The first airline to separate and recycle garbage on board short-haul flights into Ireland is Aer Lingus. The action is just another significant step taken by the airline towards achieving its lofty sustainability goals.
By the end of 2023, it is planned to recycle 20%, or 200 tonnes, of the on-board waste from flights into Cork and Dublin airports. By 2025, this amount is predicted to rise to 40%, or 720 tonnes.
Following the Foot and Mouth outbreak, which prevented the recycling of on-board waste, European standards governing international catering waste were implemented in 2002. However, recycling can be used for any trash entering Ireland that is not contaminated by animal byproducts, according to the Department of Agriculture.
At the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, Aer Lingus conducted trials of recycling rubbish from flights into Cork and Dublin. The airline will gradually expand the programme to other airports and long-haul flights in addition to starting recycling on short-haul flights into Cork and Dublin.
Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus, stated: “Recycling on-board waste on short-haul flights into Dublin and Cork is another milestone on the airline’s focused environmental mission.Recycling is something that the vast majority of our customers want to see happen, and this new on-board programme complements other good things we are doing on our aircraft, such using more sustainable materials and lowering the amount of single-use plastics on board.
“Our on-board recycling programme is one of a broad range of initiatives we are implementing across Aer Lingus to drive sustainability at the airline, including investing in new fuel-efficient aircraft* and sustainable aviation fuel,” the company said.
“This is a fantastic initiative by Aer Lingus and an exciting extension of the partnership we have held for a number of years,” said Derek Dunne, managing director of Panda. Panda is happy to be the first waste management firm in Ireland to support the introduction of recycling both on board the aircraft and at the specially developed facility at Dublin Airport since we place a strong emphasis on the circular economy through recycling and resource recovery.
By making environmentally friendly decisions simple and empowering our customers to leave a smaller environmental footprint, we as a company want to reach net zero by 2040 and are committed to fostering a brighter future for all.
Additionally, