Virgin Australia and Boeing Unite for Sustainability
Boeing Co
Virgin Australia and Boeing have established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on various sustainability initiatives aligned with their respective goals.
This MoU signifies an extension of the existing technology partnership between Virgin Australia, one of Australia's largest domestic carriers, and Boeing, a global leader in aerospace. Both companies share a strong commitment to sustainability, including the well-being of their employees and responsible business practices.
The MoU recognises the potential of leveraging their significant operational presence in Australia to drive and accelerate sustainability outcomes. It highlights the following key areas of focus:
Sustainable Fuels: Virgin Australia and Boeing will jointly advocate for the development of a domestic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry in Australia. They will support policies and investments that expedite SAF production within the country's supply chain.
Carbon Offsetting: The partnership aims to promote robust carbon offset programmes in Australia that contribute to regional development, particularly benefiting First Nations people. Both companies will utilise their networks to raise awareness about effective decarbonisation opportunities through market-based measures.
First Nations Engagement and Inclusion: Virgin Australia and Boeing will collaborate closely to identify opportunities for accelerating the engagement and inclusion of First Nations suppliers. They aim to enhance procurement opportunities within this domain.
Workforce Development and Inclusion: Recognising their roles as major employers in Australia, the companies will work together to identify avenues for accelerating workforce inclusion efforts. This includes promoting gender equality, representation of First Nations people, internships, graduate programmes, disability accessibility, and mentoring initiatives.
Australia-US Bilateral Clean Energy Cooperation: Reflecting their significant presence in the Australia-US economic relationship, Boeing and Virgin Australia commit to close collaboration in advancing the goals of the 2023 Australia-United States Climate, Critical Minerals, and Clean Energy Transformation Compact. Their joint objective is to promote responsible clean energy supply chains.
Christian Bennett, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at Virgin Australia expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, describing it as a merging of minds and ambitions that will drive and amplify change. The collaboration between Virgin Australia's expertise in Australia's commercial aviation industry and Boeing's global knowledge and insights is expected to have a significant impact on building a sustainable business for the benefit of future generations.
Sheila Remes, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability at Boeing, emphasised the honour of partnering with Virgin Australia to address the challenges faced by the aviation industry. Together, the two companies aim to develop meaningful solutions in areas such as climate impact mitigation, catalysing the sustainable aviation fuel industry, and promoting human development and inclusion. Their collaboration holds promise for the Asia Pacific region and the aerospace industry as a whole.
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Source: Virgin Australia
