By Eva Richardson | The Logistic News | March 24, 2025
In a surprising shift, the air cargo industry is showing signs of waning urgency in sustainability efforts, according to the newly released TIACA Sustainability Insights Report 2025. The annual survey, which gathered responses from 274 logistics professionals worldwide, revealed that only 61% of respondents feel pressure to improve sustainability — a 6-point drop from 2024 and the first decrease since 2022.
“This is one that we were not prepared for,” said Glyn Hughes, Secretary General of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA). “It’s quite a shock to see the pressure decreasing, particularly when the global discourse around climate change, ESG compliance, and social responsibility is more pressing than ever.”
A Drop Across All But One Segment
The decline is particularly sharp among small businesses, where only 44% reported feeling sustainability pressure — a 13-point fall from last year. Medium-sized enterprises remained flat at 60%, while large organizations dropped from 76% to 71%.
While this year’s numbers still surpass those recorded in 2021 (58%) and 2022 (56%), the reversal of what had been a positive trend has raised concerns among industry leaders and environmental advocates.
TIACA’s analysis suggests that recent geopolitical shifts—particularly in the U.S.—may be influencing the industry’s stance on sustainability. Hughes noted: “We’ve all seen in the press that, since President Donald Trump came back into office, the U.S. has dialed back its focus on global warming, diversity, equity, and inclusivity. That likely has ripple effects globally.”
Sustainability: Still a Boardroom Priority?
Despite the general decline in perceived external pressure, internal commitment remains strong in some quarters. The survey found that 96% of respondents say their CEOs are supportive of sustainability efforts, while 88% report CFO involvement — marking a solid shift in executive-level attention.
Additionally, 71% of companies now have a formal sustainability strategy in place. Among large enterprises, that figure rises to 84%, compared to just 60% for smaller firms.
Further evidence of internal progress includes:
- 42% of respondents have a dedicated sustainability budget
- 53% report having a sustainability team
- 84% are investing in digitalisation to improve environmental performance
- 83% are focused on innovation-based sustainability strategies
SAF and Offsets Losing Steam
Another key revelation is the drop in engagement with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and carbon offsetting, once heralded as central to the decarbonisation roadmap. Only 32% of companies said they are actively investing in SAF, while 35% are utilising carbon offsets — both representing a downward trend from prior years.
Instead, companies are pivoting toward energy efficiency and cost-effective innovation, with 72% of respondents citing it as a primary objective. Fleet modernisation and green technology are gaining traction as practical, lower-cost solutions to reducing emissions.
Beyond Carbon: The Forgotten Sides of Sustainability
While environmental issues dominate the narrative, Hughes emphasized that sustainability must be viewed more holistically. “We need to look beyond emissions,” he said. “It’s about people, too — attracting the next generation of workers, creating inclusive workplaces, using digital tools to support well-being and career development. We need a more balanced, comprehensive view.”
Interestingly, the only stakeholder group showing increased expectations around sustainability was shareholders. Respondent pressure from other stakeholders — including customers, partners, regulators, and communities — declined across the board.
A Wake-Up Call for the Industry
TIACA is now sounding the alarm, urging the global air cargo community not to lose momentum. “Sustainability isn’t just a nice-to-have,” Hughes concluded. “It is a strategic imperative. Future talent, regulators, and customers will judge us based on our actions now. We can’t afford to fall back.”
The association continues to promote tools like the BlueSky Assessment Programme, encouraging companies to measure, track, and communicate sustainability performance transparently — and to avoid complacency in a sector under mounting scrutiny.
Eva Richardson
Senior Analyst & Journalist – The Logistic News
