Thursday, June 27, 2024
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In the 2023 reporting year, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) achieved its inaugural validation under Europe’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), marking a significant milestone. This validation also conferred upon SWISS the prestigious ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems at an international level. In alignment with these achievements, SWISS will commence publishing an annual environmental report, reinforcing its dedication to sustainable and responsible business practices.
SWISS’s environmental management system underwent rigorous scrutiny and validation under EMAS, adhering to the stringent criteria set by the European Union. The system, rooted in principles of continuous improvement, focuses keenly on the primary environmental impacts of SWISS’s operations and business activities. The comprehensive audit encompassed systematic environmental data collection, monitoring of environmental initiatives, and company-wide management of environmental objectives across SWISS’s Zurich and Geneva facilities for the 2023 reporting period. Accredited environmental verifiers conducted the audit in the second quarter of 2024.
EMAS, a voluntary scheme facilitated by the EU, aims to enhance companies’ environmental performance through rigorous standards. Compliance with ISO 14001 norms and additional requirements for transparency and continual improvement are prerequisites for EMAS validation, making it the world’s most exacting environmental management framework.
“We are very proud that our comprehensive environmental endeavours meet the highest standards, and that we are one of the first Swiss companies to earn the EMAS quality seal,” says SWISS Chief Executive Officer Dieter Vranckx. “As Switzerland’s national airline, we regard it as our duty – towards our customers, our employees, our service partners and our home country – to live up in full to all our responsibilities and to further pursue and extend our pioneering role in the sustainability field.”
During the EMAS audit, external environmental verifiers extensively assessed SWISS on several key criteria. These included the integration of sustainability practices within the corporate structure, collaboration initiatives spanning all staff levels across ground and air operations, and overall incorporation into the company’s management framework.
In line with its dedication to sustainability and following its EMAS validation, SWISS will now publish an annual environmental performance report. This initiative underscores SWISS’s ongoing commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices. The SWISS 2023 Environmental Report will provide detailed insights into the company’s environmental management system, accompanied by comprehensive data on corporate operations, transportation, and environmental metrics.
