Pioneering Offsets and Carbon Removal Technologies To Address Aviation’s Residual Emissions at American Airlines
American Airlines is addressing aviation's residual emissions through pioneering carbon removal technologies and offsets. Key points include:
- Partnering with Graphyte as its inaugural customer for 10,000 tons of permanent carbon removal in 2025
- Collaborating with Cool Effect to offer customers carbon offset purchases
- Achieving 2.5 million gigajoules of renewable energy for operations two years ahead of schedule
- Implementing sustainable practices in building designs, including LEED certifications
- Transitioning to eco-friendly materials in Admirals Club lounges
- Reducing aircraft noise and meeting ICAO noise certification standards
- Initiating food waste reduction and composting programs
- Introducing recycled materials in cabin offerings and cargo operations
American Airlines sta affrontando le emissioni residue dell'aviazione attraverso tecnologie pionieristiche per la rimozione del carbonio e compensazioni. I punti chiave includono:
- Partnering con Graphyte come suo cliente inaugurale per 10.000 tonnellate di rimozione permanente del carbonio nel 2025
- Collaborazione con Cool Effect per offrire ai clienti la possibilità di acquistare compensazioni di carbonio
- Raggiungimento di 2,5 milioni di gigajoule di energia rinnovabile per le operazioni due anni prima del previsto
- Implementazione di pratiche sostenibili nei progetti edilizi, inclusi i certificati LEED
- Transizione a materiali ecologici nelle sale Admirals Club
- Riduzione del rumore degli aerei e soddisfacimento degli standard di certificazione del rumore ICAO
- Inizio di programmi di riduzione degli sprechi alimentari e compostaggio
- Introduzione di materiali riciclati nelle offerte della cabina e nelle operazioni di carico
American Airlines está abordando las emisiones residuales de la aviación a través de tecnologías pioneras de eliminación de carbono y compensaciones. Los puntos clave incluyen:
- Asociación con Graphyte como su primer cliente para la eliminación permanente de 10,000 toneladas de carbono en 2025
- Colaboración con Cool Effect para ofrecer a los clientes la posibilidad de comprar compensaciones de carbono
- Logro de 2.5 millones de gigajulios de energía renovable para operaciones, dos años antes de lo previsto
- Implementación de prácticas sostenibles en los diseños de edificios, incluidas las certificaciones LEED
- Transición a materiales ecológicos en los salones Admirals Club
- Reducción del ruido de los aviones y cumplimiento de los estándares de certificación de ruido ICAO
- Inicio de programas de reducción de desperdicios de alimentos y compostaje
- Introducción de materiales reciclados en las ofertas de cabina y operaciones de carga
아메리칸 항공은 탄소 제거 기술과 오프셋을 선도적으로 통해 항공의 잔여 배출 문제를 해결하고 있습니다. 주요 사항은 다음과 같습니다:
- 2025년까지 Graphyte와 10,000톤의 영구 탄소 제거를 위한 초기 고객으로 파트너십 체결
- 고객에게 탄소 오프셋 구매를 제공하기 위해 Cool Effect와 협력
- 예정보다 2년 빨리 운영을 위한 250만 기가줄의 재생 에너지 성취
- LEED 인증을 포함한 건물 설계에서 지속 가능한 관행을 실행
- Admirals Club 라운지에서 친환경 소재로 전환
- 항공기 소음 감소 및 ICAO 소음 인증 기준 충족
- 음식물 쓰레기 감소 및 퇴비화 프로그램 시작
- 기내 제공 및 화물 운영에 재활용 자재 도입
American Airlines s'attaque aux émissions résiduelles de l'aviation grâce à des technologies novatrices de capture de carbone et de compensation. Les points clés comprennent :
- Partenariat avec Graphyte en tant que premier client pour 10 000 tonnes de capture permanente de carbone en 2025
- Collaboration avec Cool Effect pour offrir aux clients des options d'achat de compensations carbone
- Atteinte de 2,5 millions de gigajoules d'énergie renouvelable pour les opérations, deux ans avant le calendrier prévu
- Implémentation de pratiques durables dans la conception des bâtiments, y compris les certifications LEED
- Transition vers des matériaux écologiques dans les salons Admirals Club
- Réduction du bruit des avions et satisfaction des normes de certification sonore ICAO
- Lancement de programmes de réduction des déchets alimentaires et de compostage
- Introduction de matériaux recyclés dans les offres de cabines et les opérations de fret
American Airlines adressiert die verbleibenden Emissionen der Luftfahrt durch innovative Technologien zur Kohlenstoffentfernung und Kompensationen. Wichtige Punkte sind:
- Partnerschaft mit Graphyte als ihrem ersten Kunden für 10.000 Tonnen permanente Kohlenstoffentfernung im Jahr 2025
