Etihad Airways became the first carrier in the Middle East to launch a “plastic-free” flight. It happened on April 22nd this year, when no disposable plastic was used on the plane on the Abu Dhabi – Brisbane route. This flight was scheduled on April 22nd , when the whole world commemorates Earth Day.
Consumable coffee cups (c) Etihad
Etihad is committed to reducing the use of disposable plastic products by 80% by the end of 2022. Etihad has identified more than 95 disposable plastic products that are used during flights. In preparation for the special flight, the company’s employees found that it is possible to reduce the use of disposable plastics by 20% as early as June this year. During the Abu Dhabi-Brisbane flight alone, savings of up to 50 kilograms of plastic disposable products would otherwise have ended up in landfills or incinerators. Initial planned measures will save approximately 100 plastics only by the end of this year.
Passengers on board were offered eco-friendly amenity kits, the blankets distributed during the flight were made of recycled plastic, and the coffee was served in cups, which could then be consumed.
The question remains whether this initiative is really serious, or is it just a PR company that wanted to show up in good light. Air transport is one of the major producers of greenhouse gases. And it is Etihad with its cabin The Residence, where passengers have a personal butler is not an example of the most environmentally friendly behavior.
Etihad is not the only one who strives for ecological behavior. Already in December 2018, the Portuguese Hi Fly made a plastic-free flight.
Tags: Etihad
