(EMAILWIRE.COM, April 20, 2009 ) San Jose, Costa Rica—NatureAir (www.natureair.com) announces its continued support to lower carbon emissions and increase environmental and English education opportunities for youth through a significant donation of money, volunteer time, and a deeper contribution to saving the planet.
Through its corporate and social responsibility programs, NatureAir is working to improve the prospects for young people, encourage and support their achievements in business and leadership, and provide educational opportunities. Statistics show English speakers on average earn 40% higher wages in Costa Rica. Nature Air´s NatureKids foundation helps local communities learn English and environmental education at little or no cost. The company continues to invest approximately $65,000 a year for operating costs, school materials, equipment, and hands on activities. This year NatureKids added a computer curriculum to its studies, as many students would otherwise never have the opportunity to work with a computer.
NatueAir reaffirmed its commitment to reducing company dependence on fuel both in the air and on the ground. NatureAir is the first airline in the world to run its entire ground operations equipment and fleet of diesel vehicles off of bio-diesel. The use of bio-diesel is estimated to reduce 160 tones of CO2 emissions per year. The bio-diesel formula utilizes recycled vegetable and cooking oils. River pollution is a growing problem in Costa Rica. According to the Institute for Aqueducts and Sewer Systems (AyA) the pollution is mostly due to sewage runoff from homes, hotels, and businesses that do not have proper sewage treatment facilities. To help prevent local restaurants and NatureAir employees from flushing cooking oils down sink drains, NatureAir pays program participants to collect all recycled or unused cooking oils.
Furthermore NatureAir reduces CO2 emissions through its fuel-efficient twin-engine planes, reduced taxi waits, and offsetting 100% of carbon emitted from every flight. The airline just embarked on its 5th consecutive year of compensations for its flight emissions, an approximately $90,000 yearly investment. 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions are compensated through preservation and reforestation of tropical forests in Southern Costa RicaÂ’s Osa Peninsula.
“Every flight NatureAir takes to the skies guarantees that a forest will be free from clear cutting. We are proud to invest in the communities we operate in which hundreds of travelers visit each day. The destruction of forests affects everyone, the children in our NatureKids schools, the local communities, travelers and most importantly the natural habitat. Times are tough but our planet is precious and we must take small steps to ensure the air we breath and water we drink stays clean and healthy for years to come,” NatureAir Founder and CEO Alex Khajav.
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About NatureAir
NatureAir is the worldÂ’s first certified carbon neutral airline, and the fastest growing regional airline in Central America. Since its inception in 2000, NatureAir has grown from flying 18,000 passengers annually to more than 140,000 in 2008. NatureAir is the only twin-engine airline in Costa Rica with both scheduled and chartered flights, and offers 74 daily flights to 17 destinations in Costa Rica, and Panama.
NatureAirÂ’s 100% carbon neutrality program ensures that every flights carbon emissions are compensated to guarantee protection and reforestation of the Osa Peninsula in Southern Costa Rica. Its commitment to saving energy extends with the use of bio-diesel (cooking oils) to run its entire fleet of ground equipment and diesel vans. NatureAir is a proud sponsor of the Rainforest Alliance, World Heritage Alliance, Climate Neutral Network and Ecotourism Society. In addition to annual contributions towards the NatureKids foundation. The World Tourism and Trade Council, Rainforest Alliance, Conde Nast Traveler and Virgin Holidays have recognized NatureAir for its sustainability efforts. For more information visit: http://www.natureair.com
