Sustainability
To ensure that we are doing our part so that future generations can live in deeper communion with nature and the community in which they live is today's concern and a job that is being done. It is a collective, ongoing, never-ending task that must constantly respond to new challenges. More than a project itself, it is a new way of being in life and business.
Allocating time and resources to projects to create more environmentally and socially sustainable companies is a priority within the SATA Group organization. It is simply a responsible, conscious, and committed way of looking at management and business, which makes us an important driving force in our Region and which, also for this reason, wants to be at the forefront of the transformation that we all want to see happening in our lives, in our companies, in our Region, in our Country and, finally, in this Global World that is ours.
In line with its Mission, Vision, and Values, the SATA Group assumes Sustainability as a business strategy based on the commitments and principles necessary to boost added value and increase the organization's competitiveness.
Our commitments
- 2025
- Reduce CO2 emissions by 20% (tCO2 vs 2005)
- 2030
- Reduce CO2 emissions by 55% (tCO2 vs 2005)
- Reduce electricity consumption in facilities by 20% (KWh vs 2015)
- 2050
- Achieve carbon neutrality
By integrating sustainability into its business and operations, the SATA Group is committed to contributing to and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
The 2030 Agenda defines the priorities and aspirations of global sustainable development for 2030 and seeks to mobilize global efforts around a set of common goals and targets.
Of particular importance to its activities, the SATA Group contributes to the support of the following SDGs:
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Eradicate hunger worldwide. Ensure all people have access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. End all forms of malnutrition. Ensure sustainable food production systems. Implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production and help maintain ecosystems.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Ensure health and well-being for all. Reduce the global mortality rate. End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5. Eradicate the epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. Promote mental health and well-being. Achieve universal health coverage.
Indicador:
- Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.
- Suicide mortality rate.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other types. Ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership.
Proportion of women in managerial positions.
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Ensure inclusive and sustainable economic development worldwide. Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation. Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including young people and people with disabilities. Attain equal pay for work of equal value.
Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities.
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Reduce global food waste in production and consumption. Achieve environmentally sound management of chemical products throughout their life cycle. Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
(a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment.
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity for climate-related hazards and natural disasters. Integrate climate change solutions and measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. Improve education on climate change mitigation, impact reduction, and early warning.
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Indirect Contribution
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Prevent threats to biodiversity. Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, mountains, and dry lands. Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests. Cease deforestation. Combat desertification and restore degraded lands and soils.
Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked.
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies. Significantly reduce all forms of violence. Eradicate child abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence and torture. Promote the rule of law at national and international levels. Ensure equal access to justice for all.
Target 16.5 - Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
Target 16.6 - Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months based on a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
The SATA Group's mission is to promote the connectivity of the Azores Archipelago with the world in a sustainable way and in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
In this sense, our sustainability strategy is based on Environment, Social, and Governance principles, aiming to ensure that the company's activity has a positive impact on the communities in which it operates while minimizing the environmental impacts of its operations. SATA Group has taken on the issue of sustainability as something transversal to the organization and as a strategic factor for the development of the organization and the business.
Throughout the year, we measure and record the impact of the actions carried out, which have enabled us to ensure that we meet the objectives and targets set. We compile this information in our Sustainability Reports.
In 2022, we created the Sustainability Policy, a guide that defines our strategy in environmental, social, and governance terms.
In short, this policy reflects our position in relation to the objectives internationally known as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and it is unquestionable that the evaluation of these three forces is becoming increasingly important in assessing the companies' reputation in the national and international context, as well as in legal compliance and mandatory reporting.
In a nutshell, what defines our sustainability policy?
Regarding environmental responsibility, it has become a priority for the SATA Group to allocate time and resources to ensure the implementation of more measures regarding decarbonization, energy efficiency, rational consumption, recycling and waste recovery, packaging management, digitalization, and procedures optimization.
On a social level, we want to keep the focus on employees, providing them with a healthy working environment and striving for well-being and mental health; providing resources with know-how and knowledge through training actions; and continuing to promote gender diversity, inclusion, and community involvement.
About governance, we intend to maintain our focus on ethical leadership with integrity, diversity, accuracy, and reporting of ESG information, organizational ethics, and the fight against corruption; we want to comply with cybersecurity/privacy requirements and strive for responsible taxation.
Find out more about our Sustainability Policy.
The SATA Group is committed to following and implementing the best sustainability practices, committing itself to the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy, recognizing that it also plays an important role in the Development of Sustainability in the Azores.
Environment
Environmental sustainability is seen as the result of collective performance, which presupposes a concerted effort between airlines and the airports and airfields where they operate.
