Improve Sustainability with New Air Freight Alliance

Authors

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  Giulio Berruti

  Director, Climate Change, BSR

  

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  Giulio Berruti

  Director, Climate Change, BSR

  

  Copenhagen

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  Giulio leads BSR's climate work in the EMEA region. BSR works globally on value chain decarbonization across consulting, collaborative initiatives, and grants. Giulio brings expertise in Scope 3 supplier engagement, reverse sourcing, and commodities decarbonization, as well as helping companies implement their net zero and environmental targets. He also works across sectors on implementing the TCFD recommendations and climate scenario analysis.

  Prior to joining BSR, Giulio worked for climate change consulting firm EcoAct in both France and Kenya. His work focused on climate targets, carbon neutrality, and project implementation, as well climate risk assessments. He speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

  Giulio holds an M.S. in Sustainability from HEC Paris School of Management. He also holds a double degree M.S. in Management and Industrial Engineering and a double degree B.S. in Technology and International Business from Politecnico di Torino and UIC Barcelona

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To protect people from the catastrophic effects of global warming beyond 1.5°C, business must continue to take action to limit climate change. As such, BSR is pleased to announce the launch of the Sustainable Air Freight Alliance (SAFA), a forum for buyers and suppliers alike to collaborate on air freight emissions reduction. The alliance is now open for membership, and we invite all interested parties to join an introductory webinar (U.S. time zone/Asia time zone).

While countries continue to make progress on their individual national commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement, industries have the power to mobilize large-scale emissions reductions. As an example, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced in April 2018 that the shipping sector would aim to halve its emissions by 2050 against 2008 levels.   

While countries continue to make progress on their individual national commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement, industries have the power to mobilize large-scale emissions reductions.

Currently, air transport represents around two percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. However, the air freight sector is projected to grow at five percent per year until 2050—faster than any other mode—and with potential to increase emissions significantly. In recent years, the industry has undertaken collective engagement through the Air Carbon Initiative and the development of a reporting protocol agreed via the Global Logistics Emissions Council in coordination with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The aviation industry has also achieved performance improvements and commitments thanks to the leadership of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), IATA, and individual airlines.

However, there remains no consistent forum for direct business-to-business exchange between the various stakeholders, which is key to driving collaborative solutions. There is also a general lack of transparency around the application and use of the environmental performance information requested from airlines by shippers for their reporting and decision-making needs.

To address this gap, leading airlines, shippers, and freight forwarders have united to develop the Sustainable Air Freight Alliance—a unique buyer-supplier collaboration to track and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from air freight and promote responsible freight transport.

Following an incubation with active contribution from over 15 companies, SAFA is now open for membership. Participants include DB Schenker, DHL, Finnair, GEODIS, H&M, Maersk, Nike, and United Airlines.

The leading forum for air transport sustainability, SAFA provides a platform for collaboration allowing companies to:

• Build dialogue with business partners to understand needs and strengthen long-term business relationships
• Demonstrate company and industry leadership on sustainability
• Reduce exposure to risks (such as regulations) to the air freight industry by leveraging collective knowledge and action
• Credibly measure and report their emissions performance
• Help shape international standards, in line with ICAO, IATA’s work, and sectorial initiatives
• Access a collaborative forum for sharing sustainability information, best practices for reducing GHG emissions, and innovation opportunities to help achieve company goals

To find out more about the Sustainable Air Freight Alliance, please register for an introductory webinar (U.S. time zone/Asia time zone) and reach out to our team.