- Zusammenarbeit mit Cool Effect zur Bereitstellung von Kohlenstoffkompensationen für Kunden
- Erreichung von 2,5 Millionen Gigajoule erneuerbarer Energie für den Betrieb, zwei Jahre vor dem Zeitplan
- Implementierung nachhaltiger Praktiken im Gebäudedesign, einschließlich LEED-Zertifizierungen
- Übergang zu umweltfreundlichen Materialien in den Admirals Club Lounges
- Reduzierung des Flugzeuglärms und Erfüllung der ICAO Lärmschutzstandards
- Initiierung von Programmen zur Reduzierung von Lebensmittelabfällen und Kompostierung
- Einführung von recycelten Materialien in den Kabinenangeboten und den Frachtbetrieben
- Signed deal with Graphyte to purchase 10,000 tons of permanent carbon removal for 2025
- Reached 2.5 million gigajoules of renewable energy goal two years ahead of schedule
- Achieved LEED Gold certification for three buildings at corporate headquarters
- Implemented sustainable practices in Admirals Club lounges, including compostable materials
- All mainline and regional fleet meet Stage 4 noise certification levels, with 20% meeting Stage 5
- Reduced long-term plastic waste in landfills by over 150,000 pounds in 2023 through BioNatur Plastics use
- Anticipates need to purchase carbon offsets to comply with CORSIA obligations for 2024-26 emissions
- Reliance on carbon offsets and removals to neutralize residual emissions, indicating challenges in achieving in-sector reductions
Insights
American Airlines' commitment to carbon removal technologies and sustainable practices is a step in the right direction, but its impact on the company's financials and stock performance is likely to be neutral in the short term. The partnership with Graphyte for 10,000 tons of carbon removal is relatively small and won't significantly affect the bottom line. However, this proactive approach could yield long-term benefits:
- Enhanced brand reputation among environmentally conscious consumers
- Potential cost savings from energy efficiency initiatives
- Reduced exposure to future carbon pricing risks
Investors should note that while these initiatives are positive for sustainability, they may not translate to immediate financial gains. The real value lies in positioning the company for future regulatory compliance and market expectations. The focus on renewable energy and LEED certifications could lead to operational cost reductions over time, but the impact on profitability will be gradual.
From an industry perspective, American Airlines' efforts in carbon removal and sustainable operations are in line with sector trends but don't represent a significant competitive advantage. The aviation industry faces immense pressure to reduce emissions and these initiatives are becoming table stakes rather than differentiators. Key points for investors:
- No immediate impact on revenue or market share
- Potential for reduced operating costs in the long run through energy efficiency
- Proactive approach may mitigate future regulatory risks
The CORSIA compliance requirement starting in 2024 could impact profitability across the industry. American's preparation for this, including potential offset purchases, is prudent but not unique. The company's focus on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) over offsets is noteworthy, as SAF could become a more significant factor in competitiveness and cost management in the future. Investors should monitor the scalability and cost trajectory of these sustainability initiatives relative to industry peers.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 12, 2024 / American Airlines
Originally published in American Airlines' 2023 Sustainability Report
Voluntary Carbon Markets
Aviation is regarded as one of the sectors that is hardest to abate in terms of climate impact. Many of the decarbonization technologies needed do not yet exist, are not yet economically feasible or are not expected to scale quickly enough to achieve the insector reductions needed to reach net zero by 2050. As a result, to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the aviation sector will need to rely on carbon offsets and removals to neutralize residual emissions. The availability of high-quality offsets and removals requires a well-functioning voluntary carbon market and investment in innovation to strengthen the reputation of this marketplace.
