Lufthansa has a tradition of leading its industry in technology, quality, and sustainability. The airline’s first report on environmental issues dates back to 1994. Just as combining our corporate colors blue and yellow creates green, environmental care has become an integral part of our management and corporate culture.
We would like to inform you regularly and show one concrete example of Lufthansa's environmental care activities. Today:
Lufthansa mobile boarding pass
The world’s over all paper consumption is still increasing,. Being aware of this issue and being known for its high commitment to sustainability, Lufthansa introduced mobile boarding passes in spring 2008 already. A mobile boarding pass is an individual secure bar code that can be received via e-mail, text-message or downloaded directly on smart phones and allows passengers to check in fully paperlessly.
By using this eco-friendly procedure Lufthansa customers have helped to save paper equivalent to 2.5 million printout boarding passes during the period of December 2012 to end of January 2013 alone. The saved paper will now be donated to schoolchildren in need worldwide: "Help Alliance", a charity founded by volunteers of the Lufthansa staff in 1999, will hand out 50,000 school exercise books, 30,000 of which will be distributed via Help Alliance projects in Asia/Pacific, for example in Bandarawella, Sri Lanka, Pondicherry and New Delhi, India as well as Pattaya, Thailand. In order to reduce the CO2 emission and to support the local economies all exercise books will be bought locally.
Lufthansa customers can use fully paperless mobile check-in procedures at more than 130 airports worldwide already. In Asia, paperless check-in is available at airports in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo Narita.
Climate research
Global climate change is one of the biggest challenges for humankind. Thus, reliable forecasts on the development of the future climate and the constant improvement of climate models are of fundamental importance. Climate research has a long tradition at Lufthansa, and the company supports scientific projects together with renowned research institutes to meet its high aims in protecting the environment. The current research project, called IAGOS (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System) places its focus on developing a global measurement infrastructure to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, Lufthansa is closely working together with the Jülich Research Centre (FZJ) using scheduled Lufthansa services with aircraft that are converted for climate research purposes. The specially developed measurement devices on board the Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 “Viersen” record atmospheric trace substances, aerosols and cloud particles. Commercial aircraft are particularly suited for data collection, because they fly worldwide and thus can observe the Earth’s atmosphere as a whole. Furthermore, scheduled flights provide a high level of continuity in that long-term observations can be made which would not be possible with satellites or with individual flights conducted by special research aircraft.
Lufthansa has cooperated with science institutes on climate research since 1993. During the last years of Lufthansa’s engagement in climate research, 50 different trace elements, greenhouse gases like CO2 and the concentration of aerosols in the atmosphere have been measured on international routes from Frankfurt. In addition to the onboard measurements, 80 air samples are taken each time for further analysis in European laboratories.
IAGOS is already the fourth climate project being supported by Lufthansa. For nearly two decades, Lufthansa has been the only airline worldwide involved in climate research and air quality, providing a unique data base for scientists and thus making a vital contribution to the validation and improvement of climate models.
Lufthansa awarded for biofuel flight operations
Lufthansa was awarded the first prize in the environment category of the Strategy Awards conferred by British Airline Business magazine, a prestigious special interest magazine. The award was handed over to Lufthansa at a ceremony staged by the magazine at the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in London on 8 July 2012. The independent jury of respected aviation experts stated that the award went to the Airline especially for its pioneering role in testing and developing alternative fuel in flight operations.
In mid-July 2011 Lufthansa, as the world’s first airline, conducted long-term tests with biofuel on scheduled flights. As part of the burnFAIR research project, the airline deployed an A321 Airbus, which engine burns 50 percent biosynthetic kerosene, between Hamburg and Frankfurt for six months. In total the savings in carbon emissions came to 1,500 tons. The biomass products used were jatropha, camelina and animal fats, which production meet strict EU sustainability criteria. The tests conclusively demonstrated that biofuel can, as expected, be utilized without any problems in flight operations. After this successful trial, Lufthansa’s focus is now on the suitability, availability, sustainability and certification of biofuel raw materials.Accepting the award on the Group’s behalf, Lufthansa Vice President Aviation Joachim Buse stated: “We are highly delighted with this accolade and will continue firmly on this path. Bio-kerosene has come through a rigorous testing procedure successfully and proved its suitability for everyday application.”
