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WFS takes sustainable airfreight to the next level

[ May 23, 2022   //   Chris ]

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has launched an ‘Our Sustainable Flight Path’ plan to steer the next level of its Environmental, Social & Government (ESG) strategy and support the responsible growth of its global airport and aviation services. 

The strategy has been created with the support of PwC’s Sustainability team and aims to coordinate, build upon, and accelerate the numerous WFS sustainability projects across the company’s network at 168 major airports in 17 countries.

WFS has already invested in initiatives aimed to reduce its carbon footprint. These include building sustainability solutions into new cargo terminals or LED lighting in over 30 warehouse operations nearly 1,000 electric ramp and warehouse vehicles and biodegradable plastics to wrap airfreight pallets. 

Solar panels have been fitted at some WFS locations and trials of further electronic ground support equipment and hydrogen-powered vehicles are continuing. WFS is also participating in ‘green’ projects at some of the airports where it operates.

Chief executive Craig Smyth commented: “Despite the global disruption to the aviation industry and all of its partners over the past two or more years, and the business challenges this has brought, we have remained focussed on our sustainability ambitions because we recognise they are essential for our future success.

“With the great support of WFS teams around the world, we can show some significant achievements across ESG topics already, but this is not enough. We must continue to take collective and individual action as a company and as employees to maintain our leadership position in safety, security, ethics, and compliance whilst reducing our carbon footprint, supporting local communities, and developing our people.”

Global head of health, safety, security and environment at WFS, David Clark, stated: “Sustainability journeys can have no end date because we are learning all the time, new solutions come to the market, and the environment around us is ever-changing.

“We are not at the start of our journey because we have been implementing ESG initiatives into our operations for many years, but now we have a more integrated programme to take us forward, with the clear ambition to maintain our position as a global air cargo logistics leader and a premier provider of ground handling services at airports across the globe.

“Our new strategy reflects our responsibility to our stakeholders to steer our business towards more sustainable operations.”

Tags: WFS