Metsä Group’s high-quality products come mainly from renewable Nordic wood and wood fiber. The company has long traditions and strong know-how in all its core business areas and it is active in research and development in order to develop new products and to diversify the use of its current products. Furthermore, the Group tries to find new ways to use its wood raw material more efficiently. In this effort, Metsä Fibre - part of Metsä Group, was considering the implementation of RFID-based system. Through automation, this system would offer more efficient logistics’ processes and better customer service.

Challenge

Metsä Fibre has a capacity of 2,4 million tons of pulp and delivers several different pulp grades and qualities to its customers globally. For Metsä Fibre’s customers, on-time delivery of the correct pulp product is a mission critical activity for continuous production. To ensure uninterrupted production, even in case of shipping errors, Metsä Fibre’s customers have had to keep buffer stock. Hence, a lower amount of shipping errors means a lower buffer stock needed and a more efficient supply chain overall. Metsä Fibre needed to improve the traceability of pulp units throughout the supply chain and reduce shipping errors. By implementing Vilant’s RFID solution, Metsä Fibre wished to not only improve the accuracy of the shipments, but also allow customers to trace material flow on arrival to customer mill sites.

Solution

The RFID system includes passive RFID tags, RFID readers, and RFID software. Each tag has a unique identification number encoded in them. At the Metsä Fibre pulp mills, RFID tags are encoded and automatically applied inside every pulp unit between bales. This equals 1 tag per each ton of pulp produced. The RFID tag contains the pulp unit’s grade name and production lot number. When scanned, the RFID tag discloses information to the reader. Tags may be scanned with forklift readers, gate readers or handheld readers at any point in the logistics chain.

Metsä Fibre uses passive RFID technology. The tags do not contain batteries; they use only the energy from signal of an RFID reader. The tags’ label paper and water-soluble adhesive dissolve in fiber pulping. Additionally, the materials in the RFID tag’s antenna and microchip have no impact on the frequency of deposits, holes or defects in paper and board.

Metsä Fibre’s RFID tags have been developed specifically for identifying pulp. Since the tags are not removed at any time after application, they must fully comply with the dirt count specifications and end-uses of the final products.

Vilant software connects fixed, forklift and handheld RFID readers to Metsä Fibre’s back end system. It offers global control for its RFID based logistics process. An entire shipment of RFID tagged pulp can be identified quickly and easily at close to 100% accuracy. The RFID reading is logged in Metsä Fibre’s database. This information is available through our extensive reporting tools. At ports and terminals, operators can use RFID for tracking shipments and identifying bales correctly.

The system consists of the following software:

- Vilant Engine – an embedded control software inside the reader that enhances the software functionality of off-the shelf RFID readers

- Vilant Device Manager - controls all readers and gives real-time information to Metsä Fibre’s backend system.

After extensive testing during both, the pilot and full production scale implementation, it was confirmed that the RFID tags do not affect the quality of the end product or the ongoing papermaking process.

Today, Vilant has already deployed RFID solution at four Metsä Fibre mills.

Result/benefits

- Effective & reliable way to track pulp units generates significant savings in material flow management

- Enables close to 100% accuracy of identification

- Simplifies stock management & helps to avoid costly errors

- Improves labor efficiency as there is less manual work

- In-time delivery control & real-time shipment visibility

- Improves production planning & customer service.

BELLEVUE, Washington – Trade Tech, a global logistics IT provider and supplier of cloud-based solutions for the transportation industry, has been recognized by Inbound Logistics magazine as a Top 100 Logistics IT Provider.

The annual Top 100 list is compiled each April by editors of Inbound Logistics to recognize excellence among IT companies that provide logistics solutions and services. Editors used questionnaires, personal interviews and other research to pare down a field of 300 companies to the top 100 that are leading the way in 2012. Key selection criteria included user simplicity, ROI, ease of implementation and the impact of IT solutions on business activities and processes, both internal and external.

“Trade Tech was selected for its consistent ability to deliver innovative solutions that empower logistics and supply chain excellence,” says Felecia Stratton, Inbound Logistics’ editor. “Its solutions work tactically to master supply chain transactions as well as strategically to drive the enterprise to more closely match demand to supply.” Stratton says that the Top 100 Logistics IT Providers “empower expansion into global markets and continue to offer innovative and practical solutions in the face of global economic uncertainty in some regions, and global economic opportunity in other regions.”

Companies on the list, including Trade Tech, “consistently provide the kinds of technology solutions Inbound Logistics readers need to successfully manage their global enterprises, positioning them for global growth as well as enhancing their ability to compete,” Stratton says. “As shippers, carriers, and 3PLs rely more heavily on the latest and most innovative logistics IT solutions, Trade Tech continues to be flexible and responsive, anticipating customers’ evolving needs.”

“We are honored to have made Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 Logistics IT Provider list,” says Bryn Heimbeck, Trade Tech’s CEO. “I believe it is due to our leading the way in cloud computing, which is revolutionizing the way the transportation and logistics industry does business. We have been committed to the concept of a global solution leveraging the Internet from day one. We have been continuously impressed with the economics of this strategy and, in particular, in the way that it allows small and mid-sized players to level the field and compete head on with the large players and their large budgets.”

Heimbeck also notes that this award comes at an important time in the evolution of Trade Tech’s business. “We are celebrating our 15-year anniversary in 2012,” he says.

About Inbound Logistics

Inbound Logistics is the pioneering publication of demand-driven logistics practices, also known as supply chain management. IL’s educational mission is to guide businesses to efficiently manage logistics, reduce and speed inventory, and neutralize transportation cost increases by aligning supply to demand and adjusting enterprise functions to support that paradigm shift. More information about demand-driven logistics practices is available at www.inboundlogistics.com

About Trade Tech:

Trade Tech, a global supplier of Cloud-based solutions for the logistics industry, is owned and operated by industry professionals. It also is an ERP for the freight-forwarding and NVOCC community, licensing and delivering applications in key areas, including:

 Cloud computing

 Cost optimization / pricing

 Transportation management

 Rate management

 Supply chain / purchase order management and visibility (tracking and tracing)

 Sales / operations

 Accounting

 AMS/ACI and security related to ocean and air transportation, including all Cargo Security Filing requirements, including Smart Border

 10+2 Rule Solution Provider

Founded in 1997, Trade Tech’s applications link shippers, importers, Customs House Brokers, consignees, NVOCCs, carriers, truckers, warehouses and forwarders, providing visibility of the movement of goods throughout the supply chain. Trade Tech clients enjoy access to the latest applications and data anywhere in the world every time they log on to the Trade Tech network – without any software downloads. For more information, please visit: www.tradetech.net.

VeriWise Track and Trace provides real-time data to improve the efficiency and security of transportation fleets. It is designed for quick, flexible installation on a wide range of cargo-carrying assets, with patented power management technology to provide exceptionally long battery life and years of maintenance-free operation. Track and Trace is also unique in its intrinsic safety, with Underwriter Laboratories’ highest certification for use in proximity to hazardous materials.

BASF (www.basf.us) manufactures a broad portfolio of chemicals, plastics, petroleum, crop protection products, and other materials that contribute to resource conservation, healthy food and nutrition, and an enhanced quality of life. Based in Ludwigshafen, Germany, with North American headquarters in Florham Park, New Jersey, BASF is ranked 71st on the “Global 100” list of the world’s largest companies, with 2011 revenues of more than €73 billion.

“The safe and secure transportation and storage of our products is part of BASF’s commitment to social responsibility and environmental protection,” said Steven P. Williams, BASF Logistics Technology Manager. “We are deploying VeriWise on a diverse range of transportation assets because the system improves our efficiency reliably and cost-effectively, is easy to install and maintain, and is intrinsically safe for our sensitive materials.

“We integrate real-time asset location data from VeriWise with other information systems to eliminate blind spots in the supply chain, schedule shipment deliveries more accurately, and meet or exceed government safety and security standards across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.”

