In face of impending climate change, reducing fuel consumption must go hand in hand with the need for stricter limits on global CO2 emissions. Towards that end, Lufthansa Cargo AG fully complies with the strategies of the Lufthansa Group (four pillars for climate protection), which span the entire range of practicable measures to greater effect. 

Environmental activities in the technical sector
Airlines and aircraft manufacturers cooperate closely in developing the most fuel-efficient aircraft for operations in global networks.  Cutting-edge technology has led to more efficient aerodynamics, lighter-weight aircraft construction and lower fuel-burn power-plants. All that together helped the aviation industry immensely to reduce specific fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 70 per cent since 1970.
At its last fleet rollover in 2004, Lufthansa Cargo replaced the last of its Boeings 747-200s with MD-11Fs. The cargo carrier in the Lufthansa Group is now equipped with one of the most modern and lowest emitting freighter fleets, worldwide. The average age of the carrier’s freighter fleet is just nine years. 
Through ongoing technical measures, we constantly endeavour to raise the efficiency of our freighters even higher. Engine washing, for example, is done more frequently, since it improves the performance and life cycle of aero-engines considerably, and helps us save about 12,000 tonnes of CO2 yearly.

Environmental measures in the operational sector
Equipping the fleet with modern and environment friendly aircraft is not the only step we took to cut fuel burn and emissions. In recent years, Lufthansa has considerably improved utilisation of aircraft capacities, allowing rising demand to be met with lower specific fuel consumption.
Additionally, we are constantly optimising our flight routes in order to reduce fuel consumption by avoiding detours. Through optimisation of the route network in the Far East, for example, we can reduce CO2 emissions by 64,000 tonnes annually. By increasingly varying flight speeds, Lufthansa Cargo freighters on long-haul flights can harness tailwinds more effectively. In the past twelve months, this new approach in flight management has saved the environment approximately 18,000 tonnes of CO2. Other measures include more accurate assessment of the fuel requirement for a flight and better approach procedures which enable aircraft to burn less fuel by using a smoother landing path. With this measure we have cut emissions by 23,000 tonnes of CO2 in the last twelve months.
We place prime importance to intelligent networking of transport providers. We are just one link in the entire logistics chain and aim to implement mobility through partnership rather than competition – for instance, we re-distribute road-feeder traffic onto rail or sea transport, wherever possible.
Aircraft loading processes (weight & balance) and our loading equipment are subject to steady improvement for obvious reasons: Bad weight distribution and balance in the cargo hold and transportation of unnecessary kilos increases fuel consumption. One example is the lightweight container. Together with Jettainer 1000 containers were tested, Thanks to composites, based on plastic, the lightweight containers are 12kg lighter than the 80 kg standard containers.  On replacement of all containers in the next 10 years 27.500t kerosene and 100,000 tons of CO2 could to be saved.

Environmental activities at cargo stations
In optimising operations, Lufthansa Cargo also aims to conserve resources on the ground and make staff increasingly aware of the need to protect the environment in everyday routine. Energy management, such as investing in new air conditioning systems or optimising lighting fixtures in offices and freight hangars, is a natural priority. So, too, is waste management: We collect plastic foil and wood for re-use or recycling, we have cargo netting and belts made or repaired at a workshop for the disabled. At our Frankfurt base, we are enhancing our environmental management system so that it meets the requirements of ISO 14001.