Southwest Cares
Our Planet
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View the Environmental Report in PDF format. |
The Cornerstone of Southwest Airlines is service: service to our People, our Customers, our Communities, and our Planet. Environmental Stewardship is a responsibility Southwest takes seriously, and efficient operations are the hallmark of our Company and the foundation of our environmental commitment.
Efficient\i-fish-ent\ adj.
Productive without waste:
Webster’s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary: Merriam-Webster Inc. 1988
Efficiency means effective use of resources (energy, people, and materials), and we strive to be as productive as possible while minimizing waste and protecting the Earth. This attitude is a part of Southwest’s DNA and, as such, we are the world’s most efficient airline. Over the decades, Southwest has been at the forefront of such efficiencies as paperless tickets, quick turnarounds, installation of winglets, and, more recently, the installation of fleet-wide advanced avionics. This focus on efficiency not only makes good business sense, it is the right thing to do.
Our first Environmental Stewardship Report was created to communicate to our Customers, Employees, Shareholders, and other Stakeholders what Environmental Stewardship means to Southwest; and to highlight some of the activities and programs we have implemented over the years as part of fulfilling our responsibility.
Efficiency and respect for the environment have been an inherent part of our Culture and business approach since Southwest was launched in 1971. It is what has made us who we are today.
Air Travel and Environmental Impact
Since the first commercial flight on January 1, 1914, airline transportation has changed the way we work, travel, and spend leisure time. With steady growth of the airline industry over the decades that followed this historic event, flying has become a way of life. More than 37 years ago, Rollin King and Herb Kelleher got together and decided to start a different kind of airline. They began with one simple notion: “If you get your Passengers to the destinations when they want to get there, on time, at the lowest possible fare, and make damn sure they have a good time doing it, people will fly your airline.” And you know what?
They were right.
What began as a small Texas airline has grown to become the largest domestic carrier in America, carrying nearly 100 million Passengers a year. Southwest flies to 64 great cities across the country, and we do it more than 3,400 times a day.
Inherent to air travel is the consumption of fuel and the resulting emissions. Southwest recognizes that fuel conservation and efficiency have not only helped us achieve our goal of getting Customers to their destination as directly and cost effectively as possible, they also helped us reduce the air emissions associated with our flights.
The airline industry contributes about two percent of the US Green House Gas Emissions (GHGs), and continues to improve operational efficiency through better aircraft and emissions performance.
We recognize there are other environmental impacts associated with our operations beyond emissions. We are committed to finding the most efficient and practical solutions to combat everything from energy consumption at our gates to recycling and minimizing waste associated with maintenance of our aircraft.
Their are major environmental issues facing Southwest and we have taken steps to address them. Where available, we include specific data on our programs and provide a “relative level of equivalence” in order to better illustrate what these issues mean to us and to you.
Our environmental report is our initial publication of what will be an annual update of Southwest’s Environmental progress and performance.
We hope it will provide insight into our Culture of efficiency and Customer Service and the ways in which this translates into a better way to preserve our most vital resource — the world in which we live.
Mission and Vision
To better understand why we at Southwest take our environmental responsibility seriously, it is important to understand how we do business and how we integrate our Core Values into everything we do.
It is the Southwest Culture and our passionate desire to “do the right thing” that sets us apart.
The Mission of
Southwest Airlines
The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest
quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness,
individual pride, and
Company Spirit.
To Our Employees
We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment
with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation
are
encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all,
Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude
within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every
Southwest Customer.
To Our Communities
Our goal is to be the hometown airline of every community we serve, and because
those communities sustain and nurture us with their support and loyalty,
it is vital that we, as individuals and in groups, embrace each community
with the SOUTHWEST SPIRIT of involvement, service, and caring to make those
communities better places to live and work.
