Summary
- IATA suggested airlines reduce single-use plastics by collaborating across the value chain and involving key stakeholders in solution-focused discussions.
- Airlines should introduce more reusable items to replace single-use plastics.
- The regulatory environment surrounding the usage of certain items and materials needs to be reassessed.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published a new report that outlines how its member airlines could reduce the amount of single-use plastic products (SUPP) onboard an aircraft. The report was done with the help of Travel Without Plastic (TWP).
Widely used in aviation
According to IATA, SUPPs are widely used in aviation since the material is strong and light and can meet safety and security regulators. The association noted that the aviation industry is facing challenges to improve its cabin waste performance, including the replacement of SUPPs with sustainable alternatives.
At the same time, IATA noted that carriers across the globe are facing technical and operational hurdles, with the lack of a harmonized and risk-based regulatory environment presenting a significant barrier to improving recycling and circularity of waste management.
Photo: LATAM.
As a result, the current regulatory environment continues to constrain carriers on their efforts to reduce the usability of SUPPs and introduce more environmentally friendly options that would benefit passengers and the environment.
IATA called for collaboration across the whole value chain, calling it vital to enable the industry to adopt the principles of a circular economy that would reduce and eventually replace SUPPs onboard commercial flights.
Related
LATAM Eliminates 88% Of Single-Use Plastics Inflight
The airline reduced the use of 1,600 tons of plastic.
Key recommendations regarding SUPPs
In total, IATA issued nine key recommendations, split between airlines, regulators, and the supply chain. For the latter, the association advocated for companies to participate in solution-focused discussions that involve key stakeholders and increase the collaboration between the public and private sectors while also pushing for more investments to implement the principles of a circular economy.
Meanwhile, the association recommended that its airlines reduce waste at the source by reviewing standards and procedures from a perspective of waste reduction and reuse while also assessing the need for SUPPs. In addition, carriers should set clear targets for the elimination, measurement, and tracking implementation, disclosing progress to the involved stakeholders.
Photo: Emirates
Furthermore, airlines should introduce more reusable items, which, while a logistical challenge, will introduce circularity. At the same time, IATA warned of the risk that with more weight on an aircraft with the addition of reusable plastics, carriers’ fuel burn will worsen, subsequently negatively impacting emissions. Lastly, passenger and cargo airlines should introduce a way to segregate waste onboard an aircraft, including performing waste composition audits.
Related
Last Year Emirates Recycled Plastic & Glass Equivalent To The Weight Of An Airbus A380
The Dubai-based carrier is reaching new heights when it comes to recycling.
Fixing the regulatory environment
The largest share of recommendations were issued to global regulators, with Marie Owens Thomsen, the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Sustainability and the Chief Economist at IATA, pointing out that airlines are already taking a comprehensive approach to sustainability. This includes addressing the impact of single-use plastics, noted Owens.
“The recommendations of this report will help airlines, regulators, and the supply chain to manage the complexities of reducing SUPP. This includes finding alternatives to SUPP, creating a harmonized regulatory framework, and promoting sector-wide collaboration.”
As such, IATA encouraged regulators to proactively reduce the usage of SUPPs by providing harmonized regulations and asking lawmakers to develop guidance for global common definitions and standards of alternative products.
Furthermore, the association pointed out the need for infrastructure that would enable reuse models, which would still be adapted to the challenges of running an international airline. In addition, IATA asked regulators to endorse a clear methodology and the sharing of good practices while also helping waste segregation processes, including recovery of such waste.
Related
Bombardier Discloses Environmental Impact Of Its Complete Aircraft Portfolio
It will be the first business jet manufacturer in the world to disclose this level of detail for every aircraft in its line-up.