Learn about the projects and initiatives focused on the development of tools dedicated to environmental sustainability in which SATA Group companies participate, aligning with the SDGs :
We are taking important steps to reduce the environmental impact of our operations:
- Reassessment of Disposables: We have revised the loading plans to reduce the use of disposables such as blankets, pillows, and wipes, taking only the essentials for passenger comfort.
- New Meal Box: We will introduce a new meal box that makes it easier to separate, sort and recycle waste, helping to reduce waste on board.
The SATA Group initiated the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) program for aviation, developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), on May 2022.
A year later, the SATA Group successfully concluded stage 2 of IATA IEnvA and was distinguished with the IEnVA certificate.
SATA Group believes that its mission is to ensure that everything is done to become an example in terms of environmental sustainability.
The IEnvA Program includes processes that promote corporate, operational, and procedural changes to be implemented in all the company areas to ensure the adoption of robust and specific environmental practices for aviation, aiming at reducing its impact on the environment.
Obtaining IEnvA Certification allows the SATA Group to permanently ensure a sustainable and consistent environmental performance, compliant with the aviation industry's best and most recent practices.
Furthermore, the IEnvA Certification granted the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Certification to SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines, which adds to the environmental efforts and the successes already achieved.
Special notes about the beginning of the program and forward steps can be found by following the links:
SATA Group launches the IATA Environmental Assessment Program | Azores Airlines
SATA Azores Airlines achieves full IEnVA Certification | Azores Airlines
More information about the IEnvA Program can be found at IATA - Environmental Assessment
The Azores Sustainability Chart is an initiative of the Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism, that aims to recognize the region as a sustainable destination, targeting to accelerate the local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG'S) and the region's contribution to the 2030 Agenda. This initiative has allowed the development of increasingly efficient and innovative sustainability practices by several companies in the archipelago, thus increasingly contributing to make the Azores a worldwide reference for sustainable tourism. Subscribing to the Chart means making a public commitment to responsible, fair, and visible management. With the commitment to develop its activity in an increasingly sustainable way at an environmental, social, and economic level, SATA Group renewed its participation in the Sustainability Charter with the definition of 3 goals:
- Implementing of an annual sustainability report
- Defining sustainability priorities internally with the corresponding map of indicators
Defining a collaborative strategy to operationalize the “sata forest” project
CELE CARBON COMPENSATION
It is a European mechanism for regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that sets limits for emissions from all the installations and air operators covered. It is a decarbonization instrument that aims to reduce emissions where the associated cost is lower. In 2021, SATA Group participated in phase IV (2021-2030) of the program, contributing to achieving the goal of reducing 40% in GHGs by 2030 (base year 1990).
CORSIA CARBON COMPENSATION
CORSIA (Carbon Off setting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) is the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, developed by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) that aims to offset the increase of CO2 emissions in international air traffic. This project will run from 2021-2035 and will consist of 3 phases. SATA Group is currently in the Pilot Phase (2021-2023), where it reports emissions from the routes covered by the project.
Started in 2018, the fleet renewal process is a major investment for airlines, but inevitable. In addition to other advantages, it allows for a significant reduction in fuel and consequent CO2 reduction into the atmosphere. In 2021, Azores Airlines received a new Airbus A321neo LR.
State-of-the-art engines with Sharklet devices on their wings allowed to reduce fuel consumption by around 37% and the respective carbon footprint of each passenger, when compared with the previous fleet. A total annual reduction of 13,200 t CO2 is estimated when ending the process, which is an important investment in improving the quality of service in line with sustainability commitments.
The presence of technology at the service of air operations and of all inherent administrative processes has been increasing. In 2021, more than seventy technological projects were developed within the SATA Group, which resulted in the more efficient conduct of many tasks. From check-in to flight, through the commercial and administrative area, more than seven dozen projects were developed. It will not stop here because technological innovation doesn’t stop, and it is necessary to keep it going, but a lot has been achieved in 2020 and 2021. Paper, time, and consumables reduction is measurable and measured periodically. Progress is accounted for and reported. Annually, they are reflected in the company’s Annual Report.
Operational measures are actions with an impact on the direct reduction of fuels and CO2 emissions, which contribute to the carbon neutralization of aviation.
At SATA Air Açores, the adoption of specific operational measures, in certain flight phases, represents an average annual fuel savings of 21% in the Dash8 Q400 fleet and 26% in the Dash8 Q200 fleet, equivalent to around 900 tCO2/year. At Azores Airlines, we continued to ensure projects such as the Dynamic Efficiency Project, in line with the Green Operating Procedures of the manufacturer Airbus, which has allowed the implementation of new operating procedures with a view to achieving efficiency gains. Both airlines also converted all in-flight manuals to Electronic Flight Bag which meant the dematerialization of all printed on-board manuals, which in the example of Azores Airlines, translates into the removal of 13 manuals on each aircraft, the equivalent of 51Kg that no longer fly with the airline, on each operated flight. Nature is surely benefited.
SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines are at the forefront of the Zero Emissions Alliance for Aviation, which goal is to ensure the integration of hydrogen and electricity-powered aircraft in their fleets by the year of 2050.
The Zero Emissions Alliance in Aviation is a program endorsed by the European Commission and includes organizations deeply engaged with the decarbonization of aviation in the coming years.
The Alliance commitment will be followed by clear goals to accomplish across the year and an established plan to present results.
This joint initiative is running in parallel with existing research programs, such as SESAR 3 and Clean Aviation, both of which have the European Commission's endorsement.
SATA Group’s airlines taking part in the Zero Emissions in Aviation Alliance will strengthen other initiatives with several airline partners, namely Airbus, Bombardier, IATA, and ERA.
The possibility of exchanging knowledge and experiences among partners is vital if the industry wishes to target a zero-emissions future. The Azorean airlines are profoundly engaged and already adopting best practices aiming to defend environmental sustainability globally, without ignoring never that it's part of the airlines' mission to help preserving the natural balance of the Azores Archipelago. After all, the Azores are the leading destination of SATA’s airlines.
Willing to know more about it? Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation (europa.eu)
Credible Hybrid Electric Aircraft (CHYLA) was a project funded by the European Union, part of the CleanSky program, which aims to study and develop hybrid-electric technology and design for each aircraft category. The Project was developed by TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) and is creating an aerial network model to study how operators can use hybrid design concepts for regional operators. SATA Group, attentive to the evolution of technology and aligned with environmental commitments, shared SATA Air Açores operational data to contribute to the development of the study. Advances in electric power/propulsion technology are revolutionizing the aviation sector, enabling integrated and sustainable solutions in the future.
GRACE is a public utility association that works in the areas of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, and its mission is to promote and develop a sustainable business culture. It currently brings together more than 180 companies of the most varied dimensions and sectors of activity, committed to the search for practical solutions for the sustainable growth of communities and organizations. Recognizing the importance of Sustainability in the organization, SATA Group joined GRACE, taking advantage of a platform for sharing and supporting the implementation of good practices.
We were pioneers in the construction of Cluster Grace in the Azores
Because adjusting our actions to the regional reality to meet local specificities is essential, we integrated the group of founding companies of Cluster Grace Azores, together with companies Bel and Grupo Sousa. By being part of this Cluster, we intend to create synergies with Grace associates and Members of the Azores Cluster and develop actions that allow us to place the themes of Agenda 2030, 2050 and ESG ESG (Environmental, Sustainability and Governance) as priorities in the agendas of our companies. Believing that we achieve more together and rowing in the same direction will be another step towards the sustainable future we all want to build. The Azores Cluster officially started in December 2022.
‘Fly Without Fins’ COMMITMENT STATEMENT
On September 1, 2022, SATA group’s airlines joined the “Fly Without Fins” movement.
With immediate effect, the carriage of all shark fins will be forbidden on all SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines airplanes departing from any of its destinations. The main principle of this movement, which some airlines have joined, is the non-acceptance of cargo that may be related to shark finning, as it is considered a cruel and unsustainable practice that undermines animal dignity and has placed sharks in danger of extinction.
Although this is not a practice known in the Azores, an archipelago that has received several distinctions in terms of sustainability and is recognized for adopting responsible fishing practices, nor a matter which SATA Azores Airlines has been confronted until date, SATA group’s airlines, which fly to different geographies, consider that by applying concrete measures, airlines will help Shark Guardian and a multitude of other marine conservation organizations to mitigate the problem.
When there's so much to do, all efforts seem urgent and never enough. And that's the reason why we will continue to embrace as many causes as possible. Compromising with United for Wildlife by signing the "Buckingham Palace Declaration” represents one more step to accomplish what we all consider to be imperative: to stop with illegal wildlife trade and preserve animal’s welfare.
Although we usually don't operate in regions where there is a history of non-legal trading of wild animals, the fact that we subscribe to this commitment with 'United For Wildlife' and cooperate with the Transport Taskforce will allow us to contribute to the worldwide movement.
By signing the Buckingham Palace Declaration, participating airlines are committed to adopting and encouraging a zero-tolerance policy towards the exploitation of wildlife; to raising awareness among its employees, partners and customers about the nature, scale, and consequences of the illegal wildlife trade; and to encouraging other partners to join this international "taskforce". In this context, special attention will be given to transporting cargo and goods on our aircraft, on all flights and to any of our destinations.
