Strong governance with a sustainability component ensures environmental objectives are adopted into overall operations, This is key to creating a sustainability culture. 

• Formation of an internal team to coordinate sustainability efforts across various departments

• Identification of a dedicated sustainability team lead

• Sustainability integrated into the job performance considerations of key personnel, including the head of the department

• Sustainability team actively engaged with corporate or key principles on alignment of sustainability initiatives.

• Holding annual meetings with the corporate sustainability team and CFO for strategy review and necessary adjustments.

The goal of this requirement is to ensure sustainability goals are rooted in your business aviation entity’s established values. 

• Organization commits to achieving 100% carbon-neutral Scope 1 emissions from base year

• Corporate policy targets 50% Scope 1 emissions reduction in current comparison year and net-zero Scope 1 emissions by 2050.

• Utilizing SAF and carbon offset purchases are used to meet sustainability goals.

While the industry aspires to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, it’s important to note that organizations may pursue sustainability goals on their individual timelines, and there is no mandatory requirement for them to offset 100% of emissions or attain net-zero status by 2050. However, many applicants have exceeded the minimum requirement or already achieved 100% reduction.

The goal of this requirement is to foster your business aviation entity’s sustainability culture through education and incentives.

• Implementation of a comprehensive sustainability course as part of mandatory training, monitored through specialized software

• Creation of an incentive program, led by a dedicated champion, that fosters sustainability and uses an internal feedback system

• Collaborative efforts with internal teams to include annual training on emission reduction for flight dispatch and addressing fuel tankering protocols

• Promotion of sustainability through company-wide initiatives, challenges and incentives, while departments focus on localized efforts

• Creation of  a values-based approach, where each department initiates programs for waste reduction and efficiency, with employee recognition

• Strategic engagement with the public through regular committee meetings for sustainability and recognizes partners actively supporting sustainability initiatives

The goal of this requirement is to engage with your community and better understand and foster local sustainability initiatives.

• Actively engage the local community to create a diverse talent team.

• Demonstrate leadership through independent events, benchmarking with local flight departments, and fostering friendly competition.

• Encourage employee participation in community sustainability programs. Support local students with mentorship, STEM programs and global initiatives, promoting careers in business aviation and our role in environmental efforts.

The goal of this requirement is to encourage accreditation applicants to evaluate and implement the business aviation entities participation in external environmental programs such as LEEDS, EU ETS, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and CORSIA.

• Comply with ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification.

• Align company sustainability efforts with the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goal #13, addressing climate change.

• Actively participate in groups dedicated to decarbonization and sustainability within the business aviation and broader aerospace industries.

• Adopt a holistic approach to environmental program participation, encompassing global initiatives (Sustainable Development Goals), financial considerations (SASB), and collaboration with various aviation industry groups.

The goal of this requirement is to encourage accreditation applicants to include environmental sustainability as part of their process in working and seeking vendors and other partnerships.

• Implement a program that actively engages suppliers in fulfilling environmental, social, and ethical obligations.

• Request that suppliers annually measure and report emissions

• The commitment to product delivery using 100% renewable energy 

• Establish a Global Supply Chain Management team that leads multi-year vendor assessments, tailoring future engagements and resolving challenges.

The goal of this requirement is to encourage the use of new technologies in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts and stimulate the market for new sustainable products.

• The installation of energy-efficient LED hangar lighting

• Continuously seeking and implementing the latest aircraft technology 

The goal of this requirement is to reduce the total metric tonnes of emissions via direct reductions, SAF and renewable energy use, and offsets and RECs purchased.

• Internal collaboration between corporate and flight departments for precise and audited carbon calculations

• Utilization of fuel-burned data vs fuel upload for more accurate aircraft carbon emissions calculations

• Inclusion of SAF invoices in carbon calculations for a holistic sustainability approach

• Strategic goal to achieve 95% sustainable commissary supplies by 2025

• Proactive onboard recycling implementation

• Effective waste management through targeted catering vendor relationships

• Development of a robust rating system based on third-party certifications

• Ongoing efforts to enhance recycling systems and focus on sustainable practices

The goal of this requirement is to better understand your business aviation entity’s emissions footprint by investigating Scope 1 emissions.

• Commit to carbon neutrality evidenced by offsetting 100% of emissions. A minimum of 10% CO₂ emissions reduction or offsetting required for first-time accreditation. 

• Align efforts with recognized protocols like Carbon Disclosure Project and Global Reporting Initiative.

• Adhere to established and widely accepted reporting standards.

