Sustainability Planet | Te Taiao
Planet | Te Taiao
Our purpose is to connect New Zealanders to each other and the world, but as part of an industry reliant on fossil fuels, this comes at a cost to the environment and contributes to climate change.
Our 2050 target
We're working towards net zero carbon emissions from jet fuel by 2050.
Like all airlines, Air New Zealand's business model currently relies on fossil jet fuel, so we're a large emitter of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other equivalent gases (CO₂-e).
Each year we produce an Annual Report and a Climate Statement (that includes our 2030 Emissions Guidance) to support this approach. You can also read our Transition Plan to net zero carbon emissions from jet fuel by 2050.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is our most important lever to reduce aviation emissions. It is available today, works in current aircraft and infrastructure, and is certified and safe to use. Our other key decarbonisation levers are:
- Fleet and network
- Operational efficiency
- Carbon credits
Climate Statement
Aotearoa New Zealand relies on aviation for trade, tourism and connectivity. However, both our airline and the sector overall will face climate-related risks as we transition to a low emissions, climate resilient economy.
Air New Zealand publishes a Climate Statement each year in August, with the airline publishing its first Climate Statement in 2024, as required by the Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Standards (NZ CS), structured around the four mandatory sections of the NZ CS. Prior to the introduction of the NZ CS, Air New Zealand voluntarily reported against the Task Force for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework - from the 2020 financial year.
2030 Emissions Guidance
Air New Zealand also publishes annual 2030 Emissions Guidance, which aims to provide a regular and transparent assessment of the airline’s expected net emissions in 2030.
Circular economy
We aim to design, buy and use products and resources that support the circular economy, and actively work to reduce waste.
As an airline, we use a wide range of materials across our operations that create waste. Exploring ways to rethink what we buy, how we use it, and opportunities to reuse and repurpose materials is a key focus for Air New Zealand.
View our 2026 Annual Report, and our waste targets to find out more.
Our new uniform includes materials such as organic cotton for men's shirts, a recycled polyester and wool blend for the suiting, and recycled polyester for women's dresses and shirts. As our current uniform phases out, we are exploring onshore and offshore recycling options and working on circular solutions when uniforms reach their natural end-of-life through wear and tear as well. One programme we're trialling recycles uniforms into reusable signage, acoustic panels and packaging, with further circular innovations to come as they become viable.
Supporting nature together
We help restore and regenerate nature in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We're the national partner of the 'paw-some' Conservation Dogs Programme as part of our long-standing partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC). Together with DOC, we also support more than 40,000 hectares of sustained predator control alongside five Great Walks, and the Bats Beyond Borders programme, advancing research and conservation management of New Zealand's threatened native long-tailed bats. One of the most treasured parts of our DOC partnership is the role we play as the airline of choice for some of New Zealand's most threatened species.
We're proud to partner with Trees That Count to support native forest restoration, biodiversity and resilience in Aotearoa New Zealand through our Voluntary Emissions Contribution Programme. To date, Air New Zealand customers have funded more than 500,000 native trees across more than 50 nature, biodiversity and restoration projects.
Air New Zealand's Climate and Nature Fund is funded by an internal carbon charge on select ultra long-haul flights, plus any profits from our loyalty partnership with Z Energy. In the 2026 financial year, the Climate and Nature Fund raised $7.4m, and funded initiatives including supporting two potential domestic SAF projects with Seadra and LanzaJet, the lease costs of the BETA ALIA CX300 electric aircraft, supporting hydrogen fuel cell testing at our Auckland Airport campus, Department of Conservation (DOC) biodiversity projects, the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience Awards, and SAF costs.
