Bangkok--30 Mar--Mileage (Thai)
SriLankan Airlines has launched a Corporate Environment Policy, with the objective of promoting a culture of the highest standards in environmental management throughout the company’s many business activities.
The Airline already has a large number of individual environmental safeguards, and the adoption of this formal Corporate Environment Policy will bring conservation under a single umbrella, for maximum effectiveness.
Manoj Gunawardena, the airline’s CEO, said: “This Corporate Environment Policy will be pursued by SriLankan Airlines through the visible commitment and sustained involvement of management and staff of the airline at all levels. It has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors, and the Senior Management Team, and will shortly be implemented across every department in the Airline, both in Sri Lanka and throughout our global network.”
The Airline has focused over the last several years on a wide range of individual conservation measures. These include more efficient consumption of electricity, recycling of paper and steel products, and the treatment and proper disposal of all types of waste materials and liquids.
The Airline embarked upon a major effort to increase the fuel efficiency of its aircraft fleet in mid 2008, and its remarkable success within a few months has been confirmed by experts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global aviation industry’s governing body, and drawn the attention of the global airline industry.
Sri Senanayake, Manager International Relations at SriLankan, said: “The Corporate Environment Policy was formulated after taking into consideration the views of key members of the staff throughout the Airline. We have accordingly already begun the important process of obtaining the full commitment of all of our 4,900 staff, to solidify a permanent culture of respect for the environment.”
The airline recently launched an employee-driven initiative in waste management, which is being directed by the company’s main employee union, with the intention of enlisting its entire staff in its conservation efforts.
The Corporate Environment Policy states: “SriLankan Airlines is fully committed to a strong corporate policy and culture which recognises and maintains the highest global standards in the conduct of our business as a passenger and cargo carrier, and a provider of airline catering, ground handling and engineering services. We shall endeavour to provide the highest standards of excellence in environmental management, which will be committed, co-ordinated, planned and directed towards the attainment of our objectives with minimal environmental impact.”
The wide range of activities under the Corporate Environment Policy include a process for setting corporate and operational level environmental goals; delineating lines of accountability and responsibility for achieving these goals; the setting up of an Environmental Management System across the organisation; ensuring the availability of adequate resources, facilities and information to achieve environmental goals; a programme to monitor and evaluate the results of environmental initiatives; the creation of awareness among all staff including training programmes; and the setting up of a reporting and communication system to keep relevant authorities informed of environmental activities.
The Airline is actively participating in the environmental conservation efforts of IATA and has carried out a number of studies on environmental impact of current business practices throughout the Company. It is also carrying out an ongoing study of best practices adopted by leading airlines worldwide with respect to the environment.
The Airline has just launched a Waste Sorting and Recycling System, with the assistance of the Ministry of Environment, and the Central Environmental Authority.
In addition, the National Carrier is assisting Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority on aviation environment standards in Sri Lanka, and is also actively participating in environmental initiatives by the tourism industry.
For more information please contact:
Chonticha Choochart (poo)
Tel: 66(0) 2 637 7878, 66 (0) 8 0587 1755
Fax: 66(0) 2 637 7878
Email: [email protected]