FORMIA drives change with new sustainability strategy
October 7, 2020
FORMIA has launched the first stage of its new and enhanced sustainability strategy, enabling it to make ongoing positive contributions to both the environment and its communities.
As well as addressing passenger needs during the ongoing global pandemic, FORMIA has remained dedicated to finding relevant solutions to global issues such as the climate crisis. To support their endeavours, the company has brought onboard GlobeScan, a leading sustainability consultancy.
The first initiative to launch will see FORMIA, in an amenities industry first, commit to all future productions of inflight socks and eye masks being made from 100% recycled PET fabric. This initiative will take-off onboard from next spring with the first customer introduction, with other airline customers in planning to follow subsequently.
The switch will see the virgin polyester used for socks and eye masks changed to recycled PET that will carry the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification. To drive the initiative forward, FORMIA is absorbing the additional cost of the material, rendering the move cost neutral for airlines and beneficial for supporting their sustainability efforts.
Transitioning from virgin polyester to recycled PET will result in significant waste savings: it will cut 1,500 tons of plastic waste, which corresponds to 79 million plastic bottles, going into landfill each year.
As FORMIA continues to review its end-to-end processes and identifies areas where improvements and transformation can be made, further progress will be shared, including development of CSR programs, as part of its wider sustainability strategy, with charity partners in both local and international communities.
Roland Grohmann, vice chairman and managing partner at FORMIA, said: “We have been working hard to put the health and safety of travellers front and foremost, whilst also acknowledging that there is a huge effort needed to respond to the global climate crisis.
“It is important for us to support our airline partners as they navigate their sustainability efforts during what is an exceedingly difficult time. Today’s announcement is the first step on our path to sustainability and we look forward to sharing further plans very soon.”
