Article by Kevin Nkrumah

2022-12-22

All over the world, countries are facing the impacts and effects of climate change. Natural disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes are inevitable – and their frequency and intensity continue to increase with the growing impacts of climate change. As a result, governments are taking action to incentivise organisations to reduce their impact on climate change and drive sustainability. In a ground-breaking move heralding the future of low-carbon aviation, the U.K. government has awarded Virgin Atlantic funding to operate the world’s first-ever net-zero transatlantic flight.

Taking off in 2023, this flight will operate from London to New York using exclusively Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) powered by Trent 1000 engines by Rolls-Royce. This collaborative project comes as a result of the shared vision of both companies to reduce carbon emissions and their commitment to sustainability. In the larger context, the use of SAF will potentially boost the wider SAF industry, creating thousands of UK jobs while supporting the delivery of net zero aviation emissions by 2050.

At our Global Expansion Conference 2022, the message was clear: The role of innovation and disruptive technologies in attaining a clean Net Zero is paramount. This was iterated by our keynote speakers, Mike Azlen (Founder and CEO, Carbon Cap Management) and Caroline Gorski (CEO – R² Factory, Rolls-Royce), who presented extensively on the concept of carbon cap and building digital sustainable ecosystems, respectively. Little did we know, we were helping make history!

Trailblazing Net-Zero Emissions Flights

Virgin Atlantic, who are no strangers to pioneering new technologies, have been investing in sustainable aviation fuels since 2008. They have aimed to make their flights as carbon neutral as possible by offsetting any remaining carbon emissions through verified carbon offsetting schemes such as tree planting or renewable energy projects since 2009. Now, they are taking another step forward in their journey towards sustainability with this exciting new project.

Rolls-Royce, who is known for producing some of the most efficient engines in the world, will be providing the power for this historic flight. The Trent 1000 engine delivers exceptional fuel efficiency and environmental performance. It has been optimised specifically to power the transatlantic flight, applying the latest technology whilst drawing on the experience of previous generations of Trent engines.

Watch Caroline Gorski explain how Rolls Royce builds, engages and delivers a more robust ecosystem through collaboration and innovation internationally.

Delivering the first net-zero transatlantic flight will help in further exploring how operational efficiency improvements, flight optimisation and carbon removals can contribute to achieving net-zero flights – not just in the UK but for the global aviation industry.

Doing our part for a Sustainable Future of Business

Organisations have a crucial role to play in protecting the environment and reducing their Carbon footprint. Within the business context, sustainability is defined as managing environmental, social, and governance issues and is extremely important in various areas, such as new product development, reputation building, and overall corporate strategy.  The 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are often a good starting point for companies looking to improve their sustainability practices and reduce their Carbon footprint.

Expanding companies who are looking to enter new markets should consider the physical risks that climate change could pose for them depending on the locations they are considering, as well as the regulatory environment and policies that may impact your expansion.

Currently, many countries offer sustainability incentives for companies that are investing in green and climate-friendly initiatives. Because of the relevance of ESG regulations on expanding businesses and the sustainability progress that is important to the ethos of Centuro Global, we are inviting key speakers to our Centuro Global Expansion Conference 2023 to speak about new challenges, changes, and improvements.

Governments that offer incentives for green and climate-friendly initiatives.

Education is an essential tool in this, and receiving expert advice can help to achieve optimal outcomes in the actions taken. To spread awareness, we’ve recapped some key takeaways from the “FUTUREPROOF YOUR BUSINESS TO PROGRESS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN 2022 AND BEYOND” Keynote address by Mike Azlen at Centuro GEC 2022.

1.  Globally, we’re emitting 40 billion tonnes of Carbon/year – about 150 million tonnes of emissions/day.
2.  The number of emissions for one passenger’s air travel from London to New York is about 2 tonnes of CO2
3.   At our current run rate, we have a mere eight years before we reach the 1.5-degree increase threshold set by The Paris Agreement.

Watch Mike Azlen discuss the role of innovation and disruptive technologies in the fight against global warming and the efforts of COP 26, the UN SDGs, and Business and industry on our journey to a clean Net Zero.

Conclusion

This revolutionary project between Virgin Atlantic and its partners has set a bold precedent for other airlines around the world and signals a strong collaboration between government and industry. It also serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved with collaboration when there’s a shared goal of making air travel greener and more sustainable for everyone. The world’s first Net Zero Transatlantic Flight will pave the way for future generations of green air travel that will benefit us all in the long run. We can’t wait to get on board!

Contact us to learn more about your sustainability options as you take your business to the global stage.