British Airways’ procurement chief has insisted that sustainability is still an over-riding concern for the company, despite the devastating impact of the global economic slowdown on the aviation industry.
In an exclusive interview with Sustainable Sourcing, BA’s head of procurement, Tim Richardson, said that sustainable procurement was, and is, a primary motivation in an industry that, probably more than any other, has come under fire for its contribution to global warming.
Last week, BA chief executive, Willie Walsh, pledged that the aviation industry would cut emissions to 50% below 2005 levels by 2050. Speaking on behalf of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Walsh also said that the industry would work to reduce emissions of CO2 by 1.5% per year over the next decade and would submit plans for joining a global carbon-trading scheme to the UN by November of next year.
And while Richardson admitted that it would be erroneous to say that BA’s carbon footprint was on its way down, rather than up, he did claim that the company’s procurement operation was closely aligned with the rest of the business to meet the aims outlined by Walsh.
“It would be wrong to say that the aviation industry’s carbon footprint is falling, or is likely to fall dramatically in the near future,” he said. “That said, we’re looking in detail as to how we can reduce emissions and examining areas such as the weight of the materials that make up the aircraft, which can have a significant impact.”
From the trolleys used to transport meals in the aircraft, to the cups used to serve drinks, BA and its fellow airlines are taking a novel approach to solving a potentially weighty problem.
There’s also little doubt that the procurement of a new generation of aircraft is likely to provide a significant boost for aviation’s green ambitions, despite accusations that the industry’s most recent announcement amounts to nothing more than another healthy dose of green washing.
“The most ideal thing from an environmental perspective would be a large reduction in the number of flights taken across the world,” said Richardson. “But that’s not going to happen, so the industry has to do all it can with the resources we have.
“The new aircraft, such as the Airbus 380 and the Dreamliner are significantly more environmentally friendly than the ones they’re replacing.”
British Airways placed an order for 36 new aircraft in September 2007 – the company’s biggest order since 1998 – as part of an overhaul of its fleet. The new planes would be “greener, quieter and more fuel efficient”, BA said.
Richardson, himself, has a seat alongside Walsh on the company’s Corporate Responsibility board, which demonstrates how central BA’s procurement and supply chain organisation is to delivering the kind of commitments outlined by IATA.
“It’s shows how seriously sustainability is taken at BA – and that’s not going to change, now matter how tough industry conditions get,” he said.
