[April 10, 2017] |
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JetBlue Focuses on Long-Term Planning in New Environmental and Responsibility Report
JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) today released its 2016 annual environmental and
responsibility report outlining the airline's efforts to further
integrate long-term environmental planning measures and corporate
responsibility into its core business. Tomorrow is Our Business
highlights major developments including the announcement of one of the
largest renewable jet fuel agreements in aviation history, carbon
offsets totaling more than 1.7 billion pounds of CO2e emissions and the
donation of more than $2.25 million worth of books to children in need.
This year JetBlue revamped its annual report eliminating the traditional
hard copy and moving to a new fully digital version. Via responsibilityreport.jetblue.com/2016,
JetBlue is reporting its biggest moves that have most impacted business,
and corporate social responsibility initiatives that are of particular
interest to customers and crewmembers. Additionally, JetBlue is
reporting material environmental social governance (ESG) information of
interest to investors with a white
paper report produced according to the Sustainability Accounting
Standards Board (SASB) standard for the airline industry.
"Sustainability is about smart business and transparency," said Sophia
Mendelsohn, JetBlue's director of sustainability. "As one of the first
companies and the first airline to report according to SASB's intensive
standards, our focus is on smart disruption. We are not relying on the
status quo for sustainability reporting. SASB's industry-specific
standards help us present the most useful information to our investors,
further tying sustainability to our bottom-line."
SASB maintains standards for the disclosure of material sustainability
information to investors. SASB standards, available in provisional form
for 79 industries including airlines, identify material sustainability
factors that are likely to impact financial performance. SASB standards
are designed to be cost-effective for companies and decision-useful for
investors, providing both parties the ability to compare and benchmark
performance.
This year's report highlights how JetBlue is leading by example and
focuses on five key areas - environment, innovation, education,
diversity and inclusion and caring. In 2016, JetBlue invested in
emission-reducing technology, ran an airport farm and offered a heling
hand to future aviators and local communities.
Mendelsohn added, "Environmental and social responsibility are critical
to our long-term success. We are highlighting our mission of inspiring
humanity to our customers, crewmembers and community in a more concise
and visually appealing way through a dedicated microsite."
Highlights from the 2016 annual report include:
The aviation industry made history with a worldwide global carbon offset
agreement. In addition to joining the Roundtable on Sustainable
Biomaterials, JetBlue also signed one of the biggest renewable jet fuel
agreements in history.
Smart investments in new technology today better prepare JetBlue for
opportunities in the future. JetBlue remains committed to NextGen (News - Alert) and is
investing more than $60 million in technologies to create much-needed
efficiencies and reduce emissions.
Future success depends on the potential that is nurtured today. In 2016,
JetBlue provided support for crewmembers to complete their college
degrees. While, JetBlue For Good, the airline's platform for social
impact and corporate responsibility, and the JetBlue Foundation made
STEM and aviation education more accessible for students from
traditionally underserved communities.
Diversity is the blueprint for a robust business. Crewmembers from
different backgrounds are better able to anticipate the needs of diverse
customers. In 2016, JetBlue broadened its horizons by serving new
communities and encouraging crewmembers to meet their highest potential
through crewmember resource groups and mentorship opportunities.
JetBlue flies planes, but it ultimately connects people. In 2016,
JetBlue responded to crises and natural disasters in its various
communities including the Orlando shootings and Hurricane Matthew.
JetBlue For Good also built its 25th playground in an area of
need and donated more than $1.5 million to charities. While crewmembers
volunteered 170,000 hours for a variety of causes.
To learn more about JetBlue's long-term responsibility platform and to
view the full report, visit responsibilityreport.jetblue.com/2016.
JetBlue For Good: Commitment to the Environment - JetBlue For
Good is the airline's platform for social impact and corporate
responsibility focusing on the areas that are most important to its
customers and crewmembers - Community, Youth/Education and the
Environment. JetBlue depends on natural resources and a healthy
environment to keep its business running smoothly. Natural resources are
essential for the airline to fly and tourism relies on having beautiful,
natural and preserved destinations for customers to visit. The airline
focuses on issues that have the potential to impact its business.
Customers, crewmembers and community are key to JetBlue's sustainability
strategy. Demand from these groups for responsible service is one of the
motivations behind changes that help reduce the airline's environmental
impact. For more on JetBlue's conservation initiatives, visit https://www2.jetblue.com/green.
Join the #JetBlueForGood conversation on Twitter,
Instagram
and Facebook,
check for regular updates and get involved.
About JetBlue
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading
carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long
Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 38 million
customers a year to 101 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin
America with an average of 1,000 daily flights. For more information
please visit jetblue.com.

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