If you’re scheduled to travel in the Premium Cabin of Hawaiian Airlines, don’t be surprised when offered a recyclable aluminum water bottle instead of a plastic one. The Honolulu-based carrier is on a drive to reduce plastic waste and doing it in style by partnering up with Jason Mamoa’s water company Mananalu.

A partnership to remove 284,000 plastic bottles annually

From April 20th, Hawaiian Airlines will replace plastic water bottles with infinitely recyclable aluminum bottles in its Premium Cabin. The airline will distribute Mananalu’s 16-ounce aluminum bottles to premium guests on all flights to the US East Coast and international destinations.

The new product will also feature on Hawaiian’s Pau Hana snack cart on the carrier’s flights between Hawaii and its 16 continental US gateway cities. Avi Mannis, chief marketing and communications officer at Hawaiian Airlines, commented,

“We have remained steadfast in our commitment to source more sustainable products for our onboard service, and our Mananalu partnership helps us continue to phase-out single-use plastics and protect our oceans and environment.”

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So how will the partnership help eliminate more than a quarter of a million plastic bottles every year? According to Hawaiian’s estimates, it will be able to replace around 142,000 plastic bottles from its transpacific operations each year through the partnership.

Mananalu, a certified carbon neutral company and a member of the 1% for the Planet group, will rid the ocean of an equal number of bottles, resulting in an additional 142,000 bottles removed.

Hawaiian Airlines
The airline has partnered with Jason Momoa's water company Mananalu to reduce plastic waste. Photo: Hawaiian Airlines

About Mananalu

Founded in 2019 by Jason Momoa in collaboration with the Ball Corporation, the world's largest aluminum producer, Mananalu helps spread awareness about the impact of plastics on the environment.

The company uses BPA-free aluminum for its bottles as the metal is considered the most recyclable material in the world, with around 75% of all aluminum produced still used today. David Cuthbert, CEO of Mananalu, commented on the partnership with Hawaiian, saying,

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Hawaiian Airlines. Together we’re reducing single-use plastic bottles on flights and removing plastic from our oceans. It’s perfect brand alignment."

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-243 N389HA
Hawaiian has made a pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Photo: Vincenzo Pace - Simple Flying

Hawaiian Airlines’ other initiatives

The airline has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through ongoing fleet modernization, more efficient flying, carbon offsets, and industry advocacy for air traffic control reform and sustainable aviation fuel development.

Earlier this month, it announced its latest sustainability initiative with a carbon offsetting scheme focused on preventing deforestation. The carrier will match all passenger contributions made in April to recognize Earth Day on April 22nd.

Hawaiian has given passengers the option to measure and offset their carbon emissions by funding projects that protect the world's forests. Effective from April 6th, passengers flying within the Hawaiian Islands and between Hawaii and the continental United States, as well as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Auckland, Tahiti, or American Samoa, can use the airline's carbon calculator to determine their carbon emissions.

The carrier has pledged to match all passenger contributions for April and also committed to offsetting all future employee business travel on Hawaiian flights.

What do you think about Hawaiian Airlines’ initiatives to help the environment? Do share your opinions in the comment section below.