United Airlines has today announced the appointment of Oscar the Grouch as the company’s first Chief Trash Officer. Oscar Brings over five decades of trash experience to United’s consumer education campaign, which focuses on the Benefits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
On Thursday (March 2, 2023), United Airlines announced the appointment of Oscar the Grouch as the carrier’s first Chief Trash Officer (CTO). Oscar Joins United with five decades of trash experience, and will lead a consumer education campaign focused on driving awareness of the benefits of using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The new campaign features Oscar in over 30 pieces of original video, digital and out-of-home content, and follows the Grouch’s journey from job-listing to the c-suite office, alongside real United team members.
Oscar the Grouch Reads a Classified Ad that is Right Up His Alley - Courtesy United Airlines/PRNewswire
An alternative to conventional jet fuel, SAF can reduce lifecycle GHG emissions by up to 80 percent. The sustainable fuel is produced from used cooking oil and agricultural waste. In the future, SAF could also be made from other feedstocks such as forest waste or household trash, Oscar’s specialty.
In Thursday’s announcement, United Airlines’ Chief Communications Officer, Josh Earnest, said,
“United has invested in more sustainable aviation fuel production than any airline in the world, by far. Every airline burns jet fuel to run their business, but no airline will solve climate change on its own. So United has enlisted Oscar to help us educate the traveling public of all ages about SAF and rally them to the cause of fighting climate change. From banana peels to fryer grease, Oscar is uniquely qualified to help us explain why trash could be the treasure that fuels the jets of the future.”
Also commenting on the collaboration, Sesame Workshop’s Vice President – Global Strategic Partnerships & Themed Entertainment, Jennifer Ahearn, added,
“This campaign provided a special opportunity to showcase an iconic Sesame Street character, Oscar the Grouch, celebrating what he loves best – trash. The amazing collaboration helps United Airlines explain in simpler terms the technology of turning trash into fuel in a fun and engaging manner.”
United Airlines' First Chief Trash Officer, Oscar the Grouch Settles Into His New Office at United HQ - Courtesy United Airlines/PRNewswire
To date, United has invested in the future production of more than three billion gallons of SAF, mare than any other airline. Consumers can also act, as United now shows an estimate of the carbon footprint of each flight on a per-economy-seat passenger basis on their app and website. Customers then have the option to supplement United’s investment in the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, an investment vehicle supporting start-ups focused on the decarbonization of air travel.
United Airlines’ shared purpose is ‘Connecting People. Uniting the World.’ The carrier operates the most comprehensive network among North American airlines with mainland U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Shares in the company’s parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., are publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol ‘UAL.’
Source: United Airlines/PRNewswire