If you want to know what we can do to help United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce:
How Aviation Staff Can Help Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade (Europe) — ROUTES (routespartnership.org)
If you wish to learn more about United for Wildlife purposes:
United for Wildlife - Ending the Illegal Wildlife Trade - United for Wildlife
Or about other IATA initiatives that we’ve also embraced:
IATA - Environment
Social
More than just serving our customers in the daily transportation of passengers and goods, SATA Group companies reaffirm their commitment to contributing to the well-being of the community in which they operate, a dedication evidenced by actions to support charitable, cultural, and sporting initiatives promoted by the group.
We have also reinforced the implementation of corporate policies, training programs, and health and well-being initiatives, which strengthen our employees' appreciation and encourage them to offer the best service to our customers and the community.
To this end, we have implemented various tools aimed not only at increasing the efficiency of several areas of the company but also at raising the quality of the services provided to our customers and partners, aligning with the SDGs :
Changes to the onboard service of our domestic flights aim to improve the well-being of our passengers while contributing to the fulfillment of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These include:
- Renewed Menus: The new menus on board will be introduced gradually and adjusted to passengers' food preferences and needs, and depending on the schedule of each flight, will offer greater variety and balance of food groups, avoiding the repetition of similar foods, aiming to improve our passengers' travel experience and promote more sustainable practices.
- Healthy Options: We replace sugary and fizzy drinks with fruit-based alternatives, reducing the sugar content.
- Local Products: We will continue to prioritize using fresh products produced in the Azores Archipelago.
Following our Social Sustainability, Citizenship, and Volunteering policy, we have partnered up with UPNDO, a digital platform that combines gamification, positive competition, and social responsibility, measuring the physical activity of its users and combating sedentary lifestyles in the workplace. This collaboration has the dual benefit of converting the physical activity of participating workers into donations for non-governmental organizations chosen by them, generating benefits for the community.
In September 2024, the SATA Group received certification from APCER, the Portuguese Certification Association, for the NP 4469:2019 standard in Social Responsibility Management.
This certification of SATA companies in social responsibility management is not only a significant milestone in the Group's existence, but also a reflection of the genuine commitment and continuous effort of its employees and surrounding communities.
The main points highlighted by the audit included:
- Compliance with the standard's requirements: SATA's processes and practices comply with the requirements established by Standard NP 4469:2019.
- Commitment to Social Responsibility: Our ongoing commitment to social responsibility was recognized, as reflected in the various initiatives and projects implemented.
- Continuous improvement: The audit highlighted our proactive approach to constant improvement. We aim to continue to focus on maintaining and improving our social responsibility standards to ensure that the SATA Group remains a benchmark for good practice in the sector.
Governance
An effective governance system is essential in all organizations to ensure that critical risks are mapped and mitigated and that all relevant opportunities that may arise due to a changing context are identified and addressed. This includes adopting internal policies and practices, as well as collaborating with stakeholders so that they implement similar practices.
The Governance model is thus based on:
- The implementation of a management philosophy, with appropriate skills and productive capacity, in favor of fulfilling its mission;
- The adoption of best management practices, following the Principles of Good Governance, for companies in the State Business Sector;
- The development of an organizational culture focused on performance excellence that enables companies to thrive in pursuing corporate sustainability, based fundamentally on a management philosophy that considers the economic, environmental, social, and ethical dimensions.
A committed leadership, a clearly defined strategy, and solid, resilient governance are essential for effective management and an integrated approach to creating sustainable value, aligning with the SDGs
To contribute to sustainability goals, the SATA Group has developed and perfected a set of principles, policies, and tools related to ethical, environmental, and social issues that are relevant to the organization.
Learn more about them here.
The SATA Group companies have won the silver medal in the EcoVadis Index!
The EcoVadis Index is a sustainability assessment platform that provides a detailed analysis of companies' performance in four essential areas:
- Environment: Assesses how the company manages its environmental impact, including waste management, CO2 emissions, and the use of natural resources.
- Human Rights and Working Conditions: Measures the company's practices regarding workers' rights, work safety, and employment conditions.
- Ethics: Analyzes integrity and governance practices, assessing that the company operates ethically and transparently.
Being awarded the EcoVadis Silver Medal is a significant achievement that demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility and reflects our commitment to maintaining high standards in these areas.
This distinction also reflects our ongoing effort to integrate sustainable and responsible practices into all our operations and to create a positive impact on our business and society.
