Brazil-based private jet manufacturer Embraer announced yesterday that it had formed an Environmental Strategies and Technologies Office to focus on developing earth friendly policies for their line of executive and commercial planes as well as their production practices.

“The creation of this new office is one more important step toward coordinating efforts for Embraer’s sustainable development,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO, in a company-released statement.

The move, according to the company, would address both aircraft efficiency and aim to lower carbon dioxide emissions. The goal is to seek out alternate materials and technologies that tread lightly on the environment.

The company noted that its E-Jets family, a narrow body jet, already incorporates an efficient design that uses less fuel that comparable aircraft. Additionally, in 2004, Embraer flew a plane, designed for agricultural uses, that was powered entirely by ethanol, which runs at about a third of the cost of traditional fuel.

While it remains to be seen what hard results come out of this move by Embraer, it’s not surprising that the company has delved into so-called green initiatives. Green is quickly becoming a catch phrase among the private aviation community, as the availability of carbon offsets for both commercial and private fliers spreads and big name fractional jet providers, like NetJets Europe, go as far as to require all fliers to travel carbon neutral. This move by Embraer, the maker of two very light jet models, could establish itself as a bellwether for the industry and green flying.