As the impact of climate change continues to make headlines worldwide, it is clear that the most effective solutions will come from collective action, not isolated efforts. This is the philosophy driving NATS, a leader in the aviation sector, as they work to achieve their ambitious Target Zero promise. With a focus on reducing carbon emissions, NATS recognises the pivotal role its suppliers play in helping meet sustainability goals—and in April 2023, the company took a significant step forward by launching the NATS Supplier Sustainability Forum.
The Forum's purpose is simple yet powerful: to foster collaboration, share best practices, and inspire collective action to address sustainability challenges within NATS' supply chain. From the very first meeting with 20 companies, NATS laid out a vision of creating a community where learning and innovation thrive. Today, the forum has grown to 40 diverse companies, spanning well-known global brands to small and medium-sized enterprises, all united by a common goal of reducing their environmental impact.
What sets this forum apart is its truly collaborative approach. Rather than being a top-down, NATS-led event, the Forum encourages equal participation and leadership among all members. In 2024, the forum was hosted virtually by two members, showcasing fresh perspectives and reinforcing the idea that collaboration should come from all corners of the community. By the end of 2024, 17 different subjects had been discussed, from carbon budgets to AI & sustainability, offering members valuable insights and a deeper understanding of global sustainability initiatives such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and COP 27.
A key aspect of the Forum's success has been its focus on inclusivity. NATS' Sustainability Team provides one-on-one master classes to help less mature companies develop their sustainability strategies. This hands-on support has already led to tangible results, such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) committing to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). Moreover, transparency has improved across the supply chain, with better visibility of suppliers' emissions, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals are now integrated into contracts.
As the Forum continues to grow, so too does the sense of community. Attendees have begun to form their own forums and engage in offline discussions, further fostering collaboration and shared learning. The feedback from members has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the Forum's ability to bring new information, diverse perspectives, and actionable insights to the table. While sustainability remains at the heart of the Forum's agenda, there are plans to expand discussions to cover other crucial ESG topics in the future.
The success of the NATS Supplier Sustainability Forum was recognised in 2024 when it won the Sustainability category at the Institute for Collaborative Working annual Awards, a testament to its collaborative nature and the positive impact it is having on the broader sustainability ecosystem.
As Claire Cole and Jake Goble, convenors of the NATS Supplier Sustainability Forum, reflect on the Forum's achievements, they are filled with optimism about the future: "We have truly built a community of like-minded organisations committed to sustainability. Together, we are making meaningful strides toward a net-zero future."
