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Miami, FL, USA and Luxembourg, 10 December 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.
The Corporate prize
Pelican BioThermal was recognized in the Corporate category for their durable and reusable temperature-controlled shipping containers CrēdoTM. Pelican BioThermal won a one-year free membership in the TIACA Sustainability Strategic Partnership Program, worth USD 10,000.
The Start-up prize
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 USD 10,000 prize. The two runners-up BeOn IoT and Drone Delivery Canada will be recognized with USD 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 Céline Hourcade, Transition Director and Head of Sustainability Program, 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 honor for us to support the Sustainability Program 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. Digitalization, innovation and new technology are all elements that should be incorporated in our business plans and thinking to build a more sustainable future”, states 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 2nd, followed by an online voting for Start-up category by the TIACA members. The winners were announced online on December 10th at the closing of the ACF. An in-person ceremony is planned at the next physical TIACA event in 2021 following the loosening of the COVID-19-related restrictions.
About TIACA’s Air Cargo Sustainability Award
Winner profiles:
Start-up category
Nepal Flying Labs
Nepal Flying Labs, operating humanitarian and medical cargo drones presented the Drone Optimized Therapy System (DrOTS) which links rural health posts with high-end GeneXpert diagnostic tools via drones with the main aim to improve the accessibility of Tuberculosis diagnostic tests in Pyuthan, Western Nepal. Under this system, drones fly from the central district hospital to health care centers in remote villages and bring back sputum samples where the sputum samples are checked by healthcare personnel using a state-of-art diagnostic tool (GeneXpert Machine). The purpose of this project is to assist the Ministry of Health and Population and National Tuberculosis Center by generating the necessary data to assess the suitability of the approach for nationwide expansion. To date, over 106 drone flights have been carried out, delivering more than 742 sputum samples, with a result of 26 positive cases from eight remote health facilities.
Corporate category
Pelican BioThermal
Pelican BioThermal created a family of durable, reusable shipping containers made from recyclable components and began helping companies significantly impact sustainability and cost-savings goals through the cold chain. CrēdoTM reusable shippers through CrēdoTM on Demand promise an improved sustainability through manufacturing and use of durable, reusable temperature-controlled packaging made with vacuum-insulated panel (VIP) insulation and phase change material (PCM) versus single-use containers made with extruded polystyrene (EPS) or polyurethane (PUR) insulation and gel pack heat sinks.
