Latest news with #GenPhoenix
Zawya
03-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Wizz Air advances customer compass plan with new aircraft milestone
The aircraft offers a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions More than decade ago, Wizz Air began to use upcycled waste materials from GenPhoenix for its cabin seats, which reduced over 80 thousand tons of lifecycle emissions The milestone marks a major step forward in Wizz Air's emissions reduction strategy – Flying Towards Net-Zero Wizz Air, EMEA's most environmentally sustainable airline, proudly announces that the Airbus A321neo—the latest-generation, most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft available today now comprises two-thirds of its operational fleet. Out of Wizz Air's total 234 aircraft, 152 are Airbus A321neo and six are A320neo, and one is Airbus A321XLR, meaning over 67% of the fleet is powered by next-generation technology. In line with its ongoing commitment to innovation and environmental sustainability with cutting-edge technologies, Wizz Air aims to operate an all-neo fleet by 2029. The Airbus A321neo will play a critical role in delivering a 7% reduction in Wizz Air's emissions intensity by 2050. The aircraft also offers a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions compared to previous generation aircraft, alongside a 50% reduction in noise pollution. Customer First Compass: Enhancing the Passenger Experience Operating an all-neo aircraft fleet is part of the airline's Customer First Compass Product pillar - its commitment to next-level travel and dedication to operating one of the youngest, safest and fuel-efficient fleets in the industry, as well as using cutting-edge tools in operations. This €14 billion initiative underscores the airline's dedication to delivering an exceptional travel experience through one of the youngest, safest, most fuel-efficient and quieter fleets in the industry, supported by advanced operational technologies. Yvonne Moynihan, Corporate and ESG Officer at Wizz Air, said: "Achieving two-thirds fleet modernisation with the A321neo is not just a milestone for Wizz Air – it's a symbol of our commitment to providing most innovative options. The introduction of our Customer First Compass earlier this year marks our dedication to investing in areas that make a meaningful impact for our customers and the planet. The A321neo is central to our strategy, enabling lower emissions while maintaining the affordable fares our customers value.' Driving Net-Zero Through Fleet Innovation Fleet renewal is one the main cornerstones of Wizz Air's Flying Towards Net-Zero roadmap, which outlines the role the airline will play in the decarbonisation. The Airbus A321neo will play a critical role in delivering a 7% reduction in Wizz Air's emissions intensity by 2050. The aircraft also offers a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions compared to previous generation aircraft, alongside a 50% reduction in noise pollution. Smart Solutions Across the Supply Chain In addition to the exterior part of the aircraft, Wizz Air also focuses on interior developments in supply chain. Since 2015, the airline has partnered with Gen Phoenix to integrate upcycled leather offcuts into its cabin seating. These materials, which would otherwise be sent to landfills, are transformed into lightweight, durable seating components that generate up to 80% less carbon emissions and use 87% less water during production[4]. What began with a single A320 aircraft has now scaled to the airline's entire fleet serving approximately 50,000 passengers daily. Through this partnership, GenPhoenix has supplied Wizz Air over 100,000 square meters of material – preventing 16 tons of waste from reaching landfill and reducing 7 300 tons of lifecycle emissions reductions annually. About Wizz Air Wizz Air operates a fleet of 234 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. A team of dedicated aviation professionals delivers superior service and very low fares, making Wizz Air the preferred choice of 62.8 million passengers in 2024. Wizz Air is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker WIZZ. The company was recently named one of the world's top ten safest airlines by the world's only safety and product rating agency, and named Airline of the Year by Air Transport Awards in 2019 and in 2023. Wizz Air has also been recognized as the "Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline" within the in 2021-2023 and 'Best Airline for Carbon Reduction' by World Finance Sustainability Awards in 2024. Wizz Air also received "EMEA's Environmental Sustainability Airline Group of the Year" by the CAPA-Centre for Aviation Awards for Excellence 2024. About GenPhoenix Generation Phoenix (Gen Phoenix) is delivering a new generation of materials for the next era of sustainability. Through a revolutionary circular process, Gen Phoenix rescues leather offcuts destined for landfill and regenerates them into premium, circular materials made from recycled leather fibre coveted by the world's most iconic brands for its beauty and durability. Since 2007, Gen Phoenix has diverted thousands of tons of material from landfill. Adaptable to a wide variety of feedstocks, Gen Phoenix's patented technology platform will make material circularity possible at an epic scale.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TômTex and Modern Meadow Dive Into the Future of Alternative Materials
