The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a report to assist airlines, regulators, and the airline supply chain in mitigating the environmental impacts of single-use plastic products (SUPP).
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS
Single-use plastic products (SUPPs) are used once, or for a short period of time, before being thrown away.
The impacts of this plastic waste on the environment and our health are global and can be drastic.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
These plastic products are more likely to end up in our seas than reusable options.
SUPPs are widely used in many sectors because of their durability and their reasonable costs compared to other similar but possibly more expensive yet environmentally friendly alternatives.
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS IN AVIATION
SUPPs are widely used in the aviation sector due to their strength, lightness, and ability to meet safety and security regulations.
Meanwhile, these products pose untold threats to the environment, due to their lasting negative impacts.
CABIN WASTE
However, the airline sector faces challenges associated with improved cabin waste performance and the replacement of SUPP with sustainable alternatives.
In addition, airlines face technical and operational obstacles, and the lack of harmonized and risk-based regulations presents a significant barrier to improving recycling and the circularity of waste management.
The lack of effective regulation continues to constrain airline efforts to improve the sustainability of cabin operations.
CUSTOMERS AND SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS
A passenger insights survey conducted by IATA in November 2023 showed that more than three-quarters of passengers would feel better about flying if it did not involve any single-use plastic products.
Furthermore, passengers would be happy to support fewer inflight food and beverage options so that airlines could achieve this.
The IATA Shipper Survey 2022 showed that 50% of cargo customers include waste reduction along the supply chain among their top priorities.
IATA reports that cargo operators are also receiving requests from customers, to reduce the associated plastic packaging and wrapping.
COLLABORATION IS KEY
IATA’s latest report advocates for a sectoral approach to managing SUPP in aviation with a clear set of recommendations.
Collaboration across the aviation value chain is essential to enable the adoption of principles and to facilitate the reduction and replacement of single-use plastic products.
This is key for making realistic reductions in waste and increasing material recovery.
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AIRLINES:
- Reducing waste at source by reviewing standards and procedures through the lens of waste reduction and reuse.
- Professionally assessing the need for SUPP.
- Setting clear targets for the elimination, measurement, and tracking implementation, and disclosing progress.
- Introducing reusable items where possible as a strategy to drive environmental gains. This requires logistical changes that incorporate a closed-loop service, including the impact of potential added weight of reusables on aircraft on fuel burn and carbon emissions.
- Improving waste management and recovery by facilitating onboard and ground waste segregation, and undertaking waste composition audits for passenger and cargo operations.
