Boeing Advances Biofuels, Recycling and Conservation

From building the most fuel-efficient aircraft on the market to finding a creative second life for excess carbon fiber, innovations, new technologies and worldwide environmental initiatives are driving Boeing’s progress toward a more sustainable future.

In 2018, Boeing unveiled its new environment strategy with ambitious goals to innovate for performance, work toward excellence in sustainability and inspire global collaboration by 2025. This year, Boeing continues building cleaner, more fuel-efficient airplanes and finding innovative ways to recycle and conserve resources. These efforts, and more, are outlined in Boeing's new 2019 Global Environment Report.

In just over a decade, greenhouse gas emissions in production facilities have reduced by 28 percent over the past decade while increasing aircraft deliveries by 66 percent. Additionally, Boeing collaborates with, and invests in, companies that share a goal for a more sustainable future; This includes a new, innovative partnership aimed at reducing solid waste by about 2 million pounds (907,000 kg) annually by turning excess carbon fiber into consumer products.

Among other efforts highlighted in this year’s report:

• Partnering with a U.K.–based recycler to keep up to 2 million pounds of excess carbon fiber a year from Boeing factories out of landfills.
• Using renewable energy to power Boeing’s primary data center, saving the annual equivalent of electricity used by more than 4,000 homes.
• Working with Etihad Airways to fly a 787 Dreamliner powered partly by biofuel made from desert plants irrigated with seawater.
• Designing new energy-efficient facilities around the world, including the Zhoushan, China, delivery center and the Sheffield, U.K., manufacturing facility.
• Catalyzing development of sustainable aviation fuel, including offering customers the option of using biofuel on delivery flights.
• Surpassing 2018 targets for reducing solid waste sent to landfills, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 7.3 percent at work sites.

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.