Material innovation continues to bring forth more sustainable alternatives for some traditional materials, like polyester, nylon or leather. Ross McBee, co-founder and chief strategy officer of TômTex, and David Williamson, CEO of Modern Meadow, joined Alexandra Harrell, sustainability & innovation reporter at Sourcing Journal, in New York City for the Sourcing Journal Sustainability Summit to discuss the opportunities and challenges that exist along the path to the future of alternative materials. More from Sourcing Journal Inside Gen Z's Sustainability Conundrum Material World: Lubay Takes the Leap, BioFabricate's Call to Action Coach and Gen Phoenix Talk Circularity and Partnership Modern Meadow and TômTex both make leather alternatives, and Williamson and McBee said that their respective companies have already been able to solve one of the most major hurdles plaguing some material innovation pioneers: adaptability. That is to say, the ability for the materials made to be integrated into existing supply chains, without extra equipment. For Williamson, that differentiator has been paramount to Modern Meadow's value proposition. 'By having a material that has the same chemistry and functionality that the leather industry is familiar with, it allows them to basically take this material and drop it directly into their tanning and retaining processes,' Williamson said. TômTex, which uses shellfish and mushrooms as the base of its leather alternatives, said making it easier on manufacturers has remained a goal for the startup, which was honored by Time for creating one of its best inventions in 2024. 'We worked really hard to make sure that none of the processes that we do are unfamiliar to people—like all the production processes are things that can happen on existing textile equipment,' McBee told Harrell. But ease of use isn't the only supply chain consideration potential clients have taken an interest in, McBee noted. They also want to better understand where the materials are sourced—particularly in the face of geopolitical and economic uncertainties. As President Donald Trump's tariff regime rages on, supply chain professionals have prioritized further diversifying their sourcing hubs. Because TômTex focuses on alternative leather, which requires a sequence of fewer processes than spun or woven alternative materials, McBee said its supply chain is fairly transparent. That provides it an advantage when speaking to clients—but it also means those clients can more easily speak to their consumers about sustainability. 'I can tell you quite precisely, quite often, where this material came from, what we did to it and why that's important, why that's valuable,' he said. 'Then, we can help you communicate that to the customer, as well, and be able to provide the transparency that I think a lot of people really are looking for in this space when they think about sustainability, talk about sustainability.' As many brands continue to—or begin to—interface with material innovation companies about introducing novel materials into their collections, sustainability isn't the only consideration anymore, Williamson said. 'Big brands are very interested in having a robust, sustainable material that also helps them meet their 2030, 2035 goals. The smaller brands are really looking for a beautiful, high-performing material that allows them to have a specific marketing narrative,' he said, noting that now, 'Sustainability is viewed as a feature to the material, not the driving reason they're adopting.' For that reason, both McBee and Williamson said alternative materials need to have an attractive consumer story attached to them. They also need to have an attractive feel, touch and fit, particularly as brands transition alternative materials into mass market collections, rather than small, trial collections. 'It's a really interesting journey to go from both for us…to go from these sort of capsule collections to being a true industry player, to being an established thing that sort of has its own category, that people know how to think about it, people know where it slots into their larger strategies. I think that's the thing that the space really needs,' McBee said. As Modern Meadow, TômTex and other material innovation companies charge forth, barriers to entry still exist—and both McBee and Williamson said it will be paramount for legislation and consumer sentiment to further encourage the materials' many companies haven't fulfilled the hopes they set out to accomplish when they began working on alternative materials, and brands know that creating such materials can be a tall order. Williamson said, even when material innovation companies bring an excellent product to the table, they still face doubts over whether their sustainable product can create a sustainable business model that can survive in the long term. 'One of the biggest barriers we see for adoption is not, 'Does the material work?' [It's] not, 'Is it attractive and beautiful?' It is, 'Are you going to be here in three years, and is your product going to be here in three years? Am I going to make a bet on you?'' Williamson said. Once brands make bigger bets on companies like TômTex and Modern Meadow, neither McBee nor Williamson anticipate traditional materials—in their cases, leather—will disappear into the abyss. They both know the market has room for both traditional and alternative materials. 'I don't think this field is going to completely displace the long and beautiful history of [leather] or any other textile. I think the way to think about it is that these materials become part of the conversation, become part of the things that people understand can be in the world, and therefore, they start asking for them more and more and more,' McBee said. But what Williamson believes alternative material companies can provide that traditional materials cannot is a high degree of flexibility. 'The cow can only innovate so much,' Williamson joked. 'We can continue to engineer and innovate inside of our material, probably into perpetuity.' Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Podcast: Can Sustainability Survive? Highlights of SJ's Sustainability Report
