LATAM Airlines has launched a new sustainability initiative called Recycle Your Journey to recycle waste generated by on-board dining.
Starting last week, LATAM began recycling aluminum, glass and plastic packaging from in-flight meals on domestic flights within Chile. The airline plans to expand the program gradually to other flights across Latin America and intends to broaden the types of materials collected beyond aluminum, glass and plastic in the future. After each flight, collected food and beverage packaging is taken to local recycling centers for proper processing.
“As one of the three most sustainable airline groups in the world, we are committed to bringing about change and leading by example. The launch of our ‘Recycle Your Journey’ program on domestic flights in Chile represents just the first step towards the introduction of on-board recycling across our network,” said Ignacio Cueto, president of LATAM Airlines Group. “Without the support and willingness of our passengers and the commitment of our cabin crew, on-board recycling is not possible.”
LATAM estimates the program will divert about 20 tons of on-board waste to recycling by the end of the current year. The airline projects that by the end of 2020 it will be recycling more than 55 tons of waste annually from its flights, as the program expands and more materials are included.