With the application of biofuel on scheduled flights the Lufthansa Group demonstrated once more its responsibility for environmental issues. The projects in which the airline is engaged include its efforts to improve fuel efficiency through fleet modernization and more effective flight route planning as well as its support for a number of climate protection projects or feasibility studies on electro mobility. The Lufthansa Group also manifests its corporate citizenship in numerous activities, such as rendering humanitarian aID areas stricken by natural catastrophes. Projects dedicated to protecting endangered species are another area where Lufthansa exercises responsibility.The breadth and depth of the Group’s environmental commitment were rewarded already on 21 June 2012 with the Eco-Aviation Award from the US magazine Air Transport World.
Lufthansa Technik’s home base in Hamburg saves 7.200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
Lufthansa Technik recently put on stream its own block heating station on its home base Hamburg. With a capacity of two megawatt electric and thermal activity the company generates a quarter of the heat demand and one third of the consumption of electricity of its Hamburg home base. Lufthansa Technik has invested 3, 4 million Euro in this state of the art eco efficient technology.
With the help of the new power station 7.200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be avoided. This already corresponds to ten percent of the former overall emissions of the Lufthansa base in Hamburg. These savings are especially attributed to the extraordinary efficient mode of operation of the two gas-fired 20-cylinders-engines featured complex. “With the new power station and further arrangements we will exceed our target to reduce our carbon emissions by 30 percent until the end of 2012” saID August Wilhelm Henningsen, chairman of the board of Lufthansa Technik AG in Hamburg.
e-taxi, the new way of successful climate saving
The airline industry accounts for an estimated three percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions but is working hard on improving its carbon efficiency. With its leadership position in the area of environmental sustainability, Lufthansa together with Lufthansa Technik – one of the company’s business segments and a leading provider of technical services for commercial aircraft - and a powerful team of partners successfully tested a new way of environmentally friendly ground operations at Frankfurt airport: This revolutionary e-taxi system utilizes green technology to improve aircraft autonomy without using the main engines or ground support equipment.
For the first time ever, electric motors were installed on the main landing gear of a commercial aircraft, an Airbus A320. The electric motors of the aircraft performed typical duty cycles such as gate push backs of the aircraft, rolling taxi-out and taxi-in during ground operations. The necessary modifications of the A320 also included the installation of an interface in the cockpit as well as further modifications regarding the power supply and the integration of a cooling system.
During this five-day trial, Lufthansa Technik and its partners collected a massive amount of data to gain further insights in the feasibility of this e-taxi system and to evaluate a possible development of a prototype.
The implementation of the e-taxi would result in less fuel usage, fewer carbon dioxide emissions and less engine wear during ground operations, and thus, in conserving as many resources as possible.
Lufthansa is continuing to steadily implement the company’s successful climate saving strategy and the e-taxi trial is just one example of Lufthansa’s pioneering work in sustainability.
Lufthansa is known for its exemplary commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability
Highly prestigious U.S. magazines Condé Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure recognized Lufthansa’s environmental efforts by awarding the company the 2011 World Saver Award and the Travel+Leisure Global Vision Award in the respective categories “Doing it all” and “Environmental Innovation”.
Both juries based their decision on Lufthansa’s progress in fuel efficiency. “Lufthansa truly has a leadership role in this area”, chief editor Klara Glowczewska stated at the Condé Nast award ceremony in Singapore, where Lufthansa Vice President Asia/Pacific Steffen Harbarth accepted the award on behalf of the company.
Lufthansa’s launch of the world's first long-term, commercial biofuel trial on the Hamburg-Frankfurt-route in July 2011 was also taken into account by both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure.
Another key component of the airline’s environmental program is Lufthansa’s continuous fleet modernization which was recognized at the Travel+Leisure ceremony in New York, where Martin Riecken, Lufthansa Head of Corporate Communications The Americas accepted the magazine’s award. The fleet modernization program enabled the company to reduce the fuel consumption by 2.4 percent in 2010 and thus to further lower CO2 emissions over the long-term.
Lufthansa reaches new fuel efficiency record
4.20 – a figure the Lufthansa Airline Group can be proud of. By burning only 4.20 liters of fuel per 100 passenger kilometers in 2010, the average fuel consumption fell to the lowest level in the Group’s history. Compared with the previous year, this is a reduction of a further 2.4 percent.
This additional improvement has proven the Lufthansa Group right to continuously and ambitiously pursue its measures on fuel savings. More than 100 measures are designed to reduce kerosene consumption – and thus also CO2 emission. Concrete measures include – among others – taking shortcuts thanks to special political agreements, washing engines the Cyclean way, and reducing the aircraft’s weight. The latter for example is considered a very efficient step towards fuel reduction given that only 1 kg less weight on all aircraft of Lufthansa Passenger Airlines saves 25 tons of fuel per year.
