St. Maarten:

Opportunities abound in Caribbean for sustainability, recycling

By Kelly Murphy.

With a keen global interest in sustainable and economic development, Daniel Bachmann, President of Infinite Sky Channel in Cape Canaveral, Florida, highlighted aviation was essentially ‘born sustainable’ with three main factors including propulsion, materials, and structure (e.g., navigation and avionics).

While interest in sustainability and recycling has been only a seasonal interest - Christmas holidays and tax time - Bachmann, a former senior communications chief with Embraer Executive Jets said, “we are hoping to break that system,” suggesting the Netherlands is the country most interested in global sustainability.

Daniel Bachmann He noted the sustainability journey includes obstacles in each of these steps - imaginable, desirable, and attainable to be sustainable.

Terms such as “metal to mantle” and “debris to décor” are becoming commonly used as companies around the world are focusing on sustainable development goals and reporting. These include efforts in areas like sustainable fashion, packing and labeling, palm oil, and carbon footprint to name a few. Airlines, for example, are partnering with brands such as Puma to recycle seat belts and leather seats.

Through his media company, Bachmann emphasized the importance of connecting and inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals who are focused on aviation sustainability and recycling. An example is the ‘Thrive By Five’ initiative launched by Florida’s Brevard public schools to support a child’s educational journey by connecting them to resources that promote readiness for school and set the stage for lifelong learning success.

“All kids have different ways of learning through the different media they are consuming information,” he said, adding mentorship programs with other aviation professionals will help to build interest in today’s youth to pursue aviation interests and programs. “Let’s build a legacy, rather than leave one,” he concluded, noting we should encourage the current generation to express to their peers what got them interested in aviation.