This bachelor thesis will firstly define the term sustainability and explain what it consists of according to the Triple Bottom Line Model by John Elkington by doing a systematic literature review. Furthermore, a closer look into the airline industry will be taken to analyse which challenges and possible opportunities carriers have to face during this significant transformation.
While focusing on the research question ‘to what extent is the Lufthansa Group adapting to the sustainable change?’, the Lufthansa Group will serve as the case study of this thesis to gain a deeper understanding of not only the theoretical elaboration but also the practical implementation of the Paris Agreement of Climate Change.
This analysis will firstly work out existing definitions of sustainability and sustainable development, which will be presented in the first chapter. Moreover, a small digression into sustainable tourism as a whole will be made, which serves as a transition to the main topic of this bachelor thesis: sustainability in the airline industry.
The theoretical framework of this paper will be the Triple Bottom Line Model by John Elkington. This model defines sustainability depending on three main pillars, which form the components of the term. Moreover, based on different political statements and reports, such as the Paris Agreement of Climate Change, as well as on statistics that prove not only the existence of global warming but also its consequences, the importance of this elaboration will be once more underlined.
In the end, balance and annual reports, which are placed at the disposal of the Lufthansa Group, will serve as the relevant data for analysing the application of the theory to the case study with the focus on the economic and social components.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2.3 THE PARIS AGREEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION
2.4 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
2.5 SUSTAINABILITY IN AVIATION
3. THEORY
3.1 THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE MODEL
3.2 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TBL MODEL
4. METHODOLOGY
4.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
4.2 SAMPLING
4.3 INTRODUCTION OF CASE STUDY BACKGROUND
5. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
5.1 THE LUFTHANSA GROUP AND SUSTAINABILITY
5.2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT
5.2 THE SOCIAL ASPECT
5.3 THE ECONOMIC ASPECT
6. DISCUSSION
6.1 THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION
6.2 LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK
7. CONCLUSION
8. REFERENCES
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the extent to which the Lufthansa Group is adapting to sustainable change by applying the Triple Bottom Line model to the company's operational strategies, evaluating its environmental, social, and economic impact within the aviation industry.
- Theoretical analysis of sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line model.
- Evaluation of the aviation industry's environmental footprint and climate change contribution.
- Case study of the Lufthansa Group's progress in implementing sustainable development goals.
- Assessment of the tension between economic growth and environmental preservation in air travel.
- Impact of external crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on corporate sustainability.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Consequences of Unsustainability
The question that appears while examining this topic is why sustainability is of such great importance. When focusing on the environmental pillar, climate change and global warming are very present problems. Nevertheless, it becomes clear that climate change is not only affect the environmental pillar, but also affects social and economic situations. In order to understand global warming, a closer look has to be given to the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases are not fundamentally bad. In fact, in the right quantity they even support the cycle of life on earth (Lashof & Ahuja, 1990). Methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous dioxide are some examples of these greenhouse gases, which form a layer that surrounds the earth. When the sun rays hit the earth, some of them are being absorbed by land and water, but most of them are reflected back into the atmosphere (Schneider, 1988). The layer of greenhouse gases traps most of the heat of the sun rays, which warms up the globe. Without this layer of gases, the average temperature on this planet would be -18 Cº which would make the earth unhabitable for humans, plants and animals (Lashof & Ahuja, 1990). However, some of those rays still pass through the layer back into open space.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the research focus on sustainability within the aviation industry, using the Lufthansa Group as a case study to explore challenges and opportunities.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW: Defines core concepts such as sustainability, sustainable development, and the Paris Agreement, providing a theoretical foundation for the subsequent analysis.
3. THEORY: Introduces the Triple Bottom Line model by John Elkington and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as frameworks to assess corporate sustainability.
4. METHODOLOGY: Describes the mixed-method approach, combining literature review with qualitative analysis of the Lufthansa Group’s corporate data.
5. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS: Evaluates the Lufthansa Group's performance across environmental, social, and economic pillars, comparing corporate statements with actual figures.
6. DISCUSSION: Discusses the practical difficulties of implementing sustainable goals in an industry driven by growth, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. CONCLUSION: Summarizes that while the Lufthansa Group shows progress, it still struggles to balance economic and environmental demands effectively.
8. REFERENCES: Lists the academic, institutional, and industry-specific sources used throughout the thesis.
Keywords
Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Aviation Industry, Lufthansa Group, Triple Bottom Line Model, Climate Change, Paris Agreement, Greenhouse Gases, Corporate Social Responsibility, ESG Criteria, Sustainable Tourism, Global Warming, Environmental Impact, Economic Growth, Sustainable Development Goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on the aviation industry's adaptation to sustainable change, specifically investigating how the Lufthansa Group integrates sustainability into its operations.
What are the core thematic fields of the research?
The research explores environmental protection, corporate social responsibility, economic performance, and the global challenge of aligning the airline industry with sustainable development goals.
What is the research goal of the work?
The primary goal is to determine to what extent the Lufthansa Group is adapting to sustainable change by analyzing their reports against the Triple Bottom Line model.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a systematic literature review combined with a qualitative case study analysis of secondary data, such as annual reports and sustainability reports.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body discusses the theoretical definitions of sustainability, the environmental and social impacts of aviation, and a detailed case analysis of the Lufthansa Group's specific sustainability strategies.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include sustainability, Triple Bottom Line, Lufthansa Group, aviation industry, climate change, and corporate social responsibility.
How does the author define the "Triple Bottom Line" in this context?
The author defines it as a framework measuring a company's success through three integrated pillars: social, environmental, and economic impacts, moving beyond simple financial profitability.
What conclusion is drawn regarding the Lufthansa Group?
The author concludes that while the Lufthansa Group is on a progressive path and excels in social responsibility, it faces significant challenges in achieving environmental and economic balance due to industry-wide growth pressures.
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- Ida Maria Richter (Autor:in), 2020, How Sustainable Development Affects the Aviation Industry. A Case Study of the Lufthansa Group, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/900844
