Pelican BioThermal, Nepal Flying Labs win TIACA Air Cargo Sustainability Awards 2020

December 11, 2020: The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) announced that Pelican BioThermal and Nepal Flying Labs are the winners of the TIACA Air Cargo Sustainability Awards 2020 sponsored by CHAMP Cargosystems. The awards aim to celebrate and encourage outstanding industry initiatives driving sustainability in air cargo.

Pelican BioThermal was recognised in the corporate category for their durable and reusable temperature-controlled shipping containers CredoTM. Pelican BioThermal won a one-year free membership in the TIACA Sustainability Strategic Partnership Programme, worth $10,000.

Nepal Flying Labs won in the start-up category for their Drone Optimized Therapy System (DrOTS) which flies humanitarian and medical cargo drones to remote and hard to reach locations in Nepal. As an up-and-coming start-up, Nepal Flying Labs will receive a $10,000 prize. The two runners-up BeOn IoT and Drone Delivery Canada will be recognised with $2,500 each.

"All participants presented innovative and diverse solutions advancing sustainability in air cargo industry, including carbon and waste reduction, drones, humanitarian aid, packaging, ULDs, process efficiencies, people focus and Covid-19 relief. In a year marked by a global pandemic which disrupted our industry, problem solving and forward-thinking companies like Pelican BioThermal and Nepal Flying Labs bring hope that air cargo can come out of this crisis stronger and more resilient, - stated Celine Hourcade, transition director and head of sustainability programme, TIACA. "Congratulations to all the winners and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for these companies."

The winners were determined by a group of independent judges representing TIACA's Sustainability Strategic Partnership members, including CHAMP Cargosystems, Turkish Cargo, TRANSOM, Brussels Airport and Flexport, as well as TIACA's members.

"It is a real honour for us to support the sustainability programme and we are proud of our strategic partnership with TIACA and our exclusive sponsorship of these important Awards. The coronavirus pandemic is perhaps the biggest challenge our industry has faced but it is also an opportunity for a new beginning. Digitalisation, innovation and new technology are all elements that should be incorporated in our business plans and thinking to build a more sustainable future," stated Chris McDermott, CEO of CHAMP Cargosystems.

All the awards finalists presented their products and solutions live at TIACA's digital edition of the Air Cargo Forum (ACF) on December 2, followed by an online voting for start-up category by the TIACA members. The winners were announced online on December 10 at the closing of the ACF. The event was supported by the STAT Media Group.

An in-person ceremony is planned at the next physical TIACA event in 2021 following the loosening of the Covid-19-related restrictions.