The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the Integrated Sustainability Program (ISP) “a certification program offering airlines a comprehensive sustainability management and assessment framework, is designed specifically for airlines and built upon the successful IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA).”
IATA says in addition to the certification, the ISP “includes training, consulting, assessments, guidance, and tools in four critical modules: (1) environmental management, (2) sustainable procurement, (3) social responsibility and (4) sustainability performance. ISP certifications and modules can be pursued individually or as a fully integrated sustainability program. Certifications are subject to a recurring 2-year cycle of independent assessments.”
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, says the “ISP certification program validates that an airline is managing its sustainability efforts at the highest level and in the broadest context. It does this by integrating the monitoring of environmental, social, and governance measures and providing all stakeholders, regulators, and customers with a transparent view of the progress. This comes with the added value of being designed for airlines’ specific needs, making ISP a practical framework to inform decision-making while ensuring that airlines’ efforts are aligned with global best practices,”
First Movers
Already Air New Zealand and EVA Air have become the first two carriers to receive the Sustainable Procurement certification under the ISP. Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Kiri Hannifin says: “For Air New Zealand, sustainable procurement means building on the collective strength and innovation of our supplier network, and working together to create better outcomes for people and the planet.”
“Earning this certification marks a key milestone in EVA Air’s sustainability journey, reflecting our commitment to integrating sustainability into procurement and collaborating with partners to build a more resilient supply chain,” said Jason Liu, Chief Sustainability Officer at EVA Air.
Future Development
According to the airline body, ISP will evolve over time as it continues to work with a broad spectrum of industry participants and stakeholders to ensure that industry standards, guidance, and certifications remain practical and impactful.
At present, ISP is only available to airlines. However, it will evolve to ground handlers, cargo handlers, airports, MROs, and caterers.