Tag: sustainable

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RAF completes world-first sustainable fuel military transporter flight

Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said, “The Royal Air Force has flown the UK’s first military air transport flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel on one of their operational Voyager aircraft…reports Asian Lite News

An RAF Voyager – the military variant of an Airbus A330 – took to the skies over Oxfordshire powered entirely by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), paving the way for a range of possibilities for the future of flying military and civilian aircraft.

The flight, which took place on Wednesday, was a joint endeavour between the RAF, DE&S and industry partners Airbus, AirTanker and Rolls-Royce, with the fuel supplied by Air bp.

Sustainable aviation fuel – which is made from waste-based sustainable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil – reduces lifecycle carbon emissions on average by up to 80% compared to the conventional jet fuel it replaces, lessens the RAF’s reliance on global supply chains, and improves operational resilience.

Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said, “The Royal Air Force has flown the UK’s first military air transport flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel on one of their operational Voyager aircraft. They should be rightly proud of this achievement; it is a breakthrough moment for the RAF and an exciting development for the MOD. Through the RAF’s pioneering spirit, expertise and partnership with UK industry, British science and engineering is leading the way in improving operational resilience and developing future operating capability in a climate-changed world. Different approaches will suit different platforms and environments. As such, a range of alternative fuel options are being looked at to ensure the UK is at the forefront of this developing technology.”

Wednesday’s 90-minute flight from RAF Brize Norton, flown by a combined RAF, Rolls-Royce and Airbus flight test crew, replicated an air-to-air refuelling sortie and was witnessed by senior RAF and industry representatives. It demonstrated the RAF’s potential for its future operational capability, ensuring the ability to contribute to UK defence wherever and whenever required.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston said, “Climate change is a transnational challenge that threatens our resilience, our security and our collective prosperity. That is why I have set the RAF the ambitious challenge of becoming the world’s first net-zero Air Force by 2040. The way we power our aircraft will be key to meeting that challenge and the RAF is already thinking about how we will operate beyond fossil fuels. This exciting trial flight of a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an important milestone on that journey, and marks another technological first for the RAF alongside our industry partners. Engineers from Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft and Defence and Space divisions have been working with the RAF, Rolls-Royce and Airtanker testing the aircraft’s performance and handling on the ground and in the air in preparation for the final flight with both engines powered by 100% SAF.”

Aviation Minister at the Department for Transport, Baroness Vere said, “Our Jet Zero Strategy made clear that sustainable aviation fuels are key to greener flight for both military and civilian aviation. This is a win for the planet and a testament to British ingenuity. We have launched the £165 million Advanced Fuels Fund to kickstart a homegrown SAF industry, as well as challenging the sector to deliver the first net zero transatlantic flight next year. This breakthrough test flight is just one of the ways the RAF is actively working to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions produced by flying its aircraft. Other innovations have included a world-first, record breaking microlight flight using synthetic fuel, flying an electric aircraft at RAF Cranwell and creating fuel from genetically modified bacteria.”

In addition to supporting the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the Armed Forces, the Royal Air Force Commander in Chief HM King Charles III has also supported an increase in its adoption in the private sector though the Sustainable Markets Initiative. The SMI is a network of global CEOs from across all industries, working together to accelerate a sustainable future in line with its mandate. Part of the SMI’s work is raising awareness of SAF amongst the business community and encourage greater SAF uptake in corporate travel in addition to increased purchase agreements to encourage demand from the public and private sectors.

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RTA endorses 5-Year Sustainability Plan

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed a five-year sustainability plan for 2021-2025 as part of its strategic goals and objectives aimed at supporting sustainability…reports Asian Lite News

Such projects are based on the environmental, societal and economic drivers of sustainability. The step is taken as part of RTA’s efforts to improve maturity levels of sustainability and become one of the most sustainable government entities in the field of roads and transport worldwide.

“RTA’s integrated sustainability plan is an important step towards assuming a leading global role in smooth and sustainable mobility. The plan is aligned with several UAE strategies, such as the UAE Green Development Strategy 2030, and the UAE Centennial 2071. It is also compatible with Dubai’s local policies, highlighted by Dubai Plan 2030 and Dubai Urban Plan 2040, as well as global policies such as the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority.

“The sustainability plan considers the assessment of all RTA’s projects and initiatives. It measures the environmental, societal and economic impact of RTA’s sustainability projects, and the extent to which such projects are linked with the important topics disclosed in RTA’s annual sustainability report. The plan encompasses 20 projects: 9 for the environmental leadership, 6 for community leadership, and 5 for economic prosperity in the context of RTA’s sustainability framework,” noted Al Tayer.

“The plan is set to have a significant environmental impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, enhancing the resilience of public transport infrastructure and its impact on climate change, and achieving RTA’s strategic objective of enhancing safety and environmental sustainability,” he added.

