Duncan Aviation has recently been certified to the National Air Transportation Association's Sustainability Standard for Aviation Businesses. The standard encourages reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased use of more environmentally friendly energy sources, reduced waste and sustainability measures throughout the company.

“Sustainability is a current business buzz word because it is important,” says Duncan president Jeff Lake. “As a society, we need to look for better ways to do things, ways that leave less of a footprint on the earth and that make a positive impact on the environment we will leave our children, grandchildren and future generations. Sustainability is a core value that Duncan Aviation team members identified years ago as something the company should focus on and improve.”

There are many ways the company strives to be a better steward of resources and to work toward environmentally friendlier processes and facilities. Concrete examples can be found in the recent construction of the company's full service MRO facility in Provo, Utah, and in its planned 2022-2023 expansion construction projects in Battle Creek, Michigan and Lincoln, Nebraska. These include technology and processes that eliminate airborne waste products connected to aircraft painting, that effectively treat waste water and that responsibly dispose of remaining hazardous waste. The company also uses daylight harvesting and natural light wherever possible, has installed efficient radiant floor heating systems, used LED lighting and constantly weighed the costs and benefits of adopting greener processes and products in all areas companywide.

Duncan Aviation has also employed environmental supervisors who create sustainability goals every year. These initiatives include using products that are environmentally friendly, supporting vendors who also value sustainability and encouraging recycling and re-use wherever possible.

“We noticed a big improvement years ago when we gave team members who are passionate about green initiatives the latitude to develop and implement ideas through a committee initially called the Green Team,” says Kelly Becker, environmental supervisor for Duncan's Lincoln location. “We partnered with community volunteer organisations to organise various recycling and conservation educational efforts. Results included things like roadside cleanups, clothing and coat drives, and even a competition to see who could make award-winning items from recycled pallets or repurposed items. Robert Duncan himself is an electric car supporter, and he made sure we installed electric vehicle charging stations at all of our full service facilities.”

Duncan Aviation is committed to sustainability practices at all levels and is working with community leaders to ensure the company is supporting community sustainability goals. “In the future, you can expect to see increased use of GSE equipment powered by renewable energy sources and deliberate research and implementation of programmes related to SAF, green power/carbon offsets, as well as new ways to include team members and customers in sustainability goals,” adds Lake.