In 1991, the average fuel consumption was on a 6.20-liters level. By further focusing on fuel reduction, Lufthansa is prepared to steer towards a new record in fuel efficiency. Continuously reducing the fuel consumption – only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
Fuel saver: Lufthansa’s A380s only consume 3 liters per 100 passenger kilometers
A modern fleet with a small ecological footprint
By ordering twenty five A320neo and five A321neo aircraft, Lufthansa is continuing the modernization process of its fleet, and is thereby further minimizing its impact on the environment. The new airplanes, which are due to be delivered from 2016 onwards, are destined to serve continental European routes which many of our Asian customers use during their journey across Europe.
The aircraft come with improved aerodynamics and new engines. They burn around 15 percent less fuel than today's comparable models. Moreover, their noise emissions lie cumulatively between 10 to 15 dB below current noise limits and further improve noise reduction compared with the present fleet.
The A320neo and A321neo: A modern fleet with a small ecological footprint – only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
More than just a drop in the ocean
Coping with the lack of water is a major challenge for the world’s population. In Asia and Pacific alone, according to a United Nation’s survey, some 2.5 billion people will face water stress by 2050. Lufthansa is committed to helping fight this concern by further improving its water management. Lufthansa has made another crucial step towards its commitment for the environment by implementing a process focusing on an optimized fresh water supply on flights to Asia and other long-haul destination. This measure will not only minimize kerosene consumption and therefore reduce CO2 emissions by 8200 tons per year, but also significantly improve the fresh water quality on board. As only 2.5 percent of the earth’s water is drinkable, Lufthansa is highly committed to helping save one of the world’s most precious resources for future generations.
Green heat for Asia’s largest room
Lufthansa is working very closely together with its joint ventures to protect the environment.
In order to save energy, China’s largest aircraft maintenance and overhaul company Ameco Beijing, a joint venture between Lufthansa and Air China, has invested more than CNY 100 million (ca 12 Mio EUR) in 2009 to upgrade its entire heating and energy system.
Among other measures, the company put a new and environmentally friendly gas-powered heating plant into operation. Heat-exchangers were installed in order to heat Ameco Beijing’s large aircraft hangars at Beijing Capital International Airport. Also the company’s new A380 maintenance hangar, the largest room in Asia, is supplied with this state-of-the-art technology.
After more than one year of usage, Ameco achieved its goal to increase thermal efficiency by 10% and to decrease CO2 emissions by roughly 40%. Despite an increase of heating area of 19% the company managed to decrease fuel consumption expenses by 15% in total. 15 kilometers of pipeline had to be renewed in order to support the new boiler house and heating modification project, which has also been supported by the Chinese government.
The use of resource-conserving technology and materials – only one part of Lufthansa’s and Ameco’s extensive environmental care.
Tea that creates jobs
China is the originating country of tea. There, the beneficial effects of tea leaf have been felt for more than 5000 years ago. A very widespread Asian tea tree is the “Camellia sinensis”, which geographic range extends from southern Japan and Korea over the southern half of China to the northeast India. This special tea tree is at the center of a project that the Foundation NatureLife-International has supported since 2007 with aid from the Lufthansa Environmental Sponsorship Program. The goal of the project is to establish a sustainable agricultural system in areas of western China bordering with Laos and Myanmar, and thus to lessen the effects of years of overcultivation.
In the process of reforestation, the existing remnants of forests are supplemented and transformed into species-rich secondary forests, each hectare of which binds between 250 and 300 tonnes of carbon dioxide over a period of ten years.
But the project does more than make a substantial contribution to the protection of nature, species and climate as well as the preservation of biological diversity. It also preserves cultural traditions and creates jobs that give the rural population an economic perspective. Today, people in the region cultivate more than 100 different tree and shrub species – including numerous spices (such as cinnamon and ginger), medicinal plants and the gold orchid.
Today, tea is (besides water) the most popular drink with an annual world production of 3.5 million tonnes (Source: German Tea Association eV).
In 2009, the airlines in the Lufthansa Group welcomed more than 76 million passengers on board their flights and served nearly 16 million cups of tea.
Lufthansa protects biological diversity
Symbols traditionally play a strong role in Asian culture. One of these symbols is the crane, which stands for a long life, old age, wisdom and the relationship between father and son. So it is seen as a good sign that the crane has a common circulation in Asia. Additionally cranes are the largest cross-continental migratory birds. On its flights between the breeding areas and the wintering areas cranes set back 5000 and more miles twice yearly. Unfortunately, the continuing destruction of their natural habitats has pushed 11 of the 15 crane species worldwide to the brink of extinction.
