Emirates has achieved the impressive milestone of recycling almost half a million kilograms of glass and plastic used onboard its flights in a single year. In a world where environmental concerns remain at the forefront of everyone's minds, reaching this benchmark sets a new gold standard for other airlines to aspire to.

A super-jumbo amount of recycling

Keen to highlight its green credentials on the global stage, Emirates has announced that during 2022, the airline recycled more than 500,000 kilograms (1.1 million pounds) of plastic and glass. This weight is almost equivalent to one of the carrier's flagship Airbus A380 aircraft.

The milestone was achieved by collecting discarded bottles used onboard its flights, which are subsequently sent for repurposing. Onboard every Emirates flight, the cabin crew separates glass and plastic bottles to be unloaded back in Dubai and then sent to a local recycling plant.

The glass is separated by color and then crushed. This recycled glass (known as 'cullet') is then re-melted. It is subsequently sent to glass manufacturers elsewhere within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be used to manufacture new bottles.

Meanwhile, the plastic bottles are cleaned, chopped into flakes, melted into pellets, and sent to manufacturers to make other plastic products. As a result of the airline's industrial-scale recycling program, Emirates and Emirates Flight Catering between them diverts thousands of kilograms of glass and plastic away from landfill each year.

Crew-driven initiative

Emirates' glass and plastic onboard recycling initiative was initially suggested by environmentally-conscious cabin crew in 2019. The suggestion arose as part of regular webinars and events where staff were given a platform to share feedback and encouraged to share innovative ideas with key departments.

The proposal was so well-received by the airline's management that it was implemented within weeks of being suggested.

Developing its green credentials

Consuming responsibly is a key environmental focus area for Emirates, which has embedded an environmental requirement in the supplier code of conduct and considers the entire lifecycle of products from the design stage.

Alongside the airline's glass and plastic onboard recycling initiative, Emirates has several other initiatives focusing on repurposing plastic or using sustainable materials wherever possible. For example, wooden tea and coffee stirrers, paper straws, and inflight retail bags are made using wood and paper from responsibly managed forests.

For the last six years, the airline has offered sustainable blankets made from recycled plastic bottles to Economy passengers on long-haul flights. Each blanket, described as 'soft and warm' by the carrier, is made from 28 recycled plastic bottles.

The bottles are shredded into plastic chips before being turned into yarn, creating a fleece material. The fine thread is then woven into soft blankets. Over the six years since the initiative was introduced, Emirates claims that producing these Economy blankets have prevented more than 95 million plastic bottles from going to landfill.

The airline claims the program to be the most extensive sustainable onboard blanket program onboard in the airline industry.

Green strategies extend throughout the plane

Emirates' green initiatives are not limited to recycling bottles and producing blankets from plastic. Its Premium Economy and Economy Class amenity kits also feature as part of the airline's green initiatives.

The pouches are reusable and are made from washable kraft paper with bespoke art printed in non-toxic soy-based ink. The contents include a selection of durable travel essentials made from environmentally friendly materials.

The toothbrush is made from a combination of wheat straw and plastic, and the socks and eyeshades are made from recycled plastic. According to the airline, the packaging used for the dental kit, socks, and eyeshades is made from 90%.

For Emirates' youngest travelers, the airline's complimentary toy bags, baby amenity kits, and plush toys are also made from recycled plastic bottles and other sustainable materials. Belt bags, duffle bags, and backpacks handed out to children traveling onboard Emirates flights are constructed from a yarn made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.

Each Emirates kids' backpack is made from five recycled plastic bottles, and each duffle bag is made from seven such bottles. The production of Emirates children's bags has saved eight million plastic bottles from going into landfill.

Are we nearly there yet?

Emirates is making great strides in doing its bit to save the planet. By driving such initiatives, the airline is not only saving vast amounts of plastic going into landfill sites but is also leading the way down the green path that other airlines need to be following.

With the introduction of onboard initiatives such as these above, alongside the increasing trend for using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), the airline industry is undoubtedly heading in the right direction. But it has not yet reached its final destination, and much work remains to be done.

What do you think of Emirates' efforts in recycling? Do you think the airline industry is doing enough in this regard? Tell us more in the comments.

• 

  Emirates

  Loyalty Program:

  Emirates Skywards