How American is helping accelerate solutions
Reducing emissions within our operations is and will remain American's priority. To date, we have not purchased any offsets as part of advancing our net zero commitment, but we recognize that carbon offsets and removals will need to play a future role in eliminating aviation's residual emissions.
We are helping to accelerate and scale the CO2 removal market as the inaugural customer of Graphyte, whose innovative carbon casting process removes and stores CO2 permanently and cost-effectively. (See page 26 for more information.) American also partners with Cool Effect, a leading nonprofit provider of carbon offsets, to give our customers the opportunity to purchase offsets.
The Potential
Necessary for addressing residual emissions for hard-to-abate sectors like aviation
Can create cobenefits in areas such as air and water quality, biodiversity, human health and job creation
Can bring social and economic benefits such as human health improvements and job creation in rural communities
Actions Needed
Collaboration among market participants to agree on standards and verification to promote integrity
Sound public policies and oversight for effective functioning of the market
New financing models to mobilize more capital and increase participation in the voluntary carbon market
The Challenges
Supply of quality, robust and verifiable carbon offsets
Cost of carbon removals - and the need for technological innovation to bring down costs
Degree of permanence of removals
Verifying additionality, meaning the project only exists because of funding from carbon markets
Accelerating Low-Cost, Permanent Carbon Removal
Graphyte, backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, is a carbon removal startup that is pioneering a new pathway for low-cost, permanent carbon removal. Graphyte's Carbon Casting process leverages readily available biomass, such as residues from timber and farming operations, that have already captured significant CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The biomass is then dried to prevent decomposition, converted into dense carbon blocks, wrapped in an environmentally safe polymer barrier and monitored in a state-of-theart underground storage facility. Relative to existing carbon removal approaches, Carbon Casting permanently removes and stores CO2 using significantly less energy and at a substantially lower cost. In early 2024, Graphyte began operating the largest carbon removal facility in the world, its Loblolly facility in Arkansas.5
In 2023, American signed a deal with Graphyte to purchase 10,000 tons of permanent carbon removal to be delivered in early 2025, making us its inaugural customer.
Mitigating the Climate Impacts of International Aviation Through CORSIA
The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) regulates emissions from international aviation, and American has endorsed its goal of achieving carbon-neutral growth in emissions after 2019. Airlines and other aircraft operators will offset any growth in CO2 emissions above a revised 2019 baseline established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, American and other airlines did not face offsetting obligations under CORSIA, as international flight volumes were still below prepandemic levels, but we expect that we will need to purchase carbon offsets to comply with our obligation for CORSIA's first phase, which covers 2024-26 emissions. While we would prefer to meet our CORSIA obligations by increasing our use of SAF, we recognize offsets will also play a role. American will continue to monitor the offsets market in preparation for implementing our purchase strategy.
Through American's partnership with Cool Effect, our customers can purchase carbon offsets. Cool Effect uses more than
Sustainable Operations
While we are keenly focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our flights, our other environmental sustainability efforts extend to the ways in which we design and build facilities, our approach to recycling, use of renewable energy, adoption of environmentally friendly materials and much more.
Our Environmental Policy Statement, which was updated in May 2023, articulates American's commitment to developing and implementing sustainable business practices designed to address climate change, efficiently use natural resources, reduce waste, prevent pollution, reduce noise, conserve biodiversity and help stop deforestation.
In 2023, we reached the goal we set in 2019 of sourcing 2.5 million gigajoules (GJs) of cost-competitive renewable energy to power our operations. Originally targeted for 2025, we accomplished this feat two years ahead of schedule. American purchased 673,176 GJs of electricity from renewable sources for our operations in north Texas and at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) during the year. Both were
Incorporating sustainability into our building designs and airport lounges
Many of our facilities across the United States have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. Three buildings at our corporate headquarters campus are LEED Gold certified, including the Skyview 6 hospitality complex that opened in January 2023, Skyview 7 and Skyview 8. Our campus incorporates several other environmentally friendly features, including 90 acres of preserved woodlands and 9.3 miles of walking trails.
