Tuesday, March 12, 2024
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has officially recognized Cathay Cargo Terminal and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL) with the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) certification. This announcement was made during the World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong, SAR, China. Notably, these are the first cargo handlers in North Asia to receive the IEnvA certification, increasing the total to 60 entities, including airlines, airports, and ground handling service providers, that have been certified. The IEnvA certification is granted after a thorough review of the entities’ environmental sustainability management systems and their commitment to ongoing improvement in performance.
“IATA is proud to have worked with Cathay Cargo Terminal and HACTL in their pursuit of IEnvA certification. Their commitment to sustainable aviation sets a strong example for the industry and demonstrates the positive impact of IEnvA certification in the cargo space. IEnvA provides definitive guidance, aligned with internationally accepted management standards, to efficiently and effectively address a wide spectrum of sustainability issues facing the aviation industry. Adopting IEnvA Standards allows the certified organizations to effectively focus their resources on improving their environmental performance and make use of tried and proven best practices. IEnvA certification will support Cathay Cargo Terminal and HACTL to drive sustainability, build trust, and deliver positive impact. IATA also recognizes the support of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) in supporting its partners in improving overall environmental impact and call on other airports encourage their stakeholders follow the same approach,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist.
Cathay Cargo Terminal Chief Operating Officer Mark Watts said, “This significant milestone demonstrates our commitment to environmental sustainability. Having IEnvA certified facilities at Hong Kong International Airport further strengthens Hong Kong’s position as the world’s leading air cargo hub and is reflective of the strong sustainability culture and vision of Cathay, AAHK and Hong Kong.”
“HACTL has been on its sustainability journey for some years, achieving major successes. It’s our policy to gain accreditation under every relevant standard, hence our decision to add IATA IEnvA to our portfolio. It increases the appeal of HACTL’s offering, and further enhances Hong Kong’s status as the world’s leading hub. We also support IATA’s initiative because we believe it will help the vital sustainability message to gain traction across our industry,” said HACTL Chief Executive Wilson Kwong.
IEnvA, created by IATA, stands as an all-encompassing certification initiative that evaluates aviation sector participants’—including airlines, airports, cargo handlers, freight forwarders, and ramp handlers—dedication to perpetually enhancing their environmental and sustainability efforts. By aligning with internationally recognized standards and adopting industry-leading practices, IEnvA guarantees that organizations reduce their environmental footprint while achieving operational excellence.
Positioned as the definitive environmental management benchmark within the global aviation industry, IEnvA is in sync with ISO standards and enjoys endorsement from prominent ESG entities. It offers a comprehensive, aviation-specific package, equipping member entities with essential resources for standard application.
IEnvA facilitates a structured method for organizations to pinpoint, track, manage, and consistently advance their environmental performance. Open to all links in the aviation supply chain, the program boasts 60 member organizations to date. IEnvA empowers participants to develop strong environmental management strategies that foster ongoing improvements in performance.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