To Our Planet
We strive to be a good Environmental Steward across our system in all of our
hometowns, and one component of our stewardship is efficiency, which by its
very nature, translates to eliminating waste and conserving resources. Using
cost-effective and environmentally beneficial operating procedures (including
facilities and equipment), allows us to reduce the amount of materials we
use, and when combined with our ability to reuse and recycle material, preserves
these environmental resources.
| We understand that environmental improvements happen over time and we are committed to that journey. Below are details of Southwest’s understanding and efforts to address the environmental impacts of our business operations in the following areas: |
Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions Management
Southwest is committed to continuing to lead the industry in emissions reductions through fuel efficiency. Efficiency in fuel consumption benefits everyone, as well as the environment, and this has been part of our business model since the beginning. We have taken pride in leading the airline industry in aircraft turnaround time. Turnaround time is measured by the time spent from landing to taking off again. For each minute the aircraft is taxiing or waiting at the gate, fuel is consumed. What does this mean?
In the early days, Southwest Airlines had an average turnaround time of 10 minutes and then later, due to growth, maintained a 25-minute turnaround. In the years prior to electric power being used at the gates during these 25 minutes the plane would consume 17 gallons of fuel through the use of the auxiliary power unit (APU). Compare this to an industry average of 45 minutes, in which the plane would consume 30.6 gallons using the APU (assuming the same APU burn rate). Southwest Airlines used about half the amount of fuel that the average airline used every time a plane was turned around. For every one million flights, equivalent to one year of operations today, Southwest Airlines saved more than 13 million gallons of fuel. That equates to a savings of 274 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per every one million flights. To achieve a similar reduction, more than 22,000 passenger cars would have to be taken off the road for one full year.
Southwest has maintained its position as an industry leader in fuel efficiency and GHG reductions through comprehensive programs of reinvestment in equipment and technological innovation. Our strenuous focus on conservation has saved more than 117 million gallons of fuel in 2007 alone. Through our partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Blue Skyways Collaborative, we work with other members to voluntarily reduce emissions by sharing technology and professional expertise. To further demonstrate our commitment to improving fuel efficiencies and reducing emissions, Southwest agreed to participate in the Air Transport Association of America’s initiative to voluntarily reduce GHG emissions by 30 percent between 2005 and 2025. Following are some examples of how we take this challenge to heart.
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In 1997 Southwest Airlines began to invest in Ground Support Equipment Electrification. There have been 580 pieces of equipment electrified to date, including bag tugs, belt loaders, lavatory trucks, carts, and pushbacks. By using electric power to run the equipment instead of fuel, we have reduced the ground support equipment fuel consumption by more than 495,000 gallons of fuel annually. This is the equivalent of reducing our CO2 emissions by more than 11 million pounds or taking more than 900 passenger cars off the road for one year. |
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Since 2005 Southwest has been investing heavily in “gate services” electrification and, to date, we have converted to this new process in 61 of the 64 cities we serve. By providing electric power to our aircraft at the gates, we reduced aircraft auxiliary power unit (APU) fuel consumption by more than 15 million gallons of fuel in 2007. This is the equivalent of taking more than 27,000 passenger cars off the road for one year. |
Southwest maintains one of the newest fleets in the industry. This means we operate some of the most fuel-efficient aircraft as we have migrated from older Boeing 737 models to the Next Generation 737-700s, which we worked with Boeing to develop. We continue to work with our aircraft and engine manufacturers to increase efficiency. Our fleet shift to -700s saved more than 65 million gallons of fuel in 2007 alone! This is the equivalent of taking more than 115,000 passenger cars off the road for one year.
The Next Generation Boeing 737-700 series features winglets and is more aerodynamic than Classic Boeing models, making it one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft available today.
Southwest has invested significant dollars into the installation of the 3D Aerodynamic modification kits for the CFM56-3 engines on our 737-300 and -500 aircraft. This engine is one of the industry’s most reliable and durable. The design of this modification kit increases the engine’s lifetime, improves its fuel efficiency, and reduces its CO2 emissions. In 2007, this has resulted in more than five million gallons of fuel saved. This is the equivalent of taking more than 10,000 passenger cars off the road for 2007.
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In October 2003, we began adding winglets to our fleet. In 2007 alone, winglets have saved us more than 27 million gallons of jet fuel, or the equivalent of taking more than 47,000 passenger cars off the road for one year. |
Although we don’t currently fly overseas, adding life-vests to all our aircraft enables us to fly over water on more direct routes and reduces the number of miles we fly to get you where you need to go. In 2007, this change reduced our fuel consumption by more than two million gallons, the equivalent of taking more than 3,000 passenger cars off the road for one year.
