KLM Partners with Arcadis to Enhance Corporate Biofuel Program

KLM CFO Erik Swelheim; KLM Nederland Director Harm Kreulen; Arcadis NL BV Director of Finance Frans Hofstede; Arcadis NV Director of Sustainability, Investor Relations & External Affairs Joost Slooten; SkyNRG CFO Theye Veen.

KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines has entered into a partnership with Arcadis, a design and consultancy organization, to further enhance its Corporate Biofuel Program (CBP).

The group’s entry will allow KLM to further invest in sustainable biofuel. Arcadis will purchase sustainable biofuel for all its business flights.

“Renewable biofuel contributes significantly to making air travel more sustainable. Unfortunately,  sustainable biofuels are still two to three times more expensive than fossil jet fuel. KLM is trying to stimulate the market, but we cannot do it alone,” said KLM CFO Erik Swelheim.

KLM has been working to develop the market for biofuel since 2009 and is stimulating more airlines to follow its example. The carrier aims to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20% in 2020 (compared to 2010).

“For this reason, we are extremely pleased with Arcadis’ investment. Together with them and the other partners in the Corporate Biofuel Program, we are taking a step forward in making civil aviation more sustainable,” Swelheim added.

Arcadis’ entry into KLM’s Corporate Biofuel Program fits in with the organization’s aim to make its business operations more sustainable. The organisation has already invested in the relocation of its offices so they are closer to major train stations, while its offices are becoming increasingly sustainable.

“Sustainability is one of Arcadis’ core values. We want to see the payoff in everything we do – improving quality of life – not only now, but for future generations as well. That includes well-balanced air travel,” said Arcadis NV CEO Peter Oosterveer.

Other partners in the Corporate BioFuel Program include the Delft University of Technology, ABN AMRO, Accenture, FrieslandCampina, the City of Amsterdam, Loyens & Loeff, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, PGGM, and the Schiphol Group.