The Boeing Company is committed to continuing to deliver environmental improvements in our products and services, and working with its industry partners on environmental improvements throughout the global commercial aviation system. As we envision how to implement sustainable aviation, it becomes increasingly clear that it is a very complicated issue with many challenging social, economic and environmental considerations.

The world is a complex interaction of social structures, economies and environments. These factors impact each other in an equally complex ‘system-of-systems’. While commercial aviation is only one part of this system, we know it plays a critical role today and in the future, because it connects the world’s people, their products and services. And sustainable aviation requires individuals, entities and ideas to work together in innovative ways.

Boeing has a legacy of consistently and continually delivering significant environmental improvements in our products. Flying on our new aeroplanes is one of the most fuel-efficient and emission-minimising ways to travel. In fact, the newest aeroplanes are more fuel-efficient than the average car. Noise levels on our newest aeroplanes have been reduced dramatically – significant noise stays within the boundaries of most airports. Today, we are implementing new technology on our latest products, the family of 787 Dreamliner aeroplanes, and the 747-8 Intercontinental.

The 787 is 20 per cent more fuel-efficient – that means 20 cent less CO2 – and it has a noise footprint 60 per cent smaller than other similarly sized aeroplanes. The 747-8 is 15 per cent more fuel-efficient, and its noise footprint is 30 per cent smaller than the 747-400. And as we develop new technology, we are always looking for ways to apply them to products already in production.

Ongoing improvements are being applied to the 737 and 777 families of aeroplanes that result in higher productivity, carrying passengers and freight with less noise and less emissions than previously possible – 737 ‘winglets’ and 777 ‘quiet technology’ are examples of these ongoing improvements.

We are making substantial investments in research and development that will deliver new technology for our future aeroplane products. Innovative, new technology is an essential element for environmental improvements in commercial aeroplanes today and in the future.

We are also committed to supporting environmental improvements that go beyond our products and services. Boeing is working together with customers, industry and government partners to improve the environmental performance of the entire global commercial aviation system: more efficient air traffic management systems and processes, including continuous-descent approach; automated information systems that provide the real-time data required for flight crews to optimise aircraft environmental performance at every stage of flight; and research and development on fuel cell power and alternative fuels.

These systemic improvement opportunities are real and they are possible when individuals and organisations effectively work together. We know that sustainable aviation requires active participation, cooperation and collaboration of airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, manufacturers and governments. The ‘Sustainable Aviation’ initiative is an excellent example of all components of the commercial aviation system working together for a strategy towards sustainable development in UK aviation. Boeing is working together with our global customers and aviation industry associations as they participate in policy development at all levels.

We are excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead to continue to improve the environmental performance of our products and services and to support improvements in the commercial aviation system around the world. Boeing is moving on new technology and new ‘working together’ relationships today, because we believe in a better, more sustainable future.