Article extracted from Asian Diver Issue 02/2020 (155)
It’s not just on a national level where change is being implemented. Several evolved and active brands have derived, produced or presented products to the world that take on an environmentally friendly angle by promoting sustainability. Let’s celebrate the respective initiatives taken up by commercial brands, non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations, and social and technical enterprises, as we attempt to capture some of the most unique and memorable ones.
Check out International Brands Against Plastic – Retail & Fashion here!
Check out International Brands Against Plastic – Entertainment here!
Check out International Brands Against Plastic – Fast-Moving Consumer Goods here!
AIRLINES
RYANAIR
A five-year plan was announced in an attempt to lessen non-biodegradable plastics from RyanAir aircraft and offices, as part of an environmental initiative set to make Ryanair the “greenest airline”. Ryanair’s CFO Kenny Jacobs stated: “We are very pleased to announce our environmental plan which includes our commitment to eliminate all non-recyclable plastics from our operations over the next five years”.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
The world’s largest carrier banned plastic straws and stirrers on all flights. Earlier that year, plastic utensils were eliminated from the company’s airport lounges, with biodegradable straws and wooden stirrers replacing plastic ones. The carrier’s lounges also transitioned to eco-friendly “flatware” and reusable bags for packing up to-go orders. American Airlines expected the new measures to cut more than 32 tonnes of plastic waste per year.
EMIRATES
Emirates made an international pledge to reduce single-use plastics on flights. They also introduced eco-friendly paper straws and plastic swizzle sticks and stirrers have been replaced. In 2017, for its Economy Class cabin, Emirates brought about ecoTHREAD™ blankets made from recycled plastic bottles. Each blanket’s material comprises of 28 recycled plastic bottles. From the bottle initiative alone, Emirates has saved 88 million plastic bottles from being wasted.
FINNAIR
Through more recycling and better material choices, Finnair has introduced a waste-reduction scheme to take place in 2020. From the economy cabin, plastic cutlery will be removed replaced with greener alternatives, getting rid of 53 tonnes of plastic from flights every year. By 2022, they aim to remove 230 tonnes of single-use plastic from their flights.
ETIHAD
In April 2019, Etihad Airways became the first airline in the Gulf to manage flights without single-use plastics on board. This stemming from an attempt to raise awareness regarding pollution on Earth Day. Etihad pledges to reduce single-use plastics by 80 percent, in-flight, and across the organisation by 2022.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
On March 21, the airline announced that they will be reducing the use of plastics for in-flight items and expanding sustainable elements in in-flight meals. They also aim to become entirely plastic straw-free by September 2019. These changes will reduce about 820,000 plastic straws each year.
QANTAS
Qantas became the first commercial flight to produce no landfill waste, highlighting the start of their plan to reduce 100 million single-use plastics by the end of 2020. They also aim to eliminate 75 percent of waste by 2021. Roughly 1000 single-use plastic items were replaced with sustainable options or removed entirely.
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