march-2010

Bridging the
digital divide
Every year, millions of
passengers board KLM fl ights
with a burning desire to discover
new lands. Unfortunately, these
countries can also be home to
children in need – a need outlined in
the UN Millennium Development
Goals. KLM AirCares offers
promotional, logistical and fi nancial
support to NGOs to help them
achieve these goals.
Access to IT technology and the
transfer of knowledge is another
identifi ed goal. To this end, KLM
supports Close the Gap, an
international, non-profi t organisation
which offers cost-effi cient, highquality,
used IT equipment to projects
in developing countries.
Schools, universities, hospitals and
other institutions wishing to improve
their educational and information
facilities can ask for support from
MAKE IT CLICK WITH CLOSE THE GAP
Close the Gap. As well as donating
computers, KLM helps Close the Gap
transport IT equipment to several
destinations worldwide.
To donate money and/or Flying
Blue Miles to this or any other
AirCares charity, please visit www.
aircares.nl or make a donation during
this fl ight (see the last page of our
shopping section in this issue). For
more information on Close the Gap,
visit www.close-the-gap.org
Cheers
from Chile
KLM’s Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) policy extends to all areas of the
company. Take infl ight catering, for
instance. The airline was the fi rst to serve
Marine Stewardship Counil (MSC)-certifi ed d
fi sh on board, and currently includes
sustainable-produced milk and biological l
eggs in the preparation of World
Business Class breakfast menus on
fl ights from Amsterdam.
Cono Sur, a white Sauvignon Blanc
from the Colchagua Vally region in Chile, is
a recent addition to the wine list in KLM’s
Europe Select Class. The organicallygrown
grapes of the vineyard are certifi ed,
and the wine’s label bears the image of a
bicycle, symbolising the environmentally
friendly transportation method used by
the vineyard workers.
In addition, greenhouse gas emissions
have been measured and balanced to net
Help to compensate
KLM invests heavily in ways to reduce,
or compensate for, carbon emissions.
More effi cient use of fuel, and research
into the development of alternative biofuels,
will remain high priorities for the
airline. Modernising and renewing the fl eet,
and adopting eco-friendly operational
methods in the air and on the ground, are
among the measures which KLM itself is
taking to effectively reduce carbon
emissions.
KLM’s customers can also help make a
contribution. The C02ZERO service offers a
user-friendly opportunity for passengers to
compensate for their fl ights’ C0 2 emissions
by investing directly in sustainable,
renewable energy projects approved by
the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Non-C0 2 -producing aircraft don’t exist
– yet – so investing in C0 2 -reduction
projects is currently one the most practical
KLM PEOPLE & PLANET
zero through gas reduction emissions
projects and carbon-neutral delivery has
been certifi ed
All in all, a fi ne wine. Proost!
A VINE TIME IN THE COLCHAGUA VALLEY
ways to compensate for emissions.
C02ZERO began two years ago, and many
corporate companies in The Netherlands,
as well as offi cial Dutch government
aircraft, are now using the service to
compensate for their business fl ights.
C02ZERO is easy-to-use, inexpensive
and the most effective program of its kind.
There are no hidden costs, no overheads;
all donations are invested directly in
projects authorised with the highest Gold
Standard (www.cdmgoldstandard.org) seal
of approval.
For full details about C02ZERO and how
you can make a personal compensation,
see www.klm.com and scroll down under
‘About KLM’ to ‘Fly C0 2 neutral’.
Holland Herald TRAVELLERS CHECK 89