We have taken a sustainable approach to our new and redesigned Admirals Club lounges as well, using locally sourced wood whenever possible and focusing on their use of natural light and energy-efficient LED lighting. As a result, our Admirals Club at Denver International Airport, which opened in October 2023, is pursuing LEED Gold certification. Our recently expanded Admirals Club at LaGuardia Airport is LEED Silver certified, and the Admirals Club that opened in September 2023 at Newark Liberty International Airport also incorporates many sustainable elements into its design.
American has undertaken many initiatives across our Admirals Club lounges in recent years, including switching from plastic to compostable flatware and transitioning to a compostable straw that is available upon request only. We have begun testing reusable flatware in selected lounges, and our bottled water brand, JUST Water, comes in a carton made from
Reducing aircraft noise
American is committed to addressing the concerns that local communities raise around aircraft noise. For example, we participate in several airport community roundtables on this topic, and we received a 2022 gold award from the Los Angeles International Airport Fly Quieter Program. We have also voluntarily retrofitted all pre-2014 Airbus A320 jets in our fleet with fuel vent vortex generators, which help reduce aircraft noise.
American continues to meet or exceed International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) noise certification standards as well. ICAO standards currently specify that operators can fly Stage 3, Stage 4 or Stage 5 aircraft. All our mainline and regional fleet meet Stage 4 noise certification levels, and
Identifying opportunities for composting and reducing food waste
Our new catering facility at DFW, which opened in 2023, was also built with sustainability in mind. The largest airline catering kitchen in the country, it participates in a program that turns food waste into compost. As trays and dishes are cleaned, this waste is collected by a vendor and distributed to farms and compost facilities. Pre-consumer composting from this facility and our Admirals Club locations at DFW yielded more than 419,000 pounds in 2023.
In late 2023, we began a trial with one of our caterers to measure food waste from meals served on flights from London Heathrow Airport to DFW. This project takes pictures of trays after flights and uses AI to analyze the food that is left behind. This helps us determine passenger preferences for certain dishes, adjust our offerings accordingly and reduce waste. Rightsizing the food we have on board will help us lower costs, while the weight savings can help us cut down on fuel use and the associated emissions.
Leveraging recycled plastic and other alternatives in our cabin offerings and cargo operations
American has long recycled cans, paper, bottles and other trash removed from our aircraft. We have also been exploring ways to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics on board our aircraft, including the possibility of using recycled plastic alternatives.
For the relaunch of our soft goods program in April 2024, American collaborated with the inflight textile company John Horsfall to develop bedding made with recycled materials from its Re-Thread® collection. Nearly all the pillows, duvets and blankets created for American flights are made with recycled fibers that maintain a premium feel, while filled bedding includes
To reduce single-use plastic waste connected to the distribution of pillows and blankets, customers traveling in Flagship® First, Flagship® Business and Premium Economy will now receive their bedding in a reusable zipper bag also made with recycled fibers. Using the bag is expected to eliminate 25 tons of plastic waste per year.
In our Cargo operations, we expanded our transition to the BioNatur Plastics™ that we began using in 2022 to replace traditional plastic stretch wrap and pallet covers. This product line fully biodegrades in eight to 12 years under landfill conditions - compared with the more than 500 years it can take for normal plastics - and it is designed to be fully recyclable in normal waste collection streams.
In 2023, we extended the use of BioNatur Plastics beyond our U.S. hubs to include regional domestic stations, such as Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Honolulu International Airport and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. We also began using the product line at select locations outside the United States, including Carrasco International Airport in Uruguay and Santiago International Airport in Chile. As a result, this helped American reduce long-term plastic waste in landfills by over 150,000 pounds for the year (equivalent to approximately 8.6 million plastic bottles). That represents a more than
5 See https://www.graphyte.com/post/bill-gates-s-carbon-removal-company-is-opening-for-business for more information.
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Contact Info:
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SOURCE: American Airlines
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