Name: Angela Foster-Rice
Title: Managing Director, Environmental Affairs & Sustainability
Company, city: United Airlines; Chicago, Ill.
Number of employees: 82,000
Recent project: I was honored to be part of an international airline delegation that worked with governments to reach an agreement among 190 countries to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation. The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization reached that agreement in October 2016.
First job: Washing dishes at my dad’s pizza parlor at age 12
Little-known fact about you: I enjoy choreographing dance routines with my children—ballet, jazz and hip-hop—and we always have a great time.
Your Business
What innovations or initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next few years? I expect a growing use of sustainable aviation biofuels, which can substantially reduce the carbon emissions associated with flying.
What is the best career advice you’ve received? I was inspired by a quote from Anaïs Nin: “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Be confident and take the leap.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the field? Learn to collaborate. The proverb holds true: if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.
Angela Foster-Rice as a Traveler
Favorite travel memory or story: One of my most memorable trips was a meeting of environmental leaders from international airlines held in Kruger National Park. The setting of a world-class wildlife preserve added urgency and purpose to our discussions and underscored the importance of protecting the environment.
One travel tip you cannot live without: Use travel apps. I rely on the United Airlines app, ride-sharing services like Uber, Google Translate and other trip-planning tools that keep improving and make travel smoother.
Best advice for business travelers: Apps are useful, but don’t get lost in your phone—stay aware of your surroundings and engage with the environment and people around you.
About United Airlines
Tell our readers more about Eco-Skies at United Airlines.
Eco-Skies reflects United’s commitment to operating in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. Our environmental work is organized under four pillars: fuel efficiency and emissions reduction; sustainable fuel sources; sustainable products and waste management; and stakeholder and customer engagement.
We have made significant gains in fuel efficiency through fleet modernization, aircraft modifications and operational measures, improving fuel efficiency by more than 40 percent since 1991. While efficiency gains will continue with new technologies and operations, sustainable aviation biofuels offer one of the most promising paths to reduce aviation’s carbon intensity further.
Eco-Skies also focuses on the passenger experience and reducing its environmental footprint. For example, we recycle unused first- and business-class amenity kits through the organization Clean the World for distribution to homeless and women’s shelters. We continue to green our supply chain—from introducing sustainably sourced illy coffee onboard to electrifying more ground service equipment used to move baggage and people around airports.
What are the latest advances in alternative fuel initiatives?
Since 2009, sustainable aviation biofuels have progressed from test flights to routine operations. United is a leader in this area and was the first U.S. carrier to incorporate biofuels into ongoing operations at our Los Angeles hub.
We have an agreement with AltAir Fuels to purchase up to 15 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel over three years. United also invested $30 million in Fulcrum Bioenergy, a company that converts municipal solid waste into biofuels. Through that partnership, United may co-develop up to five biorefineries and potentially purchase up to 90 million gallons per year for 10 years.
The environmental benefits of sustainable aviation biofuels are meaningful: using waste-based feedstocks can help protect natural resources, diversify fuel sources, reduce exposure to price volatility, enhance energy security and support a growing clean energy economy.
What are some of the biggest challenges in implementing green practices?
One major challenge is maintaining momentum. Progress is rarely linear, and sustaining growth in sustainability practices requires attention to company priorities and cost constraints. It’s essential to align sustainability goals with broader business objectives and keep stakeholders engaged. For me, the goal is to foster a clear sustainability vision and measure success both by how quickly we advance and how far we go.