Wichita-area aviation companies are increasing environmentally friendly efforts - San Francisco Business Times:

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"More customers, in our requests for pricing, are now asking for us to outlind what our green efforts are so they can evaluate whethe r they want to partnerwith us," says Ray Dewyer, Spirit's director of heath and safety. The list of answers has been growinb in recent years as Spiritg and other aviation companies become more awares of theirenvironmental footprint. Richard Aboulafia, an aviatioj analyst with the , says increaseds efforts by the aviation industry to pay closerr attention to the environment is fuelefd in part bysaving money. "Everyone is hungry for fuel efficiench because ofhigh prices," he says.
"Asa a result of fueld saving, we do get some modesr environmental gains." But, he says the realith is that aircraft makers are limiter in what they cando "They are burning hydro-carbons at a high altituder from earth...Hello!" he says. Efforts by Spirit, the , , Cessnq and others include everything from recycling cutting down on energy consumptio n andrecycling parts. Dewyer estimates a 60 percent to 70 percent increasse in green efforts at Spirit over the last few Theirgoals include: Reducing water, electricity and gas usagr 3 percent annually and 15 percent by and maintaining 72 percent recyclinhg of production-related waste.
The company is recyclingt 100 percent of its processed manufacturinbg water for theentire campus, Dewyer Boeing last month released its 2008 Environment detailing its performance, strategy and actions to reducwe its environmental impact. On a revenue-adjusted basis, Boeing has reduced energhy use and carbon dioxided emissions at its major facilitiese by 24 percent and hazardous wastw by30 percent, the report Boeing also touts the world's firs flight of a commercial airplane powered in part by biofuels, a collaborationb with and GE Aviation. Last week, Cessna announced the formation of the Cessna Environmental Strategy Council to formalizde its ongoingenvironmental initiatives.
Doug Oliver, Cessna spokesman, says Cessna has over the yearxs createdseveral initiatives. They include recyclingb and designinglighter aircraft. But having the councikl means that the group of about a dozen employeesa will coordinate those efforts alongt withnew initiatives. Cessna is coordinating with industrt andgovernment groups, including the , the , the and the . Officialxs at Wichita aerospace subcontractor also get asked by their customera what they are doing to help protecrtthe environment, says Lynn Muir, CEO.
"Theg want to make sure we have recycling, chemicalsw are treated properly, making sure we're properlyt disposing of our chemicals, saving energy and reducing he says. "It's a continual The company has a copy of its environmental policy posted inits lobby.