TIACA launches industry first sustainability programme
25 / 03 / 2022
Photo: petrmalinak/ Shutterstock
The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has officially launched the “BlueSky program”, the air cargo industry’s first sustainability assessment, validation and verification programme.
TIACA said the sustainability programme is a tool that air cargo industry stakeholders can use to track their sustainability progress, benchmark against peers and accelerate the industry’s transformation.
The association created the programme in response to the air cargo industry’s call for an industry-specific tool to measure and recognise their sustainability progress.
Due to be launched in phases, BlueSky is a multi-tiered platform which renews every two years.
Assessment Guidelines – the first tier, is a way for companies to begin their verification and validation through awareness and self-assessment.
Desktop Verification – the second tier, begins with an online assessment and verification of the documents provided. A performance score in each area will be provided through a company dashboard.
Onsite Validation – the third tier, includes the desktop verification and an onsite independent audit. Companies will receive a performance score in each area, an excellence badge, plus a detailed report with recommendations on how to become more sustainable will be provided through an enhanced company dashboard.
The BlueSky Program aims to benefit not just individual companies, but future partners and the wider air cargo industry by providing a common vision, transparency and a mechanism to demonstrate how businesses can grow responsibly, as well as an improved image of the air cargo industry.
Steven Polmans, TIACA chair, said: “We are excited to launch this new initiative that will allow companies to assess their sustainability initiatives and then have them verified and validated. The impact that this program will have on the industry is profound, by bringing transparency and collaboration on such a vital topic “Sustainability”, we will see the industry develop into one that is truly focused on People, Planet and Prosperity.”
Air cargo supply chain companies are ramping up their focus on sustainability, found TIACA’s latest sustainability survey.
Air cargo has a “long way to go” on sustainability as resources remain scarce