We have improved jet fuel efficiency by nearly 50 percent on a revenue ton mile (RTM)8585) A revenue ton mile (RTM) is one ton of revenue traffic (passenger and cargo) transported one mile. basis since 2000.
During peak travel season, we operate more than 4,000 flights a day. These flights are supported by a Team of more than 60,000 Southwest Cohearts in destinations throughout the United States and surrounding regions. The size and scale of our operations present us with an exciting opportunity. Every single improvement we make in energy efficiency, waste reduction, or conservation is amplified by the size of our business. By acting as good environmental stewards, we can take meaningful steps to preserve the Planet for current and future generations.
We have improved jet fuel efficiency by nearly 50 percent on a revenue ton mile (RTM)8585) A revenue ton mile (RTM) is one ton of revenue traffic (passenger and cargo) transported one mile. basis since 2000.
In 2019, we recycled
2,426 tons of material,
an effort that directly reduces our impact on landfills.
It’s no secret Southwest has a Heart for the Planet and works hard on our conservation efforts—helping to protect the environment for future generations to come. Our Purpose and Vision drive us to do right by the environment and respect our natural resources. As part of those efforts, there is a continued focus on developing and maintaining a sustainable supply chain. We are proud of our accomplishments to date and strive for even more. We know doing the right thing is about being good environmental stewards, and what is good for our business is also good for our Planet.
We believe that what works well for Southwest can also work for our Planet. We’re always working to bring energy efficiency at Southwest to new heights, because using energy wisely helps us in a myriad of ways: we can save money by using fewer natural resources, serve our Customers by keeping our fares low, and help protect our Planet for generations to come. It’s an obvious choice for us that we can do well, by doing good.8686) The 2019 Southwest Airlines One Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to (i) the Company’s Vision; (ii) the Company’s financial position, outlook, plans, strategies, goals, targets, and projected results of operations, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company’s projections; (iii) the Company’s operational initiatives and related plans and expectations, including with respect to technology and fleet initiatives; (iv) the Company’s other initiatives, including hiring, diversity, Rapid Rewards, safety, fuel, and environmental and sustainability initiatives and related plans and expectations; (v) the Company’s network plans, expectations, and opportunities; (vi) the Company’s expectations with respect to fuel efficiency, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company’s expectations; (vii) the Company's plans, expectations, and priorities in connection with the return of the MAX to service; and (viii) the Company’s fleet plans and expectations. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the impact of fears or actual outbreaks of disease or pandemics, changes in consumer behavior, economic conditions, governmental actions, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, fears of terrorism or war, actions of competitors, fuel prices, consumer perception, and other factors beyond the Company's control, on consumer behavior and the Company's results of operations and business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (ii) the Company's dependence on Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to the timing of the return of the 737 MAX to service and any related changes to the Company's operational and financial assumptions and decisions; (iii) the Company’s dependence on other third parties, and the impact on the Company’s operations and results of operations of any third party delays or non-performance; (iv) the Company's ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives; (v) the Company’s ability to timely and effectively prioritize its initiatives and related expenditures; (vi) the impact of labor matters on the Company’s business decisions, plans, and strategies; and (vii) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020.
At Southwest, we don’t think that blindly throwing away resources is a smart (or financially prudent) way to conduct business. We take a careful, considerate approach to waste management, and seek to repurpose, reuse, and recycle resources as much as possible. Whether on the ground or in the air, our Heart for the Planet prompts us to try to always do more with less—preserving our Planet’s finite natural resources and minimizing the amount of waste we generate.
Southwest runs on Teamwork. While we recognize and celebrate individual Employees, we believe it’s the sum of our People that truly makes Southwest great. When it comes to conservation, we similarly believe that citizenship requires a Team effort. We partner with organizations we believe can help us increase our impact on our world, promoting natural resource preservation and conservation for generations to come.
