Cathay Pacific sets new sustainability targets for 2025 and beyond

Cathay Pacific has released its 2030 Sustainability Report, in which it underscores its ongoing commitments and progress towards sustainability, together with its customers, business partners, regulators, staff, and more.

Among some of the key highlights of the report, the airline has committed to new near-term climate improvements. Building upon its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Cathay now also hopes to improve its carbon intensity by 12 per cent more than its 2019 level by 2030. To achieve this, the airline plans to accelerate SAF use, modernise its fleet, and drive operational improvements, the former of which remains its most important lever for both improving carbon intensity as well as achieving net-zero operations in the long run. In addition to driving further development of the SAF supply chain in the region and conducting its first overseas SAF uplift on commercial flights, Cathay has also expanded its Corporate SAF Programme by establishing partnerships with new corporate clients and a non-governmental organisation.

The airline is also moving towards a more sustainable use of resources, having set a new target to decrease passenger-facing SUP items from an average of 7.7 pieces per passenger in 2019 to 1.5 pieces by 2025. Additionally, Cathay aims to reduce cabin waste by 30 per cent from the 2019 baseline by 2030. It plans to achieve these goals by incorporating circular economy principles into its product and service design by selecting more sustainable or recycled materials upstream, and channelling used items back for recycling or repurposing.

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“Sustainability is inherent in Cathay’s purpose – to move people forward in life. We understand that achieving this purpose in a sustainable and responsible manner for current and future generations requires collective efforts. By embracing the collaborative ethos of ‘Greener Together’, we aim to lead by example and reach new heights in building a more sustainable future,” said Cathay Pacific’s chief executive officer Ronald Lam.

“Climate change, and materials and waste are our priority areas on the environmental front. As a pioneer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), we continue to lead the charge in accelerating collaboration and deployment of SAF within Asia. We are also dedicated to transitioning towards circular solutions by setting a clear roadmap for single-use plastics (SUP) and waste reduction. Meanwhile, in line with our longstanding commitment to making positive contributions to Hong Kong society, we are proud to engage in a multitude of community initiatives with our primary focus on youth development,” Lam said.

Cathay has been working towards helping to revitalise the Hong Kong community by rejuvenating the Cathay Volunteer Team and engaging in a variety of youth-centric programmes aligned with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Strive and Rise Programme, including the popular Cathay Community Flight and Aviation Exploration Days.

Full details of Cathay’s performance and commitments in sustainable development are available in its 2023 Sustainability Report.

cathaypacific.com

Cathay Pacific sets new sustainability targets for 2025 and beyond

Cathay Pacific sets new sustainability targets for 2025 and beyond

Cathay Pacific sets new sustainability targets for 2025 and beyond

Cathay Pacific sets new sustainability targets for 2025 and beyond

Cathay Pacific sets new sustainability targets for 2025 and beyond