Climate protection in the Swiss helicopter industry: How companies and customers create impact together
How can climate contributions be designed to be effective, transparent, and credible? This question also arises in the helicopter industry. Flight operations are energy-intensive, and emissions can currently only be avoided to a limited extent. At the same time, awareness of environmental responsibility is increasing—both among companies and customers.
A look at practical examples shows how climate action can be implemented in the Swiss helicopter industry: transparently, effectively, and collectively.
Why climate contributions are particularly relevant in the helicopter industry
In the helicopter industry, many operations are system-critical or safety-relevant—for example in construction, rescue services, cargo transport, or in alpine regions. Emissions cannot be fully avoided in the short term.
For precisely this reason, voluntary and clearly disclosed climate contributions are becoming increasingly important: they enable companies and customers to take responsibility for residual emissions that are (currently) unavoidable and arise from ongoing operations. At the same time, they raise awareness of climate impacts across the entire value chain and thus help to accelerate the transition.
Taking responsibility – beyond one’s own flight operations
Helicopter companies in Switzerland are becoming increasingly aware of their responsibility towards the environment and society. As providers of work, transport, and specialized flights, they operate in a field of tension between operational requirements and climate protection.
Many therefore pursue a pragmatic approach: emissions are reduced where this is operationally feasible - and emissions that are currently unavoidable are made transparent and addressed. In collaboration with Swiss Climate, solutions are being developed to take responsibility for the remaining emissions.
Enabling climate protection for customers in a tangible way
A central element of these approaches is the involvement of customers. Increasingly, providers offer the possibility to calculate the CO₂ emissions of helicopter flights and to make voluntary climate contributions in an equivalent amount.
The decision is deliberately left to customers. The contributions are invested in verified climate protection projects, making climate action an integrated part of the offering - without obligation, but with clear impact and a high level of transparency.
Calculate, inform, support – a transparent process
The emissions are calculated by Swiss Climate based on established methodologies and presented in a clear and understandable way. This provides customers with a solid basis for decision-making.
Swiss Climate ensures that:
- the calculation methodology is technically sound,
- the supported projects meet quality criteria such as additionality and verifiability,
- the funds are used for their intended purpose, and
- transparent monitoring and controlling are ensured.
This guarantees that climate contributions deliver measurable impact and can be communicated credibly.
Climate protection projects with regional impact
The climate contributions enabled by helicopter companies and their customers are, for example, invested in the project “Climate Protection and Sustainable Management of Swiss Forest” in the canton of Schwyz. Through climate-optimized forest management across more than 7,000 hectares of forest area, timber stock is systematically increased, and additional CO₂ is stored in the biomass over the long term.
In addition to its measurable climate impact, the project strengthens biodiversity, the protective function of forests, and regional value creation, among other things through the sustainable use of energy wood. Swiss Climate ensures that the climate performance is technically verified, transparently quantified, and that the funds are used for their intended purpose.
Creating impact together
The development in the sector shows how climate protection can be structured in the Swiss helicopter industry: strategically designed, professionally supported, and jointly implemented.
By creating transparency and actively involving customers, companies establish a climate protection approach that is credible and delivers impact—both today and with a view to the future transformation of the sector.
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