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Etihad Airways: Is plastic-free flying the future? | Etihad Airways: Is plastic-free flying the future? |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Attention has turned in recent months to how much plastic can be found in our oceans - but what about the plastic in our skies? | Attention has turned in recent months to how much plastic can be found in our oceans - but what about the plastic in our skies? |
The Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways recently revealed that it uses some 27 million single-use plastic coffee cup lids every year. | The Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways recently revealed that it uses some 27 million single-use plastic coffee cup lids every year. |
That revelation was enough to encourage Etihad to take action and, on 22 April, it became the first major airline to make a long haul flight with no single-use plastics on board. | |
To achieve this feat - which coincided with World Earth Day - it needed to replace no less than 95 different single-use plastic items. | To achieve this feat - which coincided with World Earth Day - it needed to replace no less than 95 different single-use plastic items. |
Among the replacements were edible wafer coffee cups and blankets made from recycled plastic bottles. Where suitable replacements could not be sourced, the items were not loaded. | Among the replacements were edible wafer coffee cups and blankets made from recycled plastic bottles. Where suitable replacements could not be sourced, the items were not loaded. |
"There is a growing concern globally about the overuse of plastics, which can take thousands of years to decompose," Tony Douglas, the group's chief executive, explained. | "There is a growing concern globally about the overuse of plastics, which can take thousands of years to decompose," Tony Douglas, the group's chief executive, explained. |
"We discovered we could remove 27 million single-use plastic lids from our in-flight service a year and, as a leading airline, it's our responsibility to act on this, to challenge industry standards and work with suppliers who provide lower impact alternatives." | "We discovered we could remove 27 million single-use plastic lids from our in-flight service a year and, as a leading airline, it's our responsibility to act on this, to challenge industry standards and work with suppliers who provide lower impact alternatives." |
The future - or a publicity stunt? | The future - or a publicity stunt? |
So are we looking at a future of air travel without disposable plastic? Or is this a one-off publicity stunt? | So are we looking at a future of air travel without disposable plastic? Or is this a one-off publicity stunt? |
"Anything that reduces the impact of air travel on the planet has to be welcomed, and Etihad is making a bold move in the right direction," Simon Calder, senior travel editor at The Independent, told the BBC. | "Anything that reduces the impact of air travel on the planet has to be welcomed, and Etihad is making a bold move in the right direction," Simon Calder, senior travel editor at The Independent, told the BBC. |
However, Mr Calder had reservations about how seriously both airlines and customers are about reducing the impact that flying has on the environment. | However, Mr Calder had reservations about how seriously both airlines and customers are about reducing the impact that flying has on the environment. |
"Airlines like to stage publicity stunts to try to emphasise their green credentials," he said. | "Airlines like to stage publicity stunts to try to emphasise their green credentials," he said. |
"But if airlines - and travellers - were really serious, they would not, respectively, supply or demand extremely luxurious on board products." | "But if airlines - and travellers - were really serious, they would not, respectively, supply or demand extremely luxurious on board products." |
Mr Calder pointed to "The Residence" - a three-room "suite in the sky" offered by Etihad that comes complete with butler service - as one of the most harmful services offered by airlines. | Mr Calder pointed to "The Residence" - a three-room "suite in the sky" offered by Etihad that comes complete with butler service - as one of the most harmful services offered by airlines. |
Etihad says it is committed to improving its environmental policies beyond the Earth Day flight, pledging to reduce single-use plastic usage by 80% across the entire organisation by the end of 2022. | Etihad says it is committed to improving its environmental policies beyond the Earth Day flight, pledging to reduce single-use plastic usage by 80% across the entire organisation by the end of 2022. |
But Mr Calder said that the aviation industry and its customers still had a long way to go on all matters "green". | But Mr Calder said that the aviation industry and its customers still had a long way to go on all matters "green". |
"And while I would love to think that air passengers seek out the lowest-impact aircraft and airlines, the evidence is that they don't - otherwise British Airways would not be keeping on its 25-year-old fleet of gas-guzzling Boeing 747s," Mr Calder added. | "And while I would love to think that air passengers seek out the lowest-impact aircraft and airlines, the evidence is that they don't - otherwise British Airways would not be keeping on its 25-year-old fleet of gas-guzzling Boeing 747s," Mr Calder added. |
"BA has the highest number of any airline, and intends to keep flying them until the end of 2022." | "BA has the highest number of any airline, and intends to keep flying them until the end of 2022." |
Despite Etihad being the first major name to scrap single-use plastic for a long-haul flight, Hi Fly, a Portuguese charter airline, was the first to fly plastic-free in December. | Despite Etihad being the first major name to scrap single-use plastic for a long-haul flight, Hi Fly, a Portuguese charter airline, was the first to fly plastic-free in December. |
Ryanair has also pledged to scrap single-use plastic by 2023 and hopes to gain the title of "the greenest airline", while Alaska Airlines has stopped using plastic straws. | Ryanair has also pledged to scrap single-use plastic by 2023 and hopes to gain the title of "the greenest airline", while Alaska Airlines has stopped using plastic straws. |
Is it enough? | Is it enough? |
Julian Kirby, a lead campaigner on plastics for Friends of the Earth, said that while plastic reduction by big businesses should be welcomed, there should be greater efforts made. | Julian Kirby, a lead campaigner on plastics for Friends of the Earth, said that while plastic reduction by big businesses should be welcomed, there should be greater efforts made. |
"Plastic pollution has an enormous impact on our environment and wildlife, so every company should be taking steps to pull the plug on non-essential single-use plastic," Mr Kirby told the BBC. | "Plastic pollution has an enormous impact on our environment and wildlife, so every company should be taking steps to pull the plug on non-essential single-use plastic," Mr Kirby told the BBC. |
"If Etihad Airways can fly without single-use plastics on Earth Day - why can't it do so every day?" he said. | "If Etihad Airways can fly without single-use plastics on Earth Day - why can't it do so every day?" he said. |
Mr Kirby pointed out that plastic consumption was fairly low down on the environmental problems the aviation industry is causing. | Mr Kirby pointed out that plastic consumption was fairly low down on the environmental problems the aviation industry is causing. |
"Of course aviation's main impact isn't plastic pollution - it's climate change," he added. | "Of course aviation's main impact isn't plastic pollution - it's climate change," he added. |
"If planes continue to pump more pollution into our atmosphere the world will struggle to prevent catastrophic climate change." | "If planes continue to pump more pollution into our atmosphere the world will struggle to prevent catastrophic climate change." |
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