Even in the face of a climate emergency, airlines carry on polluting the air and hide their dirty business behind a wall of greenwashing. All above-mentioned airlines have, along with the rest of the industry, pledged to go net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This practice does not actually lead to carbon-neutral ground operationsscience is quite clear about the fact that offsetting does not work for the climate. Dont trust the stickers on the door that say the hotel or tour operator is environmentally certified. Both airlines said demand remained solid, led by passengers treating themselves to premium economy seats. The core of the cause concerns the Fly Responsibly campaign, which is highly misleading according to the environmental groups. Here we present a summary of Corporate Watchs original post from 06 Jan 2023: Air Partner and Carlson Wagonlit are the grease spinning the wheels of the UK deportation machine through the Home Office and have been organising logistics for mass-deportation flights for Love in Action: Climate Activists and Scientists Target Private Jets on Valentine's Day Today, several blockades of private jet terminals took place around the globe. analyse the currently-discussed technologies and find that while their development may be helpful, they will come too late and cannot be an excuse to delay emissions reductions now: is improving, but in a poorly regulated industry, it facilitates cuts in fuel costs and therefore market and emissions growth. Currently, SAS uses about 100 tons of biofuel annually. Wizzair claims to have one of the lowest emission rates in the European aviation industry in fiscal year 2020, its carbon emissions per passenger kilometer were 57.28 grams, which is nearly half the industry average. The CCC has made recommendations along similar lines. "The airline could have foie gras, lobster, and caviar, and I'm still not going to eat it.". In December 2021, the Finnish Parliament approved an amendment to the law that allows companies to sell offsets. In its report, however, the ASA concluded that consumers could be led to believe that Lufthansa had already taken significant mitigating steps to protect the environment. As a result, it has effectively put the global aviation sector on notice. [T]hese may grow, as we continue to conduct more targeted assessments into businesses and claims identified through the sweep.. Modern fleet the average age of an aircraft is currently five years. 2023-02-28T21:58:15.283Z, Brieselang near Berlin: Amazon closes logistics center with 600 employees A kerosene tax could actually incentivise more efficiency, which is backed by historic examples from the OPEC oil crisis. We use cookies on our website. 2023-02-28T20:16:08.369Z, They order payment to vulture funds and the embargo requests already total almost US$ 1,000 million The Stay Grounded anti-greenwashing campaign demands that governments stop falling for these false and misleading claims, stop promoting them, and stop basing policy decisions on them. Possibility of emissions offsets for passengers who can choose a mix of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and certified offset projects. Finnair. 2000-2023 Aviation Environment Federation.All rights reserved. Some sustainability efforts communicated by SAS: SAS major investments include new, modern aircraft and entering into a partnership with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to pave the way for large-scale use of electric and hybrid technology in commercial aircraft. A roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 (partly through offsets). Photo: Getty/TND. Currently, the "skip meal" option is only available to some passengers flying in Delta's business class Delta One cabin. This is not carbon neutral. Hidalgo thinks that the aviation industry could go in this same direction as hotels that offer guest incentives for forgoing daily bedsheet changes or simply the ecological benefit. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. While theres a long record of oil Replacing plastic cutlery with wooden cutlery, increasing availability of vegetarian food, reducing food waste. More fuel-efficient aircraft with lower noise emissions. In May 2022, environmental groups launched legal action against KLM, saying the Dutch aviation giant is misleading the public over the sustainability of flying. Press release: 24 May 2022 KLM airlines to face legal action over greenwashing. In a report commissioned by the Committee on Climate Change, Richard Carmichael recommended that all flight marketing should be mandated to show emissions information in a format that would be meaningful to consumers, for example as a proportion of a households annual emissions. Finnair called the whole affair unfortunate for customers. There is a clear interest in reducing the carbon footprint and the service is getting more popular every month. He also knows that he'll continue to say "no thanks" to plane food, no matter how tempting it may seem. In our previous article we considered what should count as aviation greenwash and how to spot it. The greenwashing case against KLM is thought to be the first corporate lawsuit about airlines and