LATAM Airlines leads pack for sustainability practices

LATAM Airlines leads pack for sustainability practices
By laurencroft


LATAM Airlines Group has been recognised for its sustainability practices yet again by the Dow Jones Sustainability ‘World’ Index.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) is the most internationally respected guide to benchmark sustainability practices of major companies – and the ‘World’ category recognises the performance of the top 10 per cent globally.

And this week, LATAM Airlines has been listed in the ‘World’ category for the fifth year in a row!

The DJSI World comprises the leading 10 per cent of companies in the ‘S&P Global Broad Market Index’ in terms of sustainability, based on an annual independent assessment of economic, social and environmental criteria. And LATAM is the only airline group in the Americas listed in this category.

Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, said that LATAM incorporates sustainability company-wide – and said that all businesses should do the same.

“Businesses have to think and act sustainably to deliver value both today and in the long-term for customers, shareholders, partners and the communities in which they operate. For LATAM for example, this means advocating sustainable tourism and supporting relief efforts in the event of natural disasters in the region,” he said.

“To be recognised as one of the world’s leading airline groups in this field for a fifth year running is the culmination of a company-wide commitment to incorporating sustainable practices into every aspect of how we operate.”

Some of LATAM’s recent sustainability initiatives and milestones include:

  • In 2017, LATAM transported 438 tons of humanitarian aid (equivalent to nine cargo aircraft) and more than 2,000 people to support the disaster relief of forest fires in the south of Chile, floods in Brazil and Peru, the earthquake in Mexico as well as hurricane-hit Puerto Rico
  • In total, over 1.1 million people in Latin America benefited from LATAM’s social actions in 2017 including the Cuido mi Destino sustainable tourism program, in which volunteers help to repair or reconstruct tourist sites, restore green areas and promote local culture and traditions
  • In 2017, LATAM reduced its overall carbon footprint by 2.46 per cent – marking a 13 per cent reduction since 2012 – and LATAM Airlines Colombia achieved carbon neutral operations for its domestic flights
  • LATAM has also reduced the emissions of its ground operations by 36 per cent since 2012, achieving carbon neutral ground operations in Colombia and Peru. As part of its commitment to achieve this at a group level by 2020, LATAM Airlines Chile recently has signed a contract with Acciona to use 100 per cent renewable energy in its Santiago operations from November 2018

As part of the DJSI corporate sustainability assessment, LATAM achieved a 100 per cent score for ‘efficiency’ as well as the highest scores in the aviation industry for ‘brand management’, ‘codes of business conduct’ and ‘environmental policy and management systems’.

This year, DJSI invited 3,504 companies – covering 60 industries in 47 countries – with the best financial performance measured by market capitalisation in the S&P Global Broad Market Index to participate in its annual corporate sustainability assessment. Out of the companies invited, 317 (including LATAM) qualified for the DJSI World Index.

Which is pretty damn good, if you ask us.

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