Darryl Miller, Chief Operating Officer of I.D. Systems, said, “We are gratified to expand our relationship with BASF. We remain committed to helping BASF optimize the efficiency of its North American supply chain through our affordable, easy-to-deploy asset tracking systems. At the same time, we are proud of the key role our technology plays in helping BASF meet regulatory requirements for the safe transport of its products.”

About I.D. Systems:

Based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, with subsidiaries in Germany and the United Kingdom, I.D. Systems is a leading provider of solutions for securing, controlling, tracking, and managing high-value enterprise assets, including vehicles, powered equipment, trailers, containers, baggage, and cargo. The Company’s patented technologies address the needs of organizations to monitor and analyze their assets to improve safety, security, efficiency, and productivity. For more information, visit www.id-systems.com.

The logistics provider acquired the VeriWise system to optimize its investment in a new fleet of intermodal containers. The system will track container locations and provide web-based reports to optimize fleet pooling and dispatching. VeriWise Track and Trace will also dynamically update the status of in-transit loads and proactively identify and correct any gaps in customer service expectations.

“The reliable effectiveness of our Track and Trace product drives significant operational efficiencies and customer service benefits for logistics companies,” said Darryl Miller, Chief Operating Officer of I.D. Systems. “The ease and quality of our device installation was also critical for this customer. With a large fleet of intermodal containers that travel by both truck and rail, the system had to be installed cost effectively, yet survive reliably through every conceivable kind of environmental condition.”

About I.D. Systems:

Based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, with subsidiaries in Germany and the United Kingdom, I.D. Systems is a leading provider of solutions for securing, controlling, tracking, and managing high-value enterprise assets, including vehicles, powered equipment, trailers, containers, baggage, and cargo. The Company’s patented technologies address the needs of organizations to monitor and analyze their assets to improve safety, security, efficiency, and productivity. For more information, visit www.id-systems.com.

LONG BEACH, CA – May 10, 2012 – Apriso, a leading provider of manufacturing software solutions, today announced a new extension to its Global Trace and Genealogy (G-TAG™) software and services solution tailored to meet the specific industry requirements of Medical Device manufacturers. Apriso’s new offering enables greater operational flexibility by delivering timely, contextual manufacturing intelligence and product genealogy data. This new solution helps to accelerate compliance initiatives and improve both in-house and supplier quality performance throughout the life cycle of a product, ultimately helping to reduce the total cost of quality.

As international and local regulatory and traceability requirements have become increasingly stringent, the challenge to remain cost effective in compliance has become more difficult. Medical Device manufacturers must simultaneously improve responsiveness, increase tracking and performance measurement, reduce costs and maintain quality while operating under more complex, global regulatory conditions.

Gartner suggests to medical device manufacturers: “Justify track-and-trace investments through tangible benefits, such as efficient compliance, with serialization and authentication requirements, or enabling inventory management and order fulfillment at downstream customer locations,” as stated in their “Track and Trace: A Healthcare Value Chain Pulse Check” report (ID#G00209860), written by Wayne McDonnell, Hussain Mooraj and Fenella Scott in February 2011.

Apriso’s new G-TAG solution for Medical Device manufacturers provides a centralized repository and framework for collecting and storing all product genealogy and traceability data from internal systems and supply chain partners. This enables better data governance and the standardization of both structured and unstructured data that allow for compliance to emerging Track & Trace standards, achieve greater inventory visibility and more accurate order fulfillment, and of course, drastically improve life cycle management, and adverse event and recall management. As a result, G-TAG can directly impact two of the most pressing issues in the industry today: compliance with emerging regulations, and the costs associated with traditional compliance measures, which can exceed 30% of Cost of Goods Sold.