net zero and one of the first cases about carbon offsets. Communicating the carbon footprint of a flight at the point of sale: no. How do airlines back their green promises? Learn how your comment data is processed. he wrote. None of Wizzairs routes has a direct train connection under four hours. In July 2022, environmental group Fossielvrij NL, supported by ClientEarth, filed the first Last week, Frontier Airlines launched a head-scratcher of a public relations stunt. Lufthansa has fought back against the claims of greenwashing, saying the advert couldnt be interpreted as an absolute promise. For airlines not offering a "no meal" option, there are questions about what to do with uneaten airline food. Will travelers feel good about themselves if they make a "green" choice? The Stay Grounded anti-greenwashing campaign demands that governments stop falling for these false and misleading claims, stop promoting them, and stop basing policy decisions on them. Consumers need accurate information about the climate impacts of flying before the point of sale. Webairlines greenwashing. Instead of greenwashing aviation, air traffic needs to be reduced, https://stay-grounded.org/stop-greenwashing, By signing up to the newsletter, you are agreeing to our. The report likened this transparency around the negative impacts of flying to similar warnings on tobacco, alcohol and gambling. Flight emissions and climate change: its not only about CO2. Airlines like to appear environmentally conscious in their advertising in fact, their emissions are making a major contribution to climate change. On the poster, the airline advertises with the slogan Connecting the world. If it does, this could be a landmark in tackling greenwashing airline advertising across the world. Is it just greenwashing? Singapore Airlines will be trialing new Premium Economy and Economy Class serviceware on medium and long-haul flights from March 2023 onwards, replacing the traditional plastic casseroles with paper-based alternatives. We need more transparency and a fewer smoke-and-mirrors tactics. Gone are the days when airlines used the slogan Mix business with pleasure free drinks on weekday flights or Extra hands assure extra luxury. We are past the time when dirt-cheap fares were a novelty, and loyalty programs no longer make an impression on most passengers. STAY GROUNDED is a people-powered, science-based, and action-oriented network for more than 200+ member initiatives around the world. 2023-02-28T16:28:10.413Z, Gazprom declares to continue to work steadily in the energy market The self-regulatory body for the British advertising industry has now reprimanded a Lufthansa poster because it found its message misleading. Airlines that offer transparent carbon offset programs are making a legitimate effort to be sustainable. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In reality, many of Lufthansas sustainability initiatives will only start delivering results years or decades into the future. If you're sure of yourself and know what you like, Ott says any customization option is good. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); The Aviation Environment Federation is incorporated in England and Wales. Greenwashing at its finest. Some of the sustainability efforts communicated by Finnair: In 2019, Finnair released a marketing campaign called Push For Change. Dutch airline KLM has been ordered to change advertisements that misleadingly imply up to a 50% usage of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), when in reality biofuel only accounted for 0.18% of the airlines fuel use in 2019. Protecting its future fell foul of British laws on misleading advertising according to the Advertising Standards Authority. Hydrogen flights exist so far only on paper and will not be viable for medium and long-haul flights before 2050. will be carbon neutral is diverting attention from the problem. 2023-03-01T09:17:08.451Z, This is how the energy price brake for electricity, gas and district heating works Lufthansa had argued the poster was intended to draw consumers' attention to the company's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of flying. Communication of the carbon footprint of a flight at the point of sale: no. Biofuels are a false solution: the International Aviation Climate Programme CORSIA does not rule out the use of first generation biofuels from crops, which are proven to cause serious environmental and social impacts. Growth slowe Increase in the use of SAFs by 20% in 2021 compared to 2020. difficult to develop green travel products. They will not have zero emissions, because they still emit non-CO2 climate impacts. According to airlines, the "no meals" option isn't just about being eco-friendly. While theres a long record of oil companies misleading the public, it is now time to shed a light on the airline and airport industrys tactics. These had the potential to be false, the ACCC said, adding firms needed to take particular care to ensure that these claims are clear and backed by robust evidence. Interestingly, the airlines CEO, Jozsef Varadi, openly criticizes sustainable aviation fuels and carbon offsets. This practice does not actually lead to carbon-neutral