Point-to-point travel allows Passengers to fly directly to a destination rather than having to travel through a central hub. Our point-to-point operations enable us to fly the most direct routes and reduce unnecessary air miles, thus resulting in fuel conservation and emissions reductions as compared to hub-and-spoke operations. By utilizing this approach, we are able to stay well below the industry average for passenger miles flown between points. What does this mean? For every 1 billion passenger miles flown by Southwest, we avoid more than 10 million pounds of CO2 being emitted to the atmosphere compared to the industry average. This is equivalent to the emissions produced by more than 800 passenger cars in one year.
Southwest Airlines Energy Recovery and Recycling 2007
Efficiency extends to every part of our business. Efficiency means elimination
of unnecessary waste and we take that meaning to heart. By identifying opportunities
to reduce, eliminate, or recover energy from our waste streams, we improved
our waste management efficiencies and diverted a substantial amount of material
from landfills.
In 1995, Southwest became the first airline in the world to utilize the “paperless” ticketing
system. This radical innovation resulted in savings of more than 5,700 tons
of paper and ink over the last 13 years.
Energy recovery is a process in which waste that contains British Thermal Unit (BTU) value is burned as a replacement for coal or natural gas in the production of cement.
Minimizing and eliminating waste is not something Southwest has undertaken alone. By working with the airports we serve, informing our Customers, and carefully selecting our suppliers, we achieve efficiency in waste minimization and elimination. We work with suppliers that have the same environmental values we have.
Together, we have implemented active programs to recycle the materials we use both on and off the aircraft to eliminate inefficiencies and excess waste where possible. Here are some examples of our waste minimization and recycling programs.
In 2007, Southwest recycled more than 92 tons of paper and cardboard from our Headquarter operations alone. Like our Customers, we are also concerned about waste from the aircraft and are dedicated to doing something about it! In 2007 alone, we recycled more than 2.4 million aluminum cans from our flights.
Working with our Suppliers is an important part of managing the overall waste cycle. Every day, office products such as printer cartridges and toners can quickly accumulate and cause significant environmental impacts. At Southwest, we work with our Suppliers to purchase recycled toners and cartridges and then return them for further recycling, thus extending their use and eliminating them from the waste cycle.
In 2007, Southwest recycled 2,528 toner cartridges, which saved about 445 cubic feet of landfill space.
To keep our aircraft and ground equipment in top-performing shape requires dedicated routine maintenance. Over the last 12 years, our Maintenance shops have recycled used oil, used oil filters, and batteries as part of our recycling efforts.
The oil recycled by Southwest in 2007 alone totaled 750 barrels, which is enough energy to heat and cool 135 homes for one year.
In 2007, our recycling program diverted more than 44,000 cubic feet of waste from landfills. Our energy recovery program generated more than 6.5 billion BTUs from used oil and liquid and solid paint waste, which were sent to industries where the BTU value can be recovered, diverting waste from incinerators and providing an alternative energy source.
Southwest has instituted a Green Procurement Survey that allows us to obtain information from our key suppliers on their environmental initiatives and current performance. This survey has enabled us to better understand how our suppliers perform and provides a mechanism to share Environmental Best Practices.
Environmental Education and Involvement
Our Employees and our unique Culture are the “secret sauce” that make us the most successful airline in the United States. To continue this success requires an ongoing commitment to Employee education and involvement. Southwest Employees are committed to the environmental quality of our operations and receive training on environmental compliance. Our Employees are active and engaged in our green initiatives.
Our Environmental Services Team works with all Operating Departments of the Company to assist in maintaining compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations in the areas of air, water, and waste disposal.