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total energy consumption (megawatt-hours (MWh)) | 81,119,463 | 81,128,558 | 79,203,011 | 77,366,032 | 73,688,161 |
| Production activity (revenue ton miles (RTMs))9696) A revenue ton mile (RTM) is one ton of revenue traffic (passenger and cargo) transported one mile. | 13.3 billion | 13.5 billion | 13.0 billion | 12.6 billion | 11.9 billion |
| Intensity ratio (MWh/1,000 RTMs)9797) A revenue ton mile (RTM) is one ton of revenue traffic (passenger and cargo) transported one mile. | 6.12 | 6.03 | 6.08 | 6.13 | 6.20 |
| Water consumption (gallons)9898) Water consumption is primarily for domestic use at our facilities. | 95 million | 99 million | 85 million | 83 million | 80 million |
| Intensity ratio (gallons/Employee)9999) Active, full-time equivalent Employees as of Dec. 31 for specific calendar year. | Nearly 1,600 | Nearly 1,700 | More than 1,500 | More than 1,500 | More than 1,600 |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 emissions (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e))100100) Emissions from refrigerant losses are not included in our emissions inventory due to their de minimis impact on our overall emissions. | 20,532,323 | 20,537,710 | 20,148,910 | 19,664,622 | 18,731,062 |
| Scope 2 emissions (metric tons of CO2e) | 44,783 | 46,972 | 51,634 | 53,264 | 48,810 |
| Total Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (metric tons of CO2e) | 20,577,106 | 20,584,682 | 20,200,544 | 19,717,886 | 18,779,872 |
| Intensity ratio (metric tons CO2e/1,000 RPMs)101101) A revenue passenger mile (RPM) is one paying Passenger flown one mile. Also referred to as “traffic,” which is a measure of demand for a given period. | 0.157 | 0.154 | 0.157 | 0.158 | 0.160 |
| Intensity ratio (metric tons CO2e/1,000 ASMs)102102) An available seat mile (ASM) is one seat (empty or full) flown one mile. Also referred to as “capacity,” which is a measure of the space available to carry Passengers in a given period. | 0.131 | 0.129 | 0.131 | 0.133 | 0.134 |
| Intensity ratio (metric tons CO2e/1,000 RTMs)103103) A revenue ton mile (RTM) is one ton of revenue traffic (passenger and cargo) transported one mile. | 1.55 | 1.53 | 1.55 | 1.56 | 1.58 |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital goods—production of aircraft (metric tons CO2e)104104) Decrease in capital goods Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions due to halting of new Boeing 737 MAX deliveries. 27 | 4,700 | 68,500 | 62,900 | 43,600 | 26,500 |
| Waste generated in operations—waste to landfill and burned for energy recovery (metric tons CO2e) | 2,200 | 2,100 | 1,900 | 2,700 | 2,400 |
| Employee commuting—estimate based on survey (metric tons CO2e)105105) Calculation methodology has been revised to more accurately reflect commuting profiles for Pilots and Flight Attendants. Employee commuting Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for 2015 through 2018, have been restated to reflect the revised calculation methodology. | 151,400 | 147,200 | 137,600 | 137,200 | 119,000 |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOx emissions (tons) | 7.1 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| SOx emissions (tons) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of environmental violations resulting in fines | 1 | None | None | 1 | 6 |
| Total environmental fines | $ 1,305 | $ — | $ — | $ 3,303 | $ 7,497 |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel efficiency (ASMs/gallon)107107) An available seat mile (ASM) is one seat (empty or full) flown one mile. Also referred to as “capacity,” which is a measure of the space available to carry Passengers in a given period. | 75.7 | 76.3 | 75.2 | 74.4 | 73.9 |
| Fuel efficiency (RPMs/gallon)108108) A revenue passenger mile (RPM) is one paying Passenger flown one mile. Also referred to as “traffic,” which is a measure of demand for a given period. | 63.2 | 63.7 | 63.1 | 62.5 | 61.8 |
| Fuel efficiency (RTMs/gallon)109109) A revenue ton mile (RTM) is one ton of revenue traffic (passenger and cargo) transported one mile. | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.3 |
| Total number of electric Ground Support Equipment (GSE) | 1,412 | 1,304 | 1,215 | 1,138 | 1,074 |
| Purchases of renewable energy certificates (kWh) | More than 25 million | More than 25 million | More than 25 million | More than 25 million | More than 25 million |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total waste generated (tons) | 9,310 | 10,599 | 9,858 | 9,690 | 11,135 |
| Total waste recycled (tons) | 2,426 | 3,757 | 3,737 | 3,348 | 4,148 |
| Percent of total waste recycled | 26 | 35 | 38 | 35 | 37 |
| Recycled co-mingled waste—paper, plastic, aluminum, and cardboard (tons) | Nearly 1,600 | Nearly 3,000 | More than 3,000 | More than 2,600 | More than 3,700 |
| Recycled industrial waste (tons) | 584 | 568 | 730 | 721 | 631 |
| Hazardous waste generated (tons) | 27.4 | 29.2 | 21.6 | 24.1 | 25.1 |
| Hazardous waste managed through recycling and beneficial reuse (tons) | 22.3 | 20.6 | 17.2 | 16.1 | 18.9 |
| Intensity ratio (pounds of hazardous waste generated/aircraft) | 73 | 78 | 61 | 67 | 71 |
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