In 2022, Emirates recycled more than 500,000 kilograms of plastic and glass, approximately the same weight as a fully loaded Airbus A380. The discarded bottles onboard are collected, recycled and repurposed.
On Wednesday (February 22, 2023), Emirates announced that in 2022 they recycled over 500,000 kilograms of plastic and glass by collecting discarded bottles onboard for recycling and repurposing. This is equivalent to the weight of a fully loaded Emirates flagship Airbus A380. Onboard every flight landing in Dubai, cabin crew quickly sort plastic and glass bottles which are then sent to a recycling plant. The glass is separated by color and crushed to create ‘cullet’ that is ready to be re-melted, and is then sent to glass manufacturers in the UAE to include in their batch mix for new bottles. Likewise, plastic bottles are cleaned, chopped into flakes and then melted into pellets before being sent to manufacturers to make other plastic products. In this way, Emirates and Emirates Catering divert thousands of kilograms of glass and plastic from landfills annually.
This initiative was originally suggested by environmentally conscious Emirates cabin crew members in 2019, as part of regular webinars and events where team members have a platform to share innovative ideas and provide feedback. Having been well received, the proposal was implemented within weeks. Emirates also has several other initiatives focused on repurposing plastic and using sustainable materials where possible. For the last six years, the carrier has offered soft sustainable blankets made from recycled plastic bottles to long-haul Economy Class guests. Each blanket is made from 28 plastic bottles which are shredded into plastic chips before being turned into yarn, creating a soft and warm fleece material. Since being introduced, these blankets have prevented over 95 million plastic bottles from going into a landfill. The use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) in the manufacturing process also reduces energy emissions by approximately 70 percent.
Emirates' Onboard Glass and Plastic Bottle Recycling Process - Courtesy Emirates
Emirates has also included an environmental requirement in their supplier code of conduct as part of the company’s environmental focus, which considers the entire lifecycle of products from the design stage. For example, onboard service items such as wooden tea and coffee stirrers, paper straws and inflight retail bags are all made using wood and paper from responsibly managed forests. Additionally, the airline’s complimentary toy bags, baby amenity kits and plush toys are made from recycled plastic bottles and other sustainable materials. Belt bags, duffle bags and backpacks are also constructed from yarn that is made from 100 percent plastic bottles, with each kids’ backpack made from 5.5 recycled bottles and each duffle bag made from seven plastic bottles. The production of Emirates children’s bags has saved eight million bottles from landfill. Even the tags and outer shipping cases are made from recycled cardboard, which can be recycled again.
Emirates' Sustainably-Made Amenity Kits, Kids' Backbacks & Bags, and Blankets - Courtesy Emirates
Emirates’ complimentary amenity kits for Premium Economy and Economy customers feature designs that represent the four essential elements of nature, namely fire, water, earth, and air. The reusable pouches are made from washable kraft paper with bespoke art printed in non-toxic soy-based ink. The kits contain durable travel essentials made from environmentally friendly materials, with a toothbrush made from wheat straw and plastic, socks and eyeshades made from recycled plastic, all packaged in 90 percent rice paper.
Source: Emirates
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