A design studio based in London has created a radical concept that could have a phenomenal impact on the way that meals are consumed onboard aircraft, while also reducing the environmental impact of dining. And the extraordinary concept involves trays that can be eaten! (Yes, you read that correctly)

Edible trays?

The partially edible trays are constructed from materials such as used coffee grains and husks, alongside food containers made from wheat bran, to make the whole meal service a bit more interesting. Plastics are replaced by soluble seaweed, and banana leaves and algae are also combined with rice husk in order to create eco-friendly cups. As you can guess by the ingredients, the tray is not actually edible, but rather meant to be easily composted upon arrival at the destination airport, rather than end up in a landfill somewhere.

Edible Tray Design
Photo: Priestman Goode

It remains to be seen how much this will catch on with airline passengers, but it is certainly a novel concept, and one primarily intended to reduce waste and carbon footprints related to flights. In addition to being sustainable, the design looks exceptional too!

PG Meal Tray
Photo: Priestman Goode

PriestmanGoode is the designer that can be credited with this idea, with the studio also swapping plastic cutlery for one simple 'spork' composed of coconut wood. Another innovation floated by PriestmanGoode is water bottles composed of cork and bioplastic, with a water cooler then provided onboard in order to enable passengers to refill flasks while flying.

Reusable water bottle
Photo: PriestmanGoode

London exhibition

The innovative trays and cutlery formed part of an exhibition intended to address waste in air travel. Named 'Get Onboard: Reduce. Reuse. Rethink', the exhibition being held at London’s Design Museum. And the designers are keen to open the public's eyes to the amount of waste associated with the travel industry, and airlines in particular.

On the website showcasing its exhibition, PriestmanGoode noted that,

“An estimated 5.7 million tons of cabin waste is generated on passenger flights, from single-use plastic to meal trays and earphones."

PG_Get-on-Board_Water-Bottle_V4_090919-1024x683
Photo: Priestman Goode

The studio goes on to explain that developments in ecologically-friendly materials, coupled with innovative initiatives from suppliers, could help change consumer behavior in a way that will be extremely positive for the ecology of the planet.

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Steps in the right direction

Airlines are progressively moving away from the traditional meal tray, which usually came with several plastic coverings and bowls for each serving. Instead, many have now adopted paper boxes with recyclable cutlery, significantly reducing the amount of waste (although also reducing portions for passengers in economy as well).

An economy meal served on Virgin Atlantic.
Photo: Virgin Atlantic

Those in premium cabins are more used to glass dishware, which has made a comeback at all airlines after a two-year-long COVID suspension. While these are reusable, and therefore more sustainable, they also add more weight, thereby increasing fuel burn. Expect to see airlines looking for lighter alternatives in the future, hopefully without sacrificing the experience too much.

Important cuisine

Food is considered to be an increasingly important aspect of the airline experience, and carriers are now taking cuisine far more seriously. Food is becoming more accessible too, with an impressive number of airlines introducing vegan options this year and adding new types of dishes.

Check out our comprehensive airline meal guide for 'veganuary' here!

The new ANA vegan meal option
Photo: ANA

Meanwhile, Simple Flying reported earlier this year that the size of meals in economy has been reduced in order for airlines to save fuel, and make flying more economical. This can be considered particularly important at a time when the airline industry must answer continual probing questions regarding its carbon footprint. However, passenger experience remains key, and reducing portions is probably not the only way to reduce emissions!

What do you think about the unique design? Let us know in the comments.