Flight company goes CarboNZero
Aviation tourism company Inflite has become the first skydiving company in the world to be certified as CarboNZero, and the first New Zealand aviation tourism operator to be awarded the accolade.
‘‘Our businesses take guests into spectacular parts of our country, often inaccessible without the use of aircraft, so it’s our responsibility to minimise our impact as much as possible to ensure that our sensitive environments are protected for future generations to come,’’ Inflite chief executive Adam Joyce said.
‘‘It’ll always be a balance of both environmental and commercial outcomes which we’re ever mindful of as we have the privilege of flying visitors into some of New Zealand’s most treasured national parks.
‘‘This is an opportunity for us have a continuing conservation to conversation with all our clients and team at large,’’ Joyce said.
The certification has been issued by leading provider of environmental certification in New Zealand, Enviro-Mark Solutions.
Inflite measured its emission output across its seven locations, which include Aoraki/Mt Cook and Pukaki, and found the total to be just over 2000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (tC02e).
Carbon dioxide equivalents are a measure used to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and offsets.
According to Enviro-Mark Solutions’ carbon calculator, an average Kiwi household with two adults and two children emits 7174 kilograms of C02e a year, although a spokesperson added that this is based on energy, transport and waste and does not include factors such as food.
Inflite has offset its emissions through the purchase of 2115 Wind Power Credits and has committed to a 1 per cent ‘‘intensitybased reduction in Jet A1 and AV Gas per flight hour by 2022’’ through more efficient passenger loading, flying more efficient routes and reducing idle times.
The company was an early adopter of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment, was a finalist in this year’s New Zealand Tourism Awards for Best Sustainable Business and works with the Motutapu Restoration Trust to plant a tree for every hour of flight.
It also works with the Abel Tasman Tree Collective, Kea Conversation Trust, Department of Conservation and the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.
Inflite operates a range of activities including skydiving, ski-planes and glacier guiding and charters. It has operations in Auckland, Taupo, Motueka, Franz Josef, Fox Glacier, Aoraki/ Mt Cook and Pukaki.
‘‘. . . it’s our responsibility to minimise our impact as much as possible to ensure that our sensitive environments are protected for future generations to come.’’ Adam Joyce, Inflite CEO