Can sustainability survive? The political will toward sustainability is constantly shifting, and with the official exit from the Paris Agreement and a 'drill, baby drill' fossil fuel mentality, that answer becomes murkier every day. This has created a climate of uncertainty for eco-minded businesses seeking support from government sustainability requirements. That said, the underlying drivers of a sustainable future—innovation, tapping into cost-efficient renewable energy, and consumer demand for ethical practices—remain intact. In other words, eco-champions are a tenacious bunch. More from Sourcing Journal How Brands Can Bridge Consumers' Sustainability Knowledge and Behavior Gaps Panama Canal Opens 'Net-Zero' Transit Slot for Low-Emissions Ships Coach and Gen Phoenix Talk Circularity and Partnership Sourcing Journal dug into the situation with its State of the Industry Sustainability Report, released the same day as its Sustainability Summit in New York. In this podcast, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studio, chats with Jasmin Malik Chua, SJ's sourcing and labor editor, and Alex Harrell, SJ's sustainability & innovation reporter, about the industry's progress. To listen to the podcast,
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panama Canal Opens ‘Net-Zero' Transit Slot for Low-Emissions Ships
The Panama Canal will open a new transit slot exclusively for low-carbon emissions vessels this fall as the trade artery reaffirms its dedication to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As of Oct. 5, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) will implement the first phase of a weekly 'net-zero slot' for Neopanamax vessels, which are larger container ships that have a maximum length of 1,215 feet and a 44-foot draft. More from Sourcing Journal Coach and Gen Phoenix Talk Circularity and Partnership Port Fees on Chinese Ships Would 'Distort Competition,' But Who Benefits? The Business Case For Sustainability This slot will not be offered through an auction but through a selection process during the period held between 30 and 15 days before the transit date. The slot will be allocated to vessels based on cargo condition and capacity. Cargo-laden vessels and those with larger tonnage capacity will have priority, the ACP says. Container ships represented 23 percent of transits throughout the Panama Canal in February, the most among all vessel categories. They already have initial booking and transit priority through the canal compared to their counterparts like dry bulk carriers and chemical tankers, which enabled them to largely circumvent many of the long queues caused by the months-long drought that took place throughout the second half of 2023 into early 2024. The new slot would benefit container shipping giants ordering more dual-fuel vessels for their fleet, and is designed to further push these carriers toward their decarbonization initiatives, according to the ACP. 'By motivating investment in vessels capable of using low-carbon fuels and energy-efficient technologies, we are recognizing and rewarding our clients who are leading the transition toward a more sustainable future, while we await the development of regional infrastructure and logistics that will allow us to make steady progress toward global decarbonization goals,' said Ilya Espino de Marotta, the ACP's deputy administrator and sustainability officer. Vessels that can gain access to the net-zero slot will be able to choose the transit date within the week offered and have a guaranteed transit window of 24 hours. The first phase will accommodate vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines that use fuel with a carbon intensity of less than 75 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule—a unit used to measure the carbon intensity or greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing and consuming a fuel or activity—from extraction to combustion. Specifications for a second phase are planned for 2026 and will be announced at a later date. Vessels will have to submit a technology screening report that evaluates energy efficiency technologies applicable to the ship. The announcement followed recent modifications to the canal's long-term slot allocation (LoTSA) system, which is the auction process established last year for Neopanamax vessels to secure transit slots up to a year in advance. Based on customer recommendations, starting April 27, the Panama Canal will introduce an option where LoTSA slots customers can request swaps and substitutions with each other. As many as 38 vessels across Neopanamax and smaller Panamax ships pass through the canal daily. The added net-zero slot and the LoTSA swap come as the Panama Canal itself remains the center of U.S. foreign policy concerns. The canal has been of interest to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has asserted that he wants to 'take back' the canal over allegations of Chinese influence over the waterway. Trump's rhetoric likely had a hand in the sale of two of the ports on both sides of the canal, in which Hong Kong-based port operator CK Hutchison Holdings transferred majority ownership of the Balboa and Cristóbal hubs to an entity led by BlackRock that also includes Mediterranean Shopping Company (MSC). That sale has caused an uproar in China and Hong Kong alike, with Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly furious over the deal's occurrence. Nevertheless, a Bloomberg report Wednesday indicated that the Hutchison-BlackRock deal is moving ahead as scheduled, with the parties still aiming to sign an agreement as planned by April 2. Both deals within the larger $23 billion transaction—the agreement over the Panama ports and the wider sale of 41 other CK Hutchison ports—are progressing, the publication said. Business tycoon Li Ka-Shing, the chairman of CK Hutchison and Hong Kong's richest man, may be the fall guy as the ports shift ownership. According to Bloomberg, Beijing has instructed state-owned companies to pause new deals with Li and his family. Existing tie-ups are not affected. Under the directive, state enterprises wouldn't immediately get approval for business activities linked to Li. A report from the South China Morning Post disputes this directive as 'not true.' China's primary antitrust regulator is looking into the ports sale for potential national security and antitrust violations.
