Menzies Aviation makes progress on sustainability

Menzies Aviation, the global aviation logistics specialist, has announced a six-month update on its All In sustainability strategy.

Launched in April, All In is Menzies’ plan for a fair and sustainable future. The industry leading strategy has high-level goals across four key areas: health & safety, legal & ethical, people, and the environment. It also includes a commitment to becoming carbon neutral for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2033, Menzies 200th anniversary.

All In encapsulates Menzies commitment to making a positive difference in a changing world for its people, communities and the planet. The plan underpins Menzies’ own sustainable growth and resilience, while also supporting the wider aviation industry.

Over the past six months, Menzies has become a signatory of the UN Global Compact and is participating in two UN Accelerator programmes, Target Gender Equality and UN Climate Ambition Accelerator Programme. Menzies has also committed to setting Science Based Targets and establishing transparent plans for achieving these, in line with the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign, limiting global temperature rise to 1.5c. Alongside this, Menzies has reviewed carbon offsetting and socially responsible projects to invest in with ClimateCare, committing to purchase 43,000 tonnes of offsets in 2021.

Within its own operations, Menzies has been investing heavily in transitioning to electric and lower emission ground service equipment (GSE) where airport infrastructure allows, to reduce its carbon footprint and support customers’ sustainability ambitions. For example, Menzies is providing fully electric turns at three European airports, and recently expanded its electric GSE fleet at Manchester Airport. Outside of Europe, Menzies is converting to electric GSE across its US operations and introducing electric forklifts into cargo operations globally. Menzies is also working alongside airline partners on a variety of sustainable aviation fuel programmes, most recently supporting British Airways by fuelling its transatlantic flight BA001 with sustainable aviation fuel.

Across the business, Menzies has implemented a Go Paperless initiative, which analyses paper use via monitoring software, and is digitalising processes and ways of sharing information with teams. A key example is the adoption of a document management solution for cargo at Heathrow Airport, which is already saving a significant volume of paper and will subsequently be rolled out to further locations. Menzies is also collaborating with customers to identify where paper is produced as part of shared procedures, to either change or digitise these processes together.

As well as putting into place paper saving initiatives, Menzies launched the Menzies Aviation Grove, an initiative in partnership with registered charity Trees for Life, through which Menzies can donate funds for rewilding or tree planting in the Scottish Highlands. At a recent industry conference Menzies committed to planting trees on behalf of customers and will continue to donate trees to the grove.

Internally, Menzies has set up an Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Working Group, which is developing positive actions for colleagues. A Women in Leadership development programme is being piloted following the backing of IATA’s 25by25 global initiative to change the gender balance within the aviation industry. A Wellbeing Working Group has developed a Wellbeing Hub for Menzies employees to access support and resources, and Air Menzies International has developed a Wellness Programme for 2022.

Katy Reid, Head of Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility for Menzies Aviation said: “Like many global businesses, we remain resolutely focused on growing responsibly, protecting the planet, supporting our people and creating a fairer future. Our All In sustainability strategy is core to our business ambitions and sets us on course to meet our social and climate responsibilities. We are proud to have made significant strides since its launch six months ago, with plans now in place to engage our people, customers, suppliers and other partners to drive meaningful change across our industry.”