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Southwest’s Maintenance and Ground Operations Employees receive regular training on hazardous waste management, stormwater/pollution prevention, solid waste management, and disinfection and protection of our potable water sources. |
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Southwest Green Team |
Southwest has a Team of Employee volunteers from across the organization dedicated to furthering our environmental efforts. The Green Team is comprised of Employees from all our business functions united under one common goal of enhancing the level of our Environmental Stewardship through daily action. Green Team initiatives include:
- Identification of recycling opportunities
- Identifying operations where emissions can be reduced
- Development of Employee outreach programs on environmental issues so individual Southwest Employees can reduce their personal environmental footprints
- Development of external outreach programs to support Employee volunteerism addressing environmental issues
- Exploring and promoting Employee Ride Sharing programs in cities where Southwest operates
- Providing “EnviroAdvice” in our monthly Employee Magazine LUVLines and periodically in our daily Today@SWA newsletter
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Green Team Mission Statement At Southwest Airlines, we recognize that stewardship of our environment is an essential aspect of our business, and we are committed to continual improvement of the environmental quality of our operations. The mission of the Green Team is to identify efforts currently underway, target areas of improvement in all aspects of Southwest business, and search for ways to bring environmental stewardship to the forefront of business decisions, while remaining true to our low-cost philosophy. |
Goals
- Identify environmentally responsible efforts already in place
- Search for areas for improvement
- Make recommendations for environmentally responsible business practices
- Put a “green” filter on future business decisions
All Employees are encouraged to actively participate in our recycling programs and provide outreach to our Customers on these programs.
Community Involvement and Noise Reductions
Southwest has always been devoted to each and every community where we live and work. We understand that being a respectful neighbor and active community partner is important in maintaining the strong bonds we have established with our local communities. Protecting the local environment for future generations is an obligation we take to heart.
Aircraft noise is something that can affect the quality of life of the communities located near our operations. As with other environmental issues, we have taken steps to mitigate this problem by ensuring our entire fleet meets legal noise standard requirements. The addition of our winglets and engine modifications have yielded a quieter aircraft that creates less noise when taking off and landing, plus our Pilots typically use noise abatement procedures that enable us to minimize noise impact in communities near the airports we serve. At some of our Stations we have partnered with the local airports to construct sound barriers and other noise mitigation features. Southwest will continue to seek innovative ways through investment in technologies to reduce the noise from our aircraft.
Our Employees, Customers, and neighbors make the Southwest Family the LUVing place it is, and we are proud to offer our cities more than just friendly and affordable air service. We offer our hearts! Thousands of times each year, Southwest Airlines and its Employees reach out to individuals, families, and entire communities, providing help where it is needed. This community service extends to the many environmental issues our communities face, and, at Southwest, we address these issues not only through technological innovation, but also by rolling up our sleeves and working side by side with our neighbors.
Volunteer Events
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In 2007, Southwest Employees volunteered to clean up sections of the Trinity River in Dallas. The Trinity River is a vital recreational area for North Texas. Southwest Employees lead teams of volunteers to clean up large amounts of waste and litter from the river and adjacent banks. |
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In conjunction with our new San Francisco International Airport service, Southwest Employees came together to Share the Spirit at the Alice Griffith Public Housing Development and Opportunity Center. More than 60 volunteers pitched in to clean up yards and gardens. |
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In May 2007 Southwest Employees participated in a community graffiti clean-up in Dallas neighborhoods. Southwest Airlines put some muscle and heart into the "Wipe Out Graffiti" campaign. Fifty-two Southwest Employees proved that Southwest is a good neighbor in the city of Dallas while they "Shared their Spirit" to wipe out graffiti and pick up trash! |
Our position as an industry leader in fuel efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions is something we are very proud of and will continue to pursue. We recognize, however, that reduction of Green House Gas emissions from our aircraft is only the first step in an overall emission reduction strategy. By taking steps to reduce the amount of energy we consume, and to purchase our energy from renewable resources, we can make a significant difference in our impact on global warming.
We have initiated a number of programs and projects to reduce the amount of energy we consume, such as:
- Installation of lighting control systems that automatically shut-off office and facility lighting systems when not in use
- Incorporating green building and energy efficiency designs into the construction of new, or renovation of existing, facilities
- Where feasible, purchasing our power from renewable energy sources
- In 2008, Southwest joined a premier group of industry leaders in agreeing to participate in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Partnership Program. As part of our participation, we entered into a 60-month agreement with Reliant Energy to purchase 30 percent green-e-certified renewable energy credits.
