“Regrettably, as the aviation industry we have a severe image problem, since we are publicly blamed as one of the worst polluters worldwide causing noise, dirt, and ultimately global warming by emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases.
     “It’s time to change these widespread sentiments by communicating proactively the many environmental and technical achievements the aviation industry came up with in recent years and will go on contributing in the times ahead.
     “Critics should have in mind that there are approximately seven billion people living on this planet, many of them awaiting the chance to participate in some prosperity.
     “This, however, is impossible without global logistics services, including the transport of air freight supplying the world with much needed goods.
     “At Lufthansa Cargo we feel highly obligated to foster a corporate culture driven by ecological and green ethics.
     “Each of our employees is welcomed to contribute ideas for enhancing processes, making Lufthansa Cargo a benchmark for the entire industry.” Karl Ulrich Garnadt delivered these strong statements shortly after he assumed command as chairman and CEO of Lufthansa Cargo in 2011. Today, Herr Garnadt is head of all passenger business at Lufthansa.

Timeline 2007

     Much has been written about the global uproar created by Volkswagen diesel automobiles, so you might expect a bit of a scramble as other companies “Made In Germany” talk up their environmental effort.
     FlyingTypers reached out to Lufthansa Cargo recently for an environmental update­—we found no sign of a let up when it comes to these issues.

Standard of the World

     “It’s exactly because we have already achieved so much for environmental and climate protection that we want to become even better,” noted Dr. Karl-Rudolf Rupprecht, board member Operations of Lufthansa Cargo AG, as Lufthansa Cargo once again hosted its groundbreaking Climate Care Conference in June 2015 at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt with 150 invited logistics experts in attendance.
     As these thinkers, dreamers, and doers gathered to strategize how best to move forward with this year’s motto, “More Logistics and Less CO2,” the words were particularly important for Lufthansa Cargo Head of Environmental Management Bettina Jansen.
      “Air freight is indispensable to the global economy and it is our responsibility to make it as environmentally-friendly as possible, “she said.
     But back up a bit to 2010, when Head of Security and Environmental Management Harald Zielinski stated Lufthansa’s goal to be “the world’s most environmentally friendly cargo carrier.”
      “Lufthansa Cargo has come a long way since it first set out to become more environmentally friendly,” said Ms. Jansen.
     “In 2008 we successfully implemented an environmental management system according to ISO 14001 in Frankfurt.”
     “By 2020 we aim to reduce our specific CO2 emissions by 25 percent compared to 2005.
     “Last year we already reached 15.8 percentage points.
     “It is an achievement that we are proud of and that motivates us to keep making improvements in 2015.”

Cooler Heads Prevailed

     “In 2014, for example, we completed the replacement of our more than 5,500 standard aluminum containers (AKE) with a nearly 14-kilogram lighter version made from composite materials.
     “Now, together with our subsidiary Jettainer, we replace our AKH container fleet and test the next generation of lightweight pallets.
     “Tomorrow’s standard lightweight pallets are expected to weigh as much as 25 percent less than their prototypes, which tip the scales at about 100 kilos each.
     “Our plan is to replace our standard containers with lightweight material by 2020.”

Feathering Freighters

     “Another example from the flight operation is that our MD-11F Cargo freighter is flying even more efficiently now because every single MD-11F has ‘lost’ 35 kg.
     “In order to achieve this, we have reduced and substituted equipment.
     “Lufthansa Cargo will save 80 tons of fuel and accordingly 250 tons of CO2 a year in the future just by losing these 35 kg.
     “In addition, in 2014 we re-certified our environmental management system in Germany and for the first time Jettainer was included in the certification.
     “Now we examine the processes at our international areas, so that we are expected to have a worldwide ISO certification at the end of this year,” Ms. Jansen said, adding, “The biggest lever you have to reduce the impact on the environment is to use new technologies.
     “Therefore we have invested in the B-777F, the freighter with today’s best environmental performance.
     “Moreover it is worth it to check processes for optimization potential on a regular basis and to integrate the topic of environment in the decision-making process. Finally, it is important to have staff and management on board who take the issue seriously and communicate honestly,” said Ms. Jansen.