The goal of this requirement is to better understand your business aviation entity’s methods to track and reduce emissions.

• Balance airtime with fuel burn through tailored standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Utilize discretionary descent for optimal flight planning.

• Implement SOPs to improve accuracy of passenger arrivals. 

• Establish policies that reduce or eliminate tankering.

The goal of this requirement is to reduce the total metric tonnes of emissions via SAF usage.

• Demonstrate a commitment to purchasing SAF, actively advocating industry-wide adoption, and encouraging FBOs to increase SAF deployment, underlined by public advocacy and strategic investments in SAF usage.

• Implement a systematic plan for increasing SAF/Book and Claim (SAF-C) uploads, with specific milestones outlined and initiated, setting targets for future years.

• Seamlessly integrate SAF throughout the department, including on-site dispensing.

• Develop a  strategic approach to SAF use such as; uploading a 50% SAF blend at the home field, transitioning to 100% SAF for fuel tanks, with plans for complete future adoption and a commitment to monitoring ASTM SAF standards.

The goal of this requirement is to better understand your business aviation entity’s considerations for purchasing SAF and whether there is a plan in place to acquire it.

• Emphasize the importance of SAF infrastructure development and adoption through SAF-C.

• Investigate procuring SAF-C for the home field.

• Recognize and commend a strategic messaging approach to drive demand and SAF awareness.

• Educate staff on SAF Book and Claim and establish a program to implement use.

The goal of this requirement is to analyze the impact on sustainability of any potential improvements to cabin service, while ensuring that practices to reduce waste do not lead to increased emissions. 

• Documented strategy for eco-friendly in-flight cabin service, minimizing single-use plastics

• Installation of separate containers for recycling

• Team meetings for continuous improvements, implementing measures like glass use and electronic documents

• In-flight recycling system tracking waste diversion, emphasizing recyclable or reusable products

The goal of this requirement is to understand your business aviation entity’s data pertaining to commuting.

• Implementation of effective solutions to tackle employee commuting and ground transportation emissions

• Introduction of a shuttle service between office locations to promote shared transportation and reduce individual commuting emissions

• Financial support for rideshare services to encourage more sustainable transportation options

• Provision of no-cost electric vehicle (EV) charging to support and incentivize the use of electric vehicles among employees

The goal of this requirement is to understand your business aviation entity’s environmental impact of all employee travel, specifically ground transportation.

• Implementation of a comprehensive travel emissions tracking system covering both air and ground transportation

• Inclusion of ground transportation emissions in the total travel emissions accounting

• Encouragement of employees to share rental cars and use public transport to actively reduce emissions

• Recognition of these efforts as a potential best practice in tracking and reducing employee ground transportation emissions

The goal of this requirement is to address physical waste as part of a business aviation entity’s sustainability initiatives.

• Employee engagement in waste reduction, including taking work waste home for composting

• Recognition of challenges and ongoing evaluation for further progress, such as on-site composting and recycling for ink cartridges

• Implementation of strategic waste reduction goals, targeting a 25% reduction by 2025.

• Utilization of the asset recycle material (ARM) program to manage both aircraft and non-aircraft material.

• Strategic partnerships and supplier management for reusable containers 

The goal of this requirement is to understand your business aviation entity’s ground support equipment acquisition strategy.

• Successful attainment of electric ground support equipment goals, reaching 85% electric equipment with a fleet reduction of two vehicles

• Timely accomplishment of goals in less than three years, demonstrating effective implementation of sustainability strategies

• Collaboration with external entities to purchase electric ground support equipment and replace diesel-fueled vehicles

The goal of this requirement is to ensure that water management is addressed as part of a business aviation entity’s sustainability initiatives.

• Implementation of comprehensive analysis and best management practices to consistently reduce water usage.

• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing efforts in addressing water reduction, with a focus on facility renovation.

The goal of this requirement is to better understand what your business aviation entity is claiming as a reduction in net emissions from carbon offsetting purchases.

• Procurement of renewable energy meeting 100% of the year’s energy requirements.

• Unique approach of not relying on market-purchased carbon offsets, but supporting emissions reduction projects directly with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The goal of this requirement is to consider the importance of infrastructure resiliency as a critical part of protecting communities and resources amidst changing climate conditions.

• Development of a strategy to assess and enhance infrastructure resiliency against climate events

• Aviation department’s requirement for a resiliency assessment within a multi-year sustainability plan (i.e., three-year)

• Proactive risk assessment as outlined in the ESG report

• Implementation of plans for operational resiliency during natural disasters or weather events