The FINANCIAL — Cathay Pacific Airways on May 10 announced the launch of its first Sustainable Development Report outlining the various sustainable development measures undertaken by the airline in 2009.
The report incorporates the Cathay Pacific Group’s 100%-owned subsidiaries based in Hong Kong: Dragonair, Cathay Pacific Catering Services, Hong Kong Airport Services, Vogue Laundry Services and Cathay Pacific Holidays.
For the second consecutive year, the report achieved an A+ rating – the highest possible – in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, an internationally accepted benchmark for reporting on economic, environmental and social impacts.
The report builds on previous corporate social responsibility reports to cover the Group’s economic, social and environmental performance in 2009, in line with the implementation of the company’s new Sustainable Development Strategy. The theme of the report – “Our Next Destination” – outlines ongoing efforts to achieve the company’s long-term objective of sustainable aviation, and highlights the importance of this journey for Cathay Pacific.
Cathay Pacific Director Corporate Affairs Quince Chong, said: “The Sustainable Development Report reflects an important step towards a more integrated approach to economic, environmental and social issues aligned with our new Sustainable Development Strategy.
“We are proud to have again achieved an A+ rating under the GRI guidelines as it demonstrates our continued efforts to ensure we are transparent in our reporting and accountable to our stakeholders.”
The report contains messages from Cathay Pacific Chairman Christopher Pratt and Chief Executive Tony Tyler which recognise the need to examine both the risks and opportunities inherent in embracing sustainable development and the value it brings to the brand and core operations.
In the medium term, Cathay Pacific will ensure that investments in new aircraft and associated infrastructure are consistent with moving towards lower carbon operations. The sustainable development agenda also reinforces the company’s commitment to ensuring safety as the first priority, to being an employer of choice, and to investing in communities in which the company operates.
The Cathay Pacific Group Sustainable Development Report 2009 – both the full report and a shorter summarised version – are available in PDF format at cathaypacific.com and dragonair.com. A specially created web version will also be available in the coming weeks.
