Cwmbran-based Aerospace Business Secures EcoVadis Bronze Sustainability Medal, Setting a Benchmark for Innovation in Aerospace

STG Aerospace, a leading global provider of cabin lighting solutions based in Cwmbran, has earned the EcoVadis Bronze sustainability medal, placing the company among the top 35% of over 130,000 businesses rated by EcoVadis worldwide. This achievement is a major milestone in STG’s ongoing commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.

Simon Taylor, STG Aerospace’s Head of Technical, Compliance & Quality, (pictured above) emphasized the importance of sustainability in the aerospace sector, stating:

“It is important for us to do our part to support the Aerospace industry’s commitment to NetZero by 2050. This accomplishment reflects the work we have done to formalise all processes within the business and confirms that we are meeting rigorous standards. For us, it’s about doing our bit for the planet and remaining competitive in the market.”

Pioneering Eco-Friendly Innovations in 2024

The year 2024 has been pivotal for STG Aerospace, marked by the launch of its saf-Tglo® eco E1™, the world’s first sustainable emergency floor path marking system. Additionally, the company introduced sustainable packaging across all its floor path marking products, reinforcing its commitment to reducing environmental impact.

Taylor noted that the International Aerospace Environment Group (IAEG) played a crucial role in motivating the company to pursue the EcoVadis Bronze Medal. The IAEG’s sustainability program has been adopted by major aerospace players such as Airbus, Rolls Royce, and Leonardo, making EcoVadis assessments increasingly essential for industry suppliers.

Achieving Bronze: Documenting Success

Reflecting on the journey to achieve the Bronze Medal, Taylor explained:
“We did our homework and were reassured that we didn’t need to change much about how we operate. The focus was on properly documenting processes that we already carried out daily, so they were officially recorded. For example, we enhanced how we report on environmental performance and aligned our documentation with STG Aerospace branding to make everything more cohesive. Having these documents has helped us to share our performance with stakeholders, including employees.”

Taylor highlighted that the company’s existing ISO 14001 certification—a globally recognized environmental standard—significantly bolstered its EcoVadis score. However, the EcoVadis process also challenged the firm to address additional areas such as labor practices and sustainable procurement, encouraging continuous improvement.

Looking Ahead to Silver

STG Aerospace is now setting its sights on the EcoVadis Silver Medal, which will require further refinements to policies and enhanced reporting standards. This ambitious goal will be a central focus of the company’s ESG strategy for 2025.

“A benefit of going through the process has highlighted areas we can improve on, and it keeps us accountable too,” Taylor remarked, underscoring the company’s dedication to sustainability and innovation.

STG Aerospace’s progress underscores the importance of integrating sustainable practices into the aerospace industry while positioning the company as a competitive and responsible player in the global market.

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About STG Aerospace  

Established in 1995, STG Aerospace is a specialist in aircraft cabin lighting technologies. Its products are installed in over 12,000 aircraft worldwide, representing one third of the world’s passenger fleet.  

STG Aerospace has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and Innovation four times, along with 10 years of consecutive Boeing Best Performance Excellence Supplier Awards and is the only UK based member of the Boeing Premier Bidder Supplier Programme.