- In 2007, Southwest was awarded the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver status for our terminal at Oakland Airport in Oakland, California. This award recognizes the significant environmental and energy conservation attributes of this facility and Southwest’s commitment to meeting California’s climate initiatives.
Southwest’s Environmental Vision for the Future
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Unlike the trips our Customers take with us every day, we believe our environmental journey has no end. We understand that our Environmental Stewardship will require ongoing nurturing and attention from all of our Employees and partners. Southwest’s future is bright and we believe the future of our planet can be bright as well if we all do our part. As part of our Environmental Stewardship responsibility, we will continue to seek efficiency in our resource utilization, challenge our Employees and partners to create environmental innovation, and commit our financial resources and talents to ensuring a better world for tomorrow. |
To achieve our vision for the future, we must start planning today. This is why Southwest will continue to change the airline industry through innovation that benefits both our Customers and the environment.
Southwest supports a solution-based approach to addressing our environmental challenges and ultimately driving our industry towards a sustainable future.
A solution-based approach means taking the lead and “walking the talk.” As we look to the future,
- We will continue to work with fuel producers and jet engine manufacturers to step up efforts to develop more environmentally friendly and commercially viable alternatives to petroleum-based jet fuel. We are actively working with other stakeholders toward this end through the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) and will continue to support the efforts of the scientific community to close the gap on the significant uncertainties regarding the potential climate change effects of non-carbon aviation GHGs.
- We will continue to lead the industry with the implementation of new navigation technology. Southwest was the first airline to commit to spending millions of dollars to outfit our entire fleet with Required Navigational Performance (RNP) technology, which is a superior approach to current aircraft navigation. RNP is more predictable and environmentally sustainable. It optimizes approaches and departures by integrating cutting-edge avionics with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. RNP-enabled aircraft can fly predetermined paths with continual monitoring that reduces flight distances and lowers thrust settings, resulting in millions of dollars in fuel savings, noise and emissions reductions, and flight safety enhancements.
- Through our membership with the Air Transport Association (ATA) and their work with the FAA’s Smart Skies program, we will continue to support the implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). This system would modernize the outdated air traffic control system (ATC) and allow for more direct routes which could further reduce GHG emissions by 10 to 15 percent.
- We will continue working with our Industry partners to design the next generation of more fuel efficient engines and aircraft.
- We will begin our engine wash program in 2008 on our 737-700s, which improves efficiency and aerodynamic qualities. We estimate this procedure will result in savings of 2.6 million gallons of fuel annually, the equivalent of taking more than 4,500 passenger cars off the road for one year.
Washing the inside of the engine removes dirt and particulate build up which helps the engine perform more efficiently and burn less fuel.
Environmental Stewardship is only the first step toward a sustainable future. It is a journey we began nearly 37 years ago. We are committed to fulfilling our mission of giving America the Freedom to Fly, while continuing to search for ways to be a better Corporate Citizen. Dedication to our People, our Customers, and our Planet is the core of our Culture. Our history of success started with a vision.
Sustainability Vision Statement
Southwest’s vision for a sustainable future is one where there will be a balance in our business model between Employees and Community, the Environment, and our Financial Viability. In order to protect the world in which we live for future generations, while meeting our commitments to our?Customers, Employees, and Stakeholders, we will strive to lead our industry in innovative efficiency that conserves natural resources, maintains a creative and innovative workforce, and gives back to the communities in which we live and work.
Sustainability Strategy
- Maintain and promote theCompany Culture
- Provide Leadership to a changing work force
- Reinforce and focus the community and charitable programs to maximize results
- Optimize fuel efficiency and alternative energy options
- Optimize energy requirements of all ground based operations
- Explore the supply chain to ensure suppliers are optimizing their energy usage and materials management
- Eliminate waste generation through source reduction and recycling/reuse where practicable
Awards
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Blue Skyways Collaborative Partner
- President's Environmental Youth Award, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Dallas Water Utilities Blue Thumb Silver Award, 2001-2006
- 2007 Port of Portland Aviation Environmental Excellence Award
- 2007 Keep Dallas Beautiful Environmental Excellence Award
- 1995 EPA Region 6 Environmental Excellence Award
