The Green Cabin Alliance (GCA), an organisation working to reduce the environmental impact of aviation cabin interiors and push for global cabin sustainability standards, has announced the formation of its advisory board, which represents critical skill sets and viewpoints from across the industry.
The board comprises four advisory board members: Karen Hills, sustainability leader for payloads engineering at Boeing, Eric Ezell, head of cabin & cargo innovation at Airbus, Christopher Dela Rosa, principal cabin product & experience manager at Alaska Airlines, and Catherine Barter, assistant manager, customer experience design – aircraft seating product at Cathay Pacific Airways.
The advisory board, which will meet four times a year, will contribute to the strategic direction and thought leadership of the GCA, and oversee the operation of the organisation. Together they will apply their expertise to assess the product lifecycle of cabins and cabin products, from design through manufacture, through to usage and disposal. They will support GCA members to create a step change in sustainability for the aircraft interiors industry.
Elina Koopla, founder and director of the GCA, said of the board appointments: “Our members make the Green Cabin Alliance what it is, and help to push us towards our industry goals. The advisory board will act as strategic leadership for GCA and ensure we continue to set and achieve stringent goals for circularity in the industry. We look forward to the collaboration that this new step can bring to our organisation.”
Here’s what the GCA advisory board members have to say:
Karen Hills, sustainability leader for payloads engineering at Boeing: “Our common goal is to reduce the impact on our planet while maintaining and growing the societal benefits of air transportation. The Green Cabin Alliance is doing exactly that – bringing together different members in the value chain to work towards our common goal. Cabin interiors present a challenge and an opportunity for collaboration – where Boeing and our partners can work together to improve sustainability.”
Eric Ezell, head of cabin & cargo innovation at Airbus: “It’s a privilege to be able to join this alliance as we can only succeed through collaboration and exchange. We need pioneers and allies in all parts of our industry, who share the passion to bring sustainability into all aspects of our work. Hence, the Green Cabin Alliance represents a great opportunity to meet and connect, share best practices, and build momentum for a more sustainable cabin and cargo in the future.”
Christopher Dela Rosa, principal cabin product & experience manager at Alaska Airlines: “I’m fortunate enough to work for a company that recognises this tremendous responsibility we all share and has made a strong public commitment with the goal of carbon net-zero by 2040. As an interiors expert, I would love to leave my space better than I found it, and as an advisory board member, I look forward to helping grow the mission and messaging of the GCA with like-minded experts.”
Catherine Barter, assistant manager, customer experience design – aircraft seating product at Cathay Pacific Airways: “I have been wanting Cathay Pacific Airways to join the Green Cabin Alliance for some time now. Cathay wants to be the number one airline in the world; we should show up for the tough conversations, such as how we are going to reach our 2050 target. Cathay Pacific Airways is already an adopter of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, but we also have an incredible opportunity to help inform and make change within the industry. I want to help advocate for this change and the educational aspect. People must know how to make an informed decision that is also tangible and based on the global picture.”
For more information about the Green Cabin Alliance, visit: https://greencabinalliance.org/
If you would like to join the GCA, contact joinus@greencabinalliance.org