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The plan includes several innovative public transportation projects and supports the Dubai Smart Mobility Strategy that aims to convert 25 percent of total transportation trips in Dubai into self-driving trips on various transportation means by 2030. It also supports the integration of mass transit in Dubai.

In line with RTA’s strategic objective of asset sustainability, the economic dimension of the plan provides for the optimal utilisation of all of RTA’s assets, while maintaining the quality of service offered to residents of the emirate. The economic projects aim to achieve a circular economy and support RTA’s plan for recycling 100 percent of the waste of RTA’s operations and projects by 2030.

RTA has made significant achievements, as far as sustainability is concerned. In 2018, RTA became the first public transport entity worldwide to publish a sustainability report compatible with the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000. In 2020, RTA signed the United Nations Global Framework for Sustainable Development after aligning its sustainability report with the United Nations goals of tackling global challenges, such as poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, peace, justice, human rights and anti-corruption. Such achievements underscore RTA’s commitment to the ten principles of the Charter related to these areas.

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Business Events News

Epson publishes its 2021 ‘Green Choice’ European sustainability report

Yoshiro Nagafusa

Report evidence Epson’s actions and progress towards sustainable transformation through technology innovation…reports Asian Lite News

Epson showcases significant progress towards fully sustainable operations, with the publication of its 2021 European Sustainability Report, Making the Green Choice. Beyond Epson’s investment in its own transformation, the report details innovations — such as heat-free technologies — that will help every customer achieve a sustainable future.

Sustainability — ambition and investment

Yoshiro Nagafusa, President and CEO, Epson EMEAR, added, “As the world realigns after COP26, Epson continues its ambitious sustainability commitments, investment and objectives. Our lower carbon, less wasteful, heat-free technologies will empower our customers as we all work to deliver on the promise of a sustainable society.”

Epson is targeting ¥100 billion (around €770 million) at its sustainability transformation over the next decade. This will see investment to decarbonise and close resource loops (maximising resource use) internally. Externally, Epson’s innovation will reduce the environmental impact of customers and develop new products that are inherently sustainable.

Sustainability — commitment

In 2021, Epson has committed to ensuring it will, by or before:

• 2023 — reduce emissions to align with the 1.5-degree warming target

• 2023 ¬— achieve 100% renewable energy use across all Group operations

• 2025 — target reductions indirect (19%) and indirect (44%) emissions

• 2030 — meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals — adding goals 1, 2, and 16 to its commitments in 2021, ensuring that all 17 UN SDGs are now in scope

• 2050 — become carbon negative and underground resource (e.g. oil, metals) free

Sustainability — innovation

Today’s Sustainability Report details Epson’s customer-focused and sustainability-led innovation. The company’s heat free printers, for example, can cut power consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 83%. Europe-wide adoption of these technologies would cut 1 billion kWh of energy use a year and 410,000 tonnes of CO2. Epson’s heat free technologies have inspired a partnership with National Geographic and its work to reverse the thaw of permafrost and an accompanying increase in methane emissions.

Epson’s EcoTank printers similarly bring benefits across the value chain, eliminating the need for ink cartridges. To date, EcoTank printers have removed 1.6 million tonnes of plastic-based consumable waste from the environment. Further gains can be seen in Epson’s development of new textile printing technologies, which can slash water use by up to 90% and energy by 30%.

Epson also helps customers to close the resource loop with PaperLab. It is a world-first dry fibre process that allows in-office paper recycling — to significantly reduce water consumption and the need for transport to offsite recycling centres.

Sustainability — oversight

Epson’s Sustainability Report also details the company’s commitment to independent, robust and internationally respected oversight.

In 2021 Epson has achieved its second consecutive Platinum Status rating with EcoVadis, one of the world’s most trusted business sustainability rating platforms. Platinum status places Epson in the top 1% of sustainability performers in the computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing industry.

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Epson’s platinum rating recognises the company’s global corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. In the four themes, EcoVadis assessed, Epson received the highest “Outstanding” rating for the environment, as well as high scores for sustainable procurement, labour and human rights, and ethics.

Epson has also been awarded Platinum Status with the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) – the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains. Platinum Status is only awarded to those companies that meet the highest standards of Corporate Social Responsibility. Epson has undergone a robust assessment and shown that it is a company dedicated to meaningful sustainability and the wellbeing of its employees.

The past year has also seen Epson:

• Move into the not-for-profit, global disclosure CDP platform’s A-List — and selected for the second year running as global supply chain leader.

• Join the RE100 initiative through its commitment to 100% renewable electricity

• Operate to ISO 9001 and 14001 standards

• Included in FTSE4Good Index Series for the 18th consecutive year

Henning Ohlsson, Director Sustainability, Epson Europe, said, “Epson’s Sustainability Report is much more than an overview of this year’s strategy and progress. It is a covenant that further commits our company to its role as an indispensable partner — innovating technologies that are sustainable as they are used in the real world, not simply when we produce them. It is only by looking at the bigger picture and working together — with scientists, partners and customers — that we can all move to a truly sustainable future.”