LCCneo on Ice Refocus

     Earlier this year in April, Lufthansa announced it would be delaying the planned investment by Lufthansa Cargo in their new cargo center, ‘LCCneo,’ by at least two years.
     LCCneo being a significant component of the ‘Lufthansa Cargo 2020’ strategy for the future, FlyingTypers wondered how the delay would affect Lufthansa reaching their projected environmental goals.
      “The ‘LCCneo’ remains a key pillar of our ‘Lufthansa Cargo 2020’ strategy, and the program will still be implemented at full steam.
     “We are evaluating and implementing new measures we can take to modernize the LCC on an ongoing basis.
     “We have a functioning LCC and an excellent team.
     “We are certain that we will continue to offer our clients top-quality service,” said Ms. Jansen.

 The View Is Global Partnerships

     “While continuous improvements e.g. in waste management (such as the optimization of the separation of our recyclables) and energy management (like the continuous investment in efficient light bulbs) are our daily business here at Cargo Hub Frankfurt and around the world, we are aware and pleased that environmental responsibility has became more and more important to our customers and our global partners.
     “A significant change from a soft image to a fact-based data subject has taken place in recent years.
     “Our customers more and more want to know what we do in general to reduce our impact on the environment, and [they] want to know the exact emissions data of their airfreight on a particular route.
     “So in 2015 we started providing our global partners company-specific CO2 reports.
     “Lufthansa Cargo drives for more data transparency and customers can identify their own environmental balance.
      “The research project Green Logistics, which we have worked out for five years together with relevant partners in the logistics industry, such as the Fraunhofer Institute, DB Schenker, DHL, Fiege Vanderlande, and UPS, is completed. The project has developed an assessment method for the whole logistics chain—considering transport via different carriers (road, rail, air, and sea), transshipment, and warehousing (including logistics real estates and intra-logistics),” said Ms. Jansen.

Smart Cookie
      
     FlyingTypers was curious as to how Ms. Jansen landed in her particular role within the cargo industry, and specifically in regards to environmentalism.
     “The environment matters at Lufthansa Cargo,” said Ms. Bettina Jansen, who studied physics at the Goethe University in Frankfurt and completed her MBA studies at the University of Ashridge, UK, whilst working at Lufthansa Cargo.
     She is smart, beautiful, and razor sharp, characteristics she has displayed consistently since her Lufthansa career began in 1994 as a consultant for Europe/Africa with LSG Sky Chefs.
     After being project and team leader in the field of customer care, she joined Lufthansa Cargo in 1998 as Manager Corporate Strategy.
     Between 2004 and 2009, she was Head of Business Development at AeroLogic Management GmbH .
     Bettina Jansen has served Head of Environmental Management at Lufthansa Cargo AG since September 2009.
     “My studies in physics are a good basis for the job as environmental manager here at Lufthansa Cargo.
     “Regular internal meetings with environmental coordinators of LH Cargo and the Group as well as the participation in external working groups with the industry (BDL, IATA . . .) enable me to keep up with current trends and to identify new issues.”

Climate Cares

     Lufthansa Cargo’s singularly outstanding environmental effort is the aforementioned Cargo Climate Care Conference, which is held every two years and offers a platform to bring customers and stakeholders together to discuss new topics, developments, and challenges.
     “Participation in environmental working groups from, for example, the IATA (International Air Transport Association) is very important for us in this venture.
     “Topics of environment (aircraft noise or CO2 emissions methodology) can be discussed and internationals standards promoted.
     “With the conference we want to provide a platform for our customers as well as politicians and scientists where we can meet and discuss new developments in the area of airfreight, logistics, and environment.
     “There has been very positive feedback about our extraordinary locations, professional speeches, and pleasing penal discussions, which confirms to us that the interest in this kind of conferences is unabated,” Ms. Jansen said.

Climate Care Awards

     At the end of each of the four Climate Care Conferences that have been conducted so far, recognition has lifted Lufthansa Cargo’s customers and staff, and young scientists, towards developing new ways of improving the climate balance of air cargo traffic.
     The Lufthansa Cargo Climate Care Award is unique, and in a sea of bowtie banquet party drivel, with awards handed out and soon forgotten, CCC recognition carries the weight of bettering the environment for generations to come.
     Hats off to Lufthansa Cargo for standing up and sending the message to the world that when it comes to our environment, “better benefits everyone.”
     This excellent video states specific goals as Lufthansa Cargo pioneers environmental procedures and practices.
Geoffrey