The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today announced the launch of the Integrated Sustainability Program (ISP), a comprehensive, world-class certification and management framework designed to validate and elevate sustainability performance across the global airline industry. The program was unveiled at the IATA World Sustainability Symposium (WSS) in Hong Kong.
The ISP is specifically tailored for airlines and builds upon the successful IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA). It provides a full management, assessment, and certification framework for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
“The comprehensive ISP certification program validates that an airline is managing its sustainability efforts at the highest level and in the broadest context,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist. “It achieves this by integrating the monitoring of environmental, social, and governance measures, providing all stakeholders, regulators, and customers with a transparent view of progress. This framework is practical, informs decision-making, and ensures that airlines’ efforts are aligned with global best practices.”
A Four-Pillar Framework
The ISP offers certifications and modules that can be pursued individually or as a fully integrated program. Each certification is subject to a recurring two-year cycle of independent assessment. The program includes guidance, tools, and assessments across four critical modules:
- Environmental Management: Incorporates the pre-existing IEnvA program (aligned with ISO14001:2015), which helps organizations systematically assess their environmental footprint, manage compliance, and develop targeted plans for emissions, waste, and water.
- Sustainable Procurement: Integrates ISO20400:2017 standards to empower airlines to evaluate and improve the sustainability of their supply chains and the goods and services they buy.
- Social Responsibility: Aligns with ISO26000:2010, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and OECD guidelines to help organizations map social risks and opportunities, covering customer protection, human rights, and community engagement.
- Sustainability Performance: Provides the framework to accurately measure and monitor environmental, social, and governance performance, supporting transparent reporting and informed decision-making aligned with evolving investor and regulatory ESG requirements.
First Airlines Certified
In conjunction with the launch, IATA announced the first two carriers to receive certification under the Sustainable Procurement module of the ISP: Air New Zealand and EVA Air.
“As New Zealand’s national airline, we’ve always had a responsibility to help our people and communities thrive. For Air New Zealand, sustainable procurement means building on the collective strength and innovation of our supplier network, and working together to create better outcomes for people and the planet,” said Kiri Hannifin, Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer. “By backing IATA’s new ISP, we want to play our part to help lift standards across aviation, and demonstrate that doing what’s right is about doing good business.”
Jason Liu, Chief Sustainability Officer at EVA Air, commented, “Earning this certification marks a key milestone in EVA Air’s sustainability journey, reflecting our commitment to integrating sustainability into procurement and collaborating with partners to build a more resilient supply chain.”
Future Outlook
While the ISP is currently only available to airlines, IATA intends to evolve the program over time. Future development plans include expanding the framework to cover other key aviation stakeholders, such as ground handlers, cargo handlers, airports, MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), and caterers.