Specific capabilities include:

* Supply chain synchronization to better connect those involved in analyzing and taking corrective actions on quality issues for more timely resolution

* Standardized data in a single repository to more readily monitor quality and analysis performance so corrective actions can be identified and managed for efficiently

* Global access to electronic device history or batch records, offering better insight into managed quality activities and manufacturing operations

* Unified communications features to improve collaboration between users connected inside the firewall or their trading partners

* Workflow automation between suppliers and internal systems to faster contain issues and take corrective actions

Apriso’s G-TAG solution capabilities are derived from Apriso’s FlexNet, a scalable process-based architecture ideal for medical device manufacturing. The solution is designed to track genealogy and packaging hierarchies at a highly granular level, helping to ensure better data standardization while delivering the many benefits of a product genealogy solution. G-TAG uniquely synchronizes and tracks business processes spanning manufacturing, warehouse and quality operations – both within FlexNet and other third-party applications – on a global scale to facilitate greater collaboration across business units and trade partners.

“Medical Device manufacturers can benefit by implementing Apriso’s new G-TAG solution with a lower cost of compliance and product quality. These cost reductions can be achieved through more timely visibility and responsiveness to product quality issues across the product’s life cycle, including recall management,” said Rick Gallisa, Industry Director – Life Sciences, Apriso.

About Apriso Corporation

Apriso is a software company dedicated to helping its customers transform their global manufacturing operations. It does so by enabling manufacturers to achieve and sustain manufacturing excellence while adapting quickly and easily to market changes. Apriso’s FlexNet is a BPM platform-based software solution for global manufacturing operations management. Apriso supports global continuous improvement by delivering visibility into, control over and synchronization across manufacturing and the product supply network. Apriso serves nearly 200 customers in 40+ countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Medical Device customers include Stryker Spine, Trixell, Becton Dickinson, Terumo Medical, Wright Medical Technologies and Johnson & Johnson. Learn more at: http://www.apriso.com. Visit our blog at http://www.apriso.com/blog.

Apriso and FlexNet are registered trademarks of Apriso Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Optrak Distribution Software Limited today announced the launch of a hosted app for businesses that deliver into London who want to understand and plan for the impact of changes to local traffic regulations before and during the 2012 Olympics. The Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app will allow businesses to quickly see which customers are most at risk from the introduction of the Olympic Route Network (ORN), Paralympic Route Network (PRN) and Alternative Route Network (ARN) and specific events, such as the Marathon or the Torch Relay, and therefore who should be contacted in order to minimise disruption.

Tim Pigden, Managing Director of Optrak Distribution Software Ltd said, “The Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app is designed to help businesses overcome the difficulty generated by the uncertainty of the full impact of the ORN and PRN. Every business that delivers into London needs to identify the impact on the customer base but that is not an easy task as it means analysing each customer location and then checking different maps on the Transport for London website. The Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app provides powerful automated tools to determine which customers are affected, on a day by day basis. This allows businesses to open a dialogue with their customers on the changes that will be required, such as night-time deliveries.”

The Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app is free to use for businesses with up to 50 customers, a subscription service is offered for companies with a larger client base and corporate licences are available. Customer information such as addresses and contact numbers can be loaded onto the Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app and then overlaid onto the road network. Various filters are available so you can quickly see which customers are on or near a road that will be affected due to closure or other traffic restrictions.

The feedback on the Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app has been overwhelmingly positive, with one customer describing it as ‘the ideal tool for businesses that want clarity over how delivery routes might be affected’. The simplicity, level of detail and ease of use have all been praised.

The Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app uses a combination of the Ordnance Survey and Tfl maps. Once on the website you can zoom in to see precise street level detail that you would normally see in a SatNav system. The Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app allows you to sort your customer data by any number of criteria allowing you to rank customers according to size, value, average spend, etc. The results can be exported to Excel and given to a Customer Services team to follow up.

Mr Pigden concluded, “Different industries such as foodservice, retail, brewing and cash in transit all have different requirements and there is no universal answer, for example, is not practical for caterers to stock up on fresh ingredients. What is clear is that many businesses have been left to fend for themselves when it comes to working out how to cope with the changes. The earlier businesses start planning and talking to their customers, the fewer problems they will experience during the Olympics.”

