Source: LSG Group.

Airline catering giant LSG Group has reinforced its commitment to sustainability by backing six of the 17 United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Neu-Isenburg-headquartered LSG Group, which owns onboard retail and technology company Retail inMotion (the subject of a recent interview), will prioritise the areas in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The SDGs are: Health and well-being; Gender equality; Decent work and economic growth; Responsible consumption and production; Climate action; and Partnerships for the goals.

These were chosen by the Group following global workshops and interviews in the past year and reflect the areas where LSG believes it can make the most impact.

SUSTAINABILITY DEMAND ‘WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO GROW’

Nils Taubert, Head of Sustainability Management at the LSG Group said: “Our Sustainability Acceleration team developed a strategy that accurately reflects the ethos and practices of our colleagues. We’ve adopted a holistic view on the subject, clustering our activities into the three pillars of sustainability: Healthy People. Healthy Planet. Healthy Prosperity.

“Based on market research published in our revised trend report, the pandemic has accelerated certain aspects of sustainability, and the demand will only continue to grow.”

Among the goals is climate action, with LSG actively involved in many local initiatives across its worldwide network to protect the planet.

LSG Group has committed to six of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as part of its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Source: LSG Group. Click to enlarge.

Projects such as ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’, launched by the firm’s North America team, resulted in more than 36,500 tons of waste being recycled in 2019.

Erdmann Rauer, CEO of the LSG Group added: “As the first company in our industry to track environmental data in 1994 and introduce an environmental policy in 2008, we feel it is our responsibility to continue that tradition.

“Now it is time to broaden our focus and make an impact in other sustainability areas as well. With our unique position in the food and travel industry, we are able and proud to actively support the UN’s sustainable goals.

“We firmly believe that sustainability will be a guiding principle in future product developments. This initiative does not immediately make us a fully sustainable company. It is a long process for which we have been laying the foundation for years. Now we are ready to build on that and become increasingly sustainable.”

GROUP REVENUE DOWN 59%

Earlier this week, LSG announced its 2020 results in a year dubbed ‘the most challenging in its history’ due to the huge decline in air passenger traffic.

Consolidated revenue dropped by 59% year-on-year to €945 million/$1,086 million, with adjusted EBIT at negative €149m versus €111m in the year-prior.

A stringent approach to cost reductions and savings was implemented across all its geographical regions and business units.

Click to enlarge. Source: LSG Group.

Dublin-based subsidiary RiM signed contracts with Lufthansa German Airlines, Swiss and Austrian Airlines to develop and manage their inflight sales via a new concept.

As reported, RiM also secured a five-year agreement with Frontier Airlines.

Moving forward, LSG says it will focus on ‘new priorities’ like digital inflight sales solutions and greater sustainability.

TRBusiness is set to host the first travel retail and duty free industry virtual event dedicated solely to sustainability.

Travel Retail Sustainability Week (TRSW) takes place on 19-23 April in line with ‘World Earth Day’ on Thursday 22 April.

TRSW will feature a jam-packed agenda of webinars, business networking opportunities and an innovative Sustainability Pitch programme.

For more information, click here.