Sustainability at 30,000 feet

To fly means that you are overcoming the effects of gravity and physics; a challenge not faced by other modes of travel. With current aviation technology, there are minimal low-carbon alternatives to travel efficiently over long distances. The upside is that consumers and climate activists are shining a bright light on the aviation sector, intensifying pressure for manufacturers and industry groups into action. Magnifying this urgency for change is our global commitment to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030.¹ 2023 registered as the hottest year on record and indicators are “off the charts” — greenhouse gas levels, increased surface temperatures, ocean acidification, and sea level rise to name a few.²

Let’s take off and examine the aviation industry today

Private jets emit only a small fraction of emissions compared to the commercial aviation industry, but their per-passenger environmental impact is far higher.³ Based on European data, CO2 emissions from private aviation grew by 31% between 2005 and 2019.⁴ Despite COVID-19 putting a temporary halt to that growth, it has since bounced back and continues to grow faster than commercial aviation.

In 2016, 192 countries signed the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The agreement is a global offsetting scheme whereby aviation companies must address their international flights either by using alternative fuels or offsetting emissions. While this helps address commercial flights, it is not applicable to private charter companies with domestic flights.

VIH Execujet, a private charter company based out of British Columbia, decided to tackle their emissions head on. We sat down with Mr. Dave Des Roches, Director of Business Development at VIH Execujet, to learn more about the team’s sustainability practices and how they’re putting environmental responsibility at the core of their brand identity.

Who is VIH Execujet?

VIH Execujet is a full-service aviation company based at the Victoria International Airport in B.C. that is working diligently to make a positive difference in their industry. Founded in 1955, this family-owned company has grown to a team of over 300 employees and provides private, executive jet, and helicopter services and maintenance.

Recognizing the environmental impact of their services, VIH Execujet partnered with Bullfrog Power in 2023 to help address their Scope 1 emissions by supporting offset projects and mitigate the carbon footprint of their charter fleet.

How Bullfrog Power is helping VIH Execujet reduce their environmental impact

Part of Bullfrog Power’s mission is to help reduce the environmental impact of those ‘hard to reach’ industries. We calculated the carbon emissions from their planes by finding out the amount of fuel burned per hour.

VIH Execujet purchases high-quality carbon offsets from Bullfrog Power to address their annual Scope 1 CO2e emissions. Scope 1 GHG emissions are from fossil fuel consumption in owned or controlled assets such as buildings, vehicles or equipment.​ In VIH's scenario, it is the gas they use to fuel their fleet of jets.

As a CDP-accredited provider, we facilitate high-quality disclosures of corporate climate change data and help companies accelerate their journey to environmental leadership. Our team values strong partnerships and understanding the sustainability goals of the organization. We work diligently to meet our customers’ expectations and provide knowledgeable, professional, and solutions-oriented services.

Can you tell us more about how sustainability fits into your business model?
“Behind safety, we view sustainability as one of the top priorities for the future of VIH Execujet. There are emissions that result from our operations, and we take responsibility for these. It’s not enough for us to offset the carbon footprint, we want to lead and model, which is why our contribution exceeds our offset amount.”

Why is it important for your business to address your Scope 1 emissions?
“The Scope 1 emissions are, by definition, those that we have direct control or responsibility over. This is a family-owned company and has been since 1955, so the understanding and responsibility for future generations is baked into our corporate DNA. By taking responsibility for environmental impacts that we can control, we’re working to safeguard the future, right now.”

How did Bullfrog Power assist your company’s mission to address your Scope 1 emissions?
“Bullfrog provided a pathway for taking corporate responsibility and action over Scope 1 emissions through carbon offsetting. By seeking positive change, we reinforce that we are concerned about our carbon footprint and responsive to the concerns of our ownership, clients and staff.  Through our partnership with Bullfrog, we are addressing these concerns and aligning with the best in class because that’s what our community deserves.”

Many companies in the industry have a desire to reduce their Score 1 emissions but are concerned about the complexity and steps of undertaking the project. What advice do you have for them?

“The steps VIH Execujet took were straightforward and can provide a roadmap for other professionals looking to improve their company’s sustainability in the aviation industry. We first set out to understand the concerns of all of our stakeholders, the customers, employees, and the community we operate within. What we found out was that, across the board, there was a desire for accountability and action. From there we audited the scope of our emissions. The next step was crucial, finding the right solution to help mitigate the impact. During this research phase, we were introduced to Bullfrog Power where it was clear we were aligned.”

How Bullfrog Power can help your business address it’s carbon footprint

Since 2005, we’ve helped businesses of all sizes address their carbon footprint and meet ambitious targets through our accessible, flexible, and regional sustainability solutions.

From turnkey green energy options for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions to helping organizations address their carbon footprint through our green electricity, green natural gas, green fuel, and carbon offsets.

To close our conversation, Mr. Des Roches summed up Bullfrog Power’s approach by saying, “Bullfrog Power’s team provided expert knowledge in identifying and measuring our Scope 1 emissions. They tailored their offsets solution to meet our specific goals, objectives and budget and we’re confident in the end result.”

If you are inspired by Mr. Des Roches and VIH Execujet’s story and are thinking about addressing your company’s footprint, Bullfrog Power can help. We’ll share our approach to reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and walk you through the importance of businesses addressing their carbon footprint and making a positive difference in their communities.

In addition, we help you spread the word of your environmental commitment through free marketing materials, tools, and collateral, and we share stories and news from the wider bullfrogpowered community. Talk to our team today: sales@bullfrogpower.com.

To find out more about VIH Execujet and our partnership, visit: https://www.vihexecujet.com/carbon-offset

Sources:

1. United Nations. "Net Zero Coalition." United Nations, www.un.org/en/climatechange/net-zero-coalition#:~:text=to%202019%20levels.-,To%20keep%20global%20warming%20to%20no%20more%20than%201.5%C2%B0,reach%20net%20zero%20by%202050. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
2. World Meteorological Organization. “Climate Change Indicators Reached Record Levels in 2023: WMO.” World Meteorological Organization, 6 Oct. 2023, https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/climate-change-indicators-reached-record-levels-2023-wmo. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.
3. Sun, Junzi, Xavier Olive, and Martin Strohmeier. "Environmental footprint of private and business jets." Engineering Proceedings 28.1 (2022): 13.
4. Transport & Environment. "Private Jets: Can the Super-Rich Supercharge Zero-Emission Aviation?" Transport & Environment, 27 May 2021, https://www.transportenvironment.org/articles/private-jets-can-the-super-rich-supercharge-zero-emission-aviation. Accessed December 12, 2024.