To learn more about the Optrak Olympic Impact Analysis app please visit http://olympics.optrak.com/.

Based in Washington, Tyne and Wear, Walker Filtration is an award winning company that specialises in the design and manufacture of a wide range of industrial air filtration, drying and separation products. Addressing practically any industry where compressed air is used Walker Filtration has a worldwide customer base and an envied reputation for design innovation and technical leadership. 88% of its production is scheduled for export.

CPC started by providing simple CD duplication services for Walker Filtration price lists and followed up with a digital print solution for Product Guides which were formerly litho printed. In this instance limited run restrictions and the quality of print won through. A more substantial project followed in the form of user guides printed in three languages for a top client. CPC was able to suggest alternative ‘wiro’ binding to make the thick guides easier and more practical to use. Again limited runs made digital printing the perfect choice.

Another project, printed labels applied to the plastic bodies of filtration products was next to receive the CPC treatment. The labels had to be printed onto a waterproof substrate and easily applicable by staff on the production line. Vinyl labels on reels gave way to kiss-cut sheets of polycarbonate, providing higher quality and labels that are much easier to apply, something appreciated by staff on the production line.

Finally CPC has provided business cards. Previously litho printed the new cards are digitally printed on high quality stock, again in low runs which has proved more cost effective.

“Quality is of the upmost importance to us. With that in mind, the team at CPC understands our individual needs and suggests solutions to suit our requirements, which is exactly what we look for in a print partner,” said Ross Hamilton, Marketing Manager at Walker Filtration.

“Coming up with appropriate solutions is part of the service we offer to all our clients. In this case we were able to prove the quality and advantages of digital print in small run situations, offer more appropriate binding solutions and improve the quality and ease application of printed labels on the production line. The result is a satisfied customer whose own clients have appreciated this greater attention to detail,” said Kevin Assinder, Managing Director.

TOKYO, JAPAN – April 12, 2012 – Apriso, a leading provider of manufacturing software solutions, today announced that after a comprehensive search process, Faltec has selected Apriso’s FlexNet as their platform for manufacturing operations and inventory management. This selection was based on the need for a highly scalable, global solution to best support the company’s operations spanning five plants in Japan, a plant in Guangzhou, China, as well as their anticipated global expansion.

Greater operational efficiency, as a direct result from better visibility to inventory, was an important consideration of Faltec’s Apriso implementation. By integrating their current Manufacturing Resource Planning / MRP system with Apriso’s FlexNet, Faltec is pursuing improved manufacturing performance to plan. Better visibility can enable eventual reduction in safety stock levels for lower inventory costs.

With Apriso’s FlexNet as an enterprise standard solution leveraged by Faltec, the improved real-time visibility into inventory levels has now been achieved across each of their factories, rather than at a single, isolated plant. This effort is leading to greater Bill-of-materials (BOM) accuracy, production efficiency and awareness about control of defective goods in the field. And, of course, greater inventory accuracy across operations is expected to translate into improved reporting accuracy for customer orders, inventory tracking, resource allocations, OEE and productivity KPIs.

“Faltec is now achieving more than simply greater inventory visibility with our Apriso solution – better synchronization across production, warehouse and inventory processes is accelerating operational throughput, contributing to further performance improvement,” according to Faltec’s Production Management Department.

“We are delighted to partner with Faltec to help streamline their manufacturing operations,” said Gerry Fosnick, General Manager of Field Operations in Japan at Apriso. “Apriso’s seamless integration with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other enterprise systems helps to ensure that financial reporting objectives are achieved.”

About FALTEC Co., Ltd.

Faltec, a Japan-based automotive parts manufacturer with 1,200 employees, serves a number of global OEM automakers. Their products include automotive exterior resin parts, including radiator grills, bumpers, protector molds and door sashes, as well as aerodynamic parts, door visors, textile products and electrical components. http://www.faltec.co.jp/en/

About Apriso Corporation

Apriso is a software company dedicated to helping its customers transform their global manufacturing operations. It does so by enabling manufacturers to achieve and sustain manufacturing excellence while adapting quickly and easily to market changes. Apriso’s FlexNet is a BPM platform-based software solution for global manufacturing operations management. Apriso supports global continuous improvement by delivering visibility into, control over and synchronization across manufacturing and the product supply network. Apriso serves nearly 200 customers in 40+ countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Customers include GM, Volvo CE, Honeywell, L’Oréal, Trixell, Lockheed Martin, Bombardier, Textron Systems, MBDA, Saint-Gobain and Essilor. Learn more at: www.apriso.com.

Apriso and FlexNet are registered trademarks of Apriso Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Michael Gallo

Gutenberg Communications

+1 (212) 239-8594

mgallo@gutenbergpr.com

Gordon Benzie

Apriso Corporation

+1 (562) 951-8054

gordon.benzie@apriso.com

Apriso Japan K.K.

Marketing/PR:,

+81 3 5456 5502

info@apriso.co.jp

BELLEVUE, Washington – April , 11, 2012 – Trade Tech, a global supplier of Cloud-based solutions for the logistics industry, announced today that it is one of the first technology providers to receive certification for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). This certification allows Trade Tech’s customers, including NVOs, shippers and freight forwarders, to directly transmit and receive trade and security information with CBP via a single platform well in advance of the September 29, 2012 deadline.

ACE is the commercial trade processing system being phased in by CBP to facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen border security. ACE will completely replace the Automated Commercial System (ACS) in September and it will be the only CBP-approved EDI portal for transmitting required advance information for ocean and rail cargo to CBP. Streamlined trade and security filings under ACE will enable goods to pass more quickly through border crossings, give users better control and visibility of their assets, and allow CBP to spend less time on paperwork and more time on security initiatives.

Trade Tech’s ACE certified solution allows importers to submit required security information to CBP in a single, harmonized filing, using an X12 data set. This gives CBP a consolidated view of rail and sea shipment manifests and entry data, at either the bill-of-lading or container level to help identify shipments that may pose a risk. This information also enables the pre-arrival processing of legitimate cargo, which expedites Customs clearance for Trade tech customers.

“Our ACE solution was implemented seamlessly earlier this month and we designed it so our customers do not need to do anything differently – they simply work in the same cloud-based Trade Tech portal that they always have. They still enter the exact same shipment data elements,” says Bryn Heimbeck, Trade Tech’s CEO. “ACE is a backend system change for Customs which will bring visibility to different commercial environments, including truck, ocean and rail, and 48 participating government agencies. We are well in advance of meeting the September 2012 deadline and we are strong supporters of ACE.”

He noted that ACE was created to provide a higher visibility between participating government agencies as to what cargo was coming into the USA and from whom. “This allows the different agencies to further collaborate with one another to make better, more efficient decisions about security, targeting cargo for exams etc. and for the release of containers to expedite the flow of cargo,” says Heimbeck. All Automated Manifest Systems (AMS) and Importer Security Filing (ISF) filings with Trade Tech will now be submitted through the ACE portal.

Participating in ACE supports the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dual mission to facilitate legitimate trade and secure the Nation’s borders. ACE provides many tangible benefits for importers, brokers, and carriers, including:

 Financial savings with the periodic monthly payment capability;

 Reduced processing time at the border with features like electronic truck manifest;

 Ability to view shipment status and store data via the ACE Secure Data Portal; and

 Capabilities to develop over 100 customized reports.

About Trade Tech:

Trade Tech, a global supplier of Cloud-based solutions for the logistics industry, is owned and operated by industry professionals. It also is an ERP for the freight-forwarding and NVOCC community, licensing and delivering applications in key areas, including:

 Cloud computing

 Cost optimization / pricing

 Transportation management

 Rate management Supply chain / purchase order management and visibility (tracking and tracing)

 Sales / operations

 Accounting

 AMS/ACI and security related to ocean and air transportation, including all Cargo Security Filing requirements, including Smart Border

 10+2 Rule Solution Provider

Founded in 1997, Trade Tech’s applications link shippers, importers, Customs House Brokers, consignees, NVOCCs, carriers, truckers, warehouses and forwarders, providing visibility of the movement of goods throughout the supply chain. Trade Tech clients enjoy access to the latest applications and data anywhere in the world every time they log on to the Trade Tech network – without any software downloads. For more information, please visit: www.tradetech.net.

