The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a certification programme to validate an airline’s sustainability efforts.
The Integrated Sustainability Programme (ISP) offers airlines a comprehensive sustainability management and assessment framework to build upon IATA’s Environmental Assessment.
Along with certification, the programme includes training, consulting, assessments, guidance, and tools in four modules: environmental management, sustainable procurement, social responsibility and sustainability performance.
Subject to a recurring two-year cycle of independent assessments, ISP certifications and modules can be pursued individually or as a fully integrated sustainability programme.
“The comprehensive ISP certification programme validates that an airline is managing its sustainability efforts at the highest level and in the broadest context,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist.
“It does this by integrating the monitoring of environmental, social, and governance measures and providing all stakeholders, regulators, and customers with a transparent view of the progress.
“This comes with the added value of being designed for airlines’ specific needs, making ISP a practical framework to inform decision-making while ensuring that airlines’ efforts are aligned with global best practices,”
Air New Zealand and EVA Air are the first two carriers to receive the Sustainable Procurement certification under the ISP.
“By backing IATA’s new ISP, we want to play our part to help lift standards across aviation, and demonstrate that doing what’s right is about doing good business,” said Kiri Hannifin, Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer.
At present, ISP is only available to airlines but will evolve to ground handlers, cargo handlers, airports, MROs, and caterers.