As Lufthansa bearing the “bird of luck” in its corporate logo, crane protection lies close to Lufthansa’s heart. For more than 30 years, the Lufthansa Environmental Sponsorship Program has worked for the lasting preservation of their breeding, resting and gathering areas. Measures to maintain biological diversity are at the center of the program. Lufthansa places even greater emphasis on this in 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, which the United Nations (UN) has proclaimed.
Measures to maintain biological diversity – only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
Green supply
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, especially when it comes to climate protection. That is why Lufthansa aims at reducing environmental effects along its supply chain. Briefing suppliers and contract partners about the environmental norms of Lufthansa is only one part of this. Lufthansa also demands high ecological efficiency when acquiring hardware such as aircrafts, engines and other pieces of equipment. Lufthansa continuously conducts surveys among its suppliers to ensure that they stick to these standards, and chooses its partners according to the results. Creating a greener supply chain – only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
The fastest connection between two points? A straight line!
Imagine you want to walk to a friend’s home. Which route would you choose? Most likely a straight one, to get there as quick and convenient as possible. Now image someone would require you to change your shoes at a place off the direct route. This not only costs time, but also is inconvenient and inefficient for your. Most likely, you would try to avoid this unnecessary stop. What is true for this short distance is also true for intercontinental flight routes. Unlike its Middle Eastern competitors, Lufthansa only operates direct flights between China and Europe, without changing the aircraft halfway through. This not only is more convenient for you. Also, choosing the straight line between these two destinations contributes to environmental protection: it saves fuel, and thus reduces carbon emissions. Connecting China and Europe on a straight line – only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
Better fleet, better life
They cannot be seen, nor do they directly harm our climate: noise emissions. But still, noise produced by aircraft engines has a considerable impact on the environment we are living in. This is especially true for residents of airport entry lanes, and the wildlife in these areas. That is why Lufthansa is continuously modernizing its fleet, to reduce carbon and noise emissions. Over the next six years, Lufthansa will invest 13 billion euro to buy 146 new, more efficient and quieter aircrafts. This marks the biggest fleet renewal in the company’s history, to the benefit of our climate and the whole environment. Investing in fleet renewal to make the sky more quiet – only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
The need for alternative fuels, or: when kerosene becomes scarce
Oil, and thus kerosene, is finite. That is why Lufthansa supports research and developmentmeasures for the production of alternativefuels.One of these alternatives is synthetic kerosene, also called biofuel. This fuel is produced of plants like raps and other biomasses. Within the next two years, Lufthansa plans to gradually mix biofuel with traditional kerosene. This will not only minimize Lufthansa’s dependence on oil; more importantly, it will further lower carbon emissions and contribute to Lufthansa’s efforts for climate protection. Research on alternative fuels – only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
CycleanTM Engine Wash
Developed by Lufthansa Technik to clean aircraft engines, CycleanTM Engine Wash provides appreciable ecological and economic advantages. In this process heated water is sprayed directly into the still rotating engine. This way, the entire core component is optimally washed, helping Lufthansa reduce kerosene consumption by up to 25,000 tons of kerosene per year. This corresponds to avoiding 75,000 tons of CO2 emissions. CycleanTM Engine Wash – only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
Lido eFlightBag – The paperless cockpit by Lufthansa Systems
Even after decades of aircraft innovation, there is still one traditional device no pilot can live without: hardcopy paper maps. To secure exact navigation, routes and other flight information are drawn on these charts. This is why the maps have to be renewed after every flight, causing a great amount of paper waste. Lufthansa Systems’s Lido eFlightBag is about to change that. All paper documents in the cockpit are replaced with digitalized maps, which are displayed on separate screens. This does not only improve working conditions for pilots, it also helps protecting the environment. Lufthansa has already started to gradually equip all of its aircrafts with Lido eFlightBag. This way, Lufthansa will avoid printing of 32 million sheets of paper a year, which results in savings of 18 tons of wood and 778.000 liters of water. Lido eFlightBag - only one part of Lufthansa’s extensive environmental care.
Lufthansa commitment to sustainability is officially recognized. Listings include renowned Dow Jones Sustainability Index, FTSE4Good, Ethibel and ASPI.
To learn more, click: www.lufthansa.com/responsibility