About ACE:

The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is a system being developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to automate and consolidate border processing. ACE will be the centralized access point that connects CBP, the trade community, and other government agencies. The development of ACE began in 2001 as a replacement for CBP’s Automated Commercial System (ACS), an older trade information database. The purposes of ACE are to streamline business processes, facilitate growth in trade, ensure cargo security, provide the tools to monitor the movement of individuals and materials into and out of the country, and foster participation in global commerce.

According to the CBP web site, ACE will benefit U.S. citizens, the trade community, government agencies, and the economy as a whole. The trade community will have a more efficient web-based interface with government agencies, reducing the cost and burden of processing transactions for both the government and the trade community. Government agencies with border enforcement and regulatory responsibilities will be better able to share information, which will improve analysis to target and analyze goods coming into the country. Finally, moving goods to market faster and at lower cost will have positive impacts on the U.S. economy.

The industry leaders, representing airports, airlines, air navigation service providers and the makers of aircraft and engines, signed the declaration in a show of unity on the issue of sustainable development. Paul Steele, Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), the organisation coordinating the Summit, said that the declaration shows that aviation takes its role in sustainable development seriously. “Sustainable development – and the Rio+20 process – is about finding ways to balance the needs of growing economies and higher standards of living across society with the need to more carefully manage the resources we are using and the impact that we have on the world. I am pleased to say that aviation is committed to doing just that.

“In 2008, we were the first global sector to commit to global cross-industry action on climate change. That declaration set the agenda for cooperative action across the aviation industry to reduce fuel use and emissions. The cooperation between industry partners and the projects underway are impressive. They have led to millions of tonnes of avoided carbon emissions. Our commitment was taken up by governments and received support from the Secretary General of the United Nations as a path forward for other industries to follow. Today, we are able to expand that commitment to take account of our other impacts – the positive role we play in economic and social terms.”

The declaration says: “Aviation brings enormous benefits to communities and economies around the globe. It is a key enabler of economic growth and social development and provides connectivity and access to markets and tourism. Air transport, currently supporting 56.6 million jobs and over $2.2 trillion of global GDP with a strong track record of fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions savings, is a strategic contributor to sustainable development.”

Paul Steele added, “While aviation has shown remarkable commitment to working on its environmental responsibility, we also need governments to step up and help craft the sustainable future we all want. Support for research and development of new technologies, sustainable biofuels for aviation and the much-needed improvements in infrastructure are vital for aviation to be able to continue its positive role, while minimising its environmental impact. One key way to do this is to show leadership through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to deliver a global framework for international, multilateral market-based measures for aviation.

“Aviation is committed to addressing its environmental footprint. But any effort to do that must be properly designed and well thought-through to avoid competitive distortions and the diplomatic tensions that we are now seeing because of the European Emission Trading Scheme. We will be the ones stuck in the middle of a trade war and that will help no-one. Let’s ensure that governments get around the table at ICAO and build a truly global scheme that will incentivise efficiency, be acceptable to all governments and – most importantly – actually reduce emissions.”

The declaration was signed by the heads of associations representing the world’s airports (Airports Council International), airlines (International Air Transport Association), air navigation service providers (Civil Air Navigation Service Providers Organisation) and the CEOs of Airbus, Boeing, ATR, Bombardier, CFM International, Embraer, GE Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce.

The declaration came at the end of the 6th Aviation & Environment Summit, where over 300 leaders from across the aviation industry gathered in Geneva to discuss the progress being made in reducing emissions from aviation through new technology, operational efficiency and developments in infrastructure.