Boeing recently released its annual Environment Report, which found that the company has made large strides in improving its environmental performance — even as it has boosted its aircraft deliveries by 50 per cent from 2007 to 2012 and added more than 13,000 jobs.
The report documents revenue-adjusted reductions from 2007 to 2012 in:
- Energy use (21 per cent)
- Water use (20 per cent)
- CO2 emissions (9 per cent)
- Hazardous waste (23 per cent)
- Solid waste (36 per cent)
Boeing remains committed to achieving zero carbon growth by 2017 — even with increased production. It intends to achieve that through more sustainable aircraft programmes, such as the 737 MAX, which is forecast to have a carbon footprint 13 per cent smaller than today’s most efficient narrowbodies, and the 787, which is 20 per cent more efficient than comparable aircraft in service. Boeing will also continue its ecoDemonstrator project, which tests energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies.
“Five years ago, we set ambitious goals to reduce our environmental footprint while significantly growing our business,” said Boeing executive Kim Smith. “Thanks to the dedication and hard work of everyone at Boeing, that’s what we accomplished, and we are ready to make more progress in the years ahead.”