy use and lessen environmental impacts. Efforts to enhance the sustainability of operations will complement Menzies’ broader ESG programme which promotes responsible business, from legal and ethical compliance, to employee engagement and development and supporting the local communities in which Menzies operates.

Philipp Joeinig, CEO & Chairman of Menzies Aviation said: “Menzies is a business that has constantly adapted and what better way to mark our 200-year anniversary in 2033 than to celebrate our next era of environmental sustainability by achieving carbon neutrality.

“As flight volumes recover we see an opportunity to rebuild the aviation industry to be more sustainable, and we will be taking advantage of this to promote greener operations across our entire business. With our Sustainability Strategy and Programme now in place, we have clearly defined targets and supporting action plans to help realise them, however it is critical that we build relationships across the aviation ecosystem, from trade bodies to suppliers, to ensure that we can collectively remove barriers to green innovation and adoption.”