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Airlines go green as concern for environment takes off

July 18, 2018 09:47 IST

From using bio-fuels to revamping in-flight food and drinks services, eschewing mass-produced chicken/eggs in favour of local, farm-raised options to offering eco-friendly toys for children, airlines try out inventive measures to encourage carbon-neutral practices.

10 Years of sustainable aviation fuel. Infographic: Courtesy IATA.com

10 years of flying with sustainable aviation fuel. Infographic: Courtesy IATA.com.

The staggering environmental impact of air travel is driving many airline companies to whittle down their carbon footprint and make flying more sustainable.

Indeed, the need for such measures has never been more pressing.

According to a recent global study, recreational air travel alone is responsible for over 10 per cent of the climate change caused by human activity.

The airline industry currently produces about 3 per cent of the world’s emissions. The number is likely to surge by 2020, says World Travel Organization, when the number of tourists across the world skyrockets to 1.6 billion.

Jatropha flowers which are an ingredient in environmentally friendly aviation fuel. Photograph: Neelix/Wikimedia Commons.

Jatropha flowers are a new ingredient in environmentally friendly aviation fuel that is being tested by Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines. Photograph: Neelix/Wikimedia Commons.

With green travel increasingly finding resonance among flyers and corporates, airlines, too, are factoring in eco-friendly initiatives into their business strategies.

From using bio-fuels to revamping in-flight food and drinks services, eschewing mass-produced chicken/eggs in favour of local, farm-raised options to offering eco-friendly toys for children, inventive measures are underway to encourage carbon-neutral practices.  

Putting together airline meals. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

The most striking changes have occurred in the meals served on board, both in the way they are packed and how they are served. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters.

In November 2016, Alaska Airlines flew the world’s first commercial flight powered in part by forest residuals bio fuels. Interestingly, this new bio fuel was manufactured from sustainable parts of trees (harvested by indigenous communities) that are left after environmentally-friendly logging occurs.

Similarly, KLM is testing algae-based fuel and another version that uses partially recycled cooking oil, while Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines have both conducted tests with fuel extracted from jatropha flowers.

A model poses under an airline blanket. Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters.

Airlines blankets are getting a revamp to reduce aircraft load and to save fuel. Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters.
 

Change is literally in the air onboard, too. Some airlines have swapped bulky trolleys with more compact and light-weight ones to serve in-flight meals. Even blankets and tableware are getting a makeover to reduce the overall weight and thus save fuel.

New slim line seats are being installed on some planes to not only provide travellers with more leg room, but also to reduce load.   

But perhaps the most striking changes have occurred in meals served on board. Virgin Atlantic partners with the Sustainable Restaurant Association to ensure that its 5.5 million meals served on board each year meet the key principles of humanely-farmed meat and dairy, sustainably-sourced fish and seafood, and reduced deforestation-risk food.  

The airline has also struck off from its menu food that contributes to deforestation such as soy, palm oil and beef.

All menus on the airline's Caribbean routes now use rapeseed oil, which saves 100 tonnes of palm oil per year.

According to Craig Kreeger, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, the airline is also "investing in new, more-efficient aircraft, regularly using a range of fuel saving initiatives such as single engine taxiing, real-time weather technology that help pilots make smarter route choices, as well as rigorous weight management of all products on the aircraft."

The sponges from headsets are being recycled to surface an equestrian centre, while disused plastics on board are being repurposed into benches.

Putting together airline meals. Photograph: Courtesy www.singaporeair.com.

Airlines like Singapore Airlines have introduced  environmentally sustainable meals. Photograph: Courtesy www.singaporeair.com.

Vistara is similarly adopting measures to minimise the use of plastics in its in-flight meal and is the only carrier in India to serve oxo-biodegradable cutlery.

“We have further pledged to reduce consumption of plastic by over 50 per cent this year by adopting innovative, environment-friendly methods.

“We’re replacing plastic casseroles with aluminium dishes, plastic straws and stirrers with paper/wooden ones, and disposable bowls in economy class with reusable ones. We’re actively working to reduce dependence on plastic bottles,” said a Vistara spokesperson.  

An airline meal. Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters.

Out with the plastic and the heavy cutlery: Packaging of meals is another big area of focus in the crusade to make flying more green. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters.

Singapore Airlines’ new initiative From Farm to Plane is similarly targeted to promote environmental sustainability and buttress local farmers’ communities, said a company spokesperson.

The airline is also increasingly using more sustainable and meatless ingredients, as well as local produce, in its in-flight meals.

Neeta Lal in New Delhi
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