Throughout the world, companies are employing ESG strategies to enhance their businesses.
Originally used as a philosophy for finance and investing, ESG – or environmental, social and governance – initiatives have expanded into a structure that evaluates a company’s business practices.
Among other goals, ESG programs aim to enhance sustainability practices, create positive working environments with employees, customers and communities, and guide corporate governance procedures.
With lofty environmental targets on the horizon and safety as a top priority, the aviation industry – including the ground support equipment and ground handling markets – is taking action to employ ESG programs in various ways.
Combining safety with brand recognition is a valuable strategy for businesses involved in transportation and logistics – as well as any industry that requires safety regulations like ground handling, advises Nick Tykoski, CEO at Safety Decals.
To improve the safety of ground handlers working on the ramp while keeping environmental impact at a minimum, Safety Decals embarked on a partnership with Orafol Americas to create custom Department of Transportation (DOT) conspicuity tape to achieve this goal.
“We have effectively developed custom DOT conspicuity tape that has been granted approval by the DOT,” Tykoski says. “This enhances the visibility and safety importance of both our company and our customers’ businesses.”
Working with Orafol was an important component of this project. In addition to complying with safety regulations, Orafol takes key steps to protect the environment during the manufacturing process.
Orafol’s company headquarters has a customized environmental management system certified to ISO 14001 standards. Regenerative incinerators are used to reduce emissions from manufacturing processes and improve air quality.
Energy efficiency is maximized by returning the recovered heat to the production process and the heating system, creating a closed raw material, energy and resource cycle, according to Orafol officials. What’s more, in-house environmental lakes are designed to minimize the environmental impacts of production and protect the health of employees and the surrounding community.
While Safety Decals’ mission to responsibly source and develop DOT-certified tape for ground support equipment applications succeeded, challenges were met along the way. Tykoski notes that finalizing the CMYK colors in accordance with industry standards while maintaining the integrity of the reflective material proved difficult.
With that challenge solved, Tykoski reports feedback has been positive.
“It was a fulfilling journey with numerous adjustments, but the effort was absolutely worthwhile," Tykoski says.