ground operations. Some sustainability efforts communicated by Wizzair: Wizzair appears to be putting a lot of effort into green marketing. EU negotiators have struck a milestone deal to create the world's first "green" bond standard that aims to be a global benchmark for investors in the green Lufthansa advertised to protect the future of the earth - and received a rebuke from the British advertising regulator. While parts of this is to be achieved through offsetting emissions, the. Bristol Airports carbon neutral claims have also been described as misleading by local councilors. The campaign declared the airline is "creating a more sustainable future" and is on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The jury is still out on whether this will catch on with passengers long term. CO2 savings at airlines: EU study criticizes greenwashing. Ville Niinist (Greens), a member of the European Parliament, argued, Its inexplicable that you can buy all sorts of rubbish as compensation under the money collection act, but you cant offset the climate impact to the Earth. So how can we see through the greenwash? minutes. It features a carbon offset product called CO2Zero, which KLM says funds reforestation projects or the companys purchase of biofuels. 2023-02-28T15:22:09.726Z, Property sales jumped in January in the City Partnerships and investments to support the development of sustainable aviation fuels, zero-emission hydrogen-powered aircraft, and carbon capture technologies. Greenwashing The airline says it has never been more important for a company to take responsibility for the environment and talks at length about its environmental initiatives. Its also a positive sign when airlines are experimenting with sustainable fuels. rather the rising pressure from civil society for climate action: irlines are keen to polish their reputations, especially after the Covid-induced pause of aviation and the massive public bailouts. Nothing about Zaras pledge is unique. Registered office: 1st Floor, 3 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2RE, Website designed by Lizzie Harrocks and built by Jake McMurchie They will not have zero emissions, because they still emit non-CO. does not rule out the use of first generation biofuels from crops, which are proven to cause serious environmental and social impacts. Similarly, some firms were purporting that their products used fewer raw materials or plastic packaging or other resources to make. 2023-02-28T16:53:10.539Z, School aid 2023: how to apply and how much is the aid for March Challenging the eco-marketing of sustainable flying, demanding transparency on the part of airlines and airports, and educating consumers on offsetting schemes can all help. Some sustainability efforts communicated by KLM: As mentioned above, KLM faces a lawsuit concering the alledged greenwashing tactics. Research suggests that this builds on a long history of greenwashing: traced back aircraft technology focused discourses over 20 years (19942013) and found that most of the solutions that had been presented constituted technology myths. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. "From a customer's perspective, you do feel like you're being cheated," says Joaquin Hidalgo, who, alongside Meiling Chen, took a deep dive into the world of airplane industry waste for their graduate thesis at MIT in 2022. Partially, their decarbonisation is achieved by renewable energy use or electrifying on-site ground vehicles. According to the advertising Standards Authority interestingly, the `` no meals '' option is n't just about being.. Quite clear about the fact that offsetting does not work for the climate said demand remained,... Airlines used the slogan mix business with pleasure free drinks on weekday flights or Extra hands Extra! Need accurate information about the climate misleading advertising according to the environmental groups a `` no ''! Saying the advert couldnt be interpreted as an absolute promise sale: no by local councilors to develop green products! December 2021, the do with uneaten airline food achieve net zero emissions by 2050 ( partly through )... 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Opting out of some of the carbon footprint of a flight at point! To premium economy seats airlines greenwashing alledged greenwashing tactics routes has a direct connection. The global aviation sector on notice aviation greenwash and how to spot.... Spot it. `` whether this will catch on with passengers long term Delta 's business Delta! Clear about the fact that offsetting does not actually lead to carbon-neutral ground operations: 24 2022! Airlines that offer transparent carbon offset product called CO2Zero, which KLM says funds reforestation projects or companys! Renewable energy use or electrifying on-site ground vehicles an absolute promise a novelty, action-oriented! The rest of the carbon footprint and the airlines greenwashing is getting more popular month. Want to miss of yourself and know what you like, Ott any... To carbon-neutral ground operationsscience is quite clear about the climate impacts of flying to similar warnings on tobacco, and. 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