By Lisa Khajavi
The Nature Group of companies again is blazing a trail to be leaders in the travel industry on the quest to be greener. NatureAir has kicked off the very first Costa Rican alternative fueling station through its own aviation fueling company, Aerotica.
Since June 2008, Aerotica has been offering biodiesel in addition to aviation gas and jet fuel. The biodiesel is from 100% recycled vegetable oil and can be used in any ground vehicle that runs on regular diesel. NatureAir, Costa Rica Nature Vacations, and Aerotica (both fuel company and the eponymous flight school), use only biodiesel for all diesel ground or fleet vehicles. These include airplane tugs, fuel trucks, delivery trucks, and vans. Even employees are able to purchase biodiesel for their personal diesel vehicles. NatureVacations clients, when being transferred by ground, enjoy comfort and style in Mercedes vans powered by 100% biodiesel.
Currently, the airline purchases the refined biodiesel from a local provider, and the supply is complemented by used cooking oil brought in from the homes of NatureAir employees. Some employees have visited local restaurants to increase the amount collected, thus saving even more used oil from entering rivers. NatureAir supplies the receptacles with small filters free of charge to employees. A program to increase the amount collected is being developed to incorporate local school cafeterias and more restaurants. Additionally, the ability to sell biodiesel on a retail basis in the future is being analyzed. The aforementioned ground vehicles all proudly display these stickers:
NatureAir purchased Aerotica, now almost fifty years old, in 2003. In 2000 NatureAir burst onto the scene making the huge commitment to be Costa Rica’s only, and the world’s first carbon neutral airline, recently recognized by the United Nations Environmental Program for this achievement. Other organizations that have recognized NatureAir’s achievements in responsible travel include the Rainforest Alliance, Conde Nast Traveler, Virgin Holidays and others. Originally, the purchase of Aerotica was to secure the most important resource to the airline. This enabled the fuel to be of the highest quality (proper filters, tanks, delivery) and that the fueling process would be controlled by NatureAir, thus ensuring safety and on-time performance.
While not directly involved in the costly development of a sustainable aviation fuel, the airline is cautiously optimistic that there will be a viable alternative fuel in the next five years. Based on its commitments to the environment at present, it is certain this company will be at the head of the line for their fleet. NatureAir continues to be dedicated to being the world’s most environmentally friendly airline, in spite of the very difficult challenges in this current marketplace.
“This program is an important milestone in NatureAir’s dedication to protecting the environment and conserving our natural resources,” said NatureAir Founder and CEO Alex E. Khajavi. “We wanted to do something beyond our carbon-neutrality airline program. The world’s natural resources are precious and this alternative fuel program is a step in the right direction to keeping our air and waters healthy.”
Costa Rica has a wonderful opportunity to capitalize on its well earned reputation as an ecotourist destination committed to conservation of the environment. This can only happen by companies walking the walk, not just talking the talk by ‘green washing’. NatureAir, and its group of companies, including NatureVacations, is leading the way by pioneering legitimate efforts to protect and conserve the environment. The hope is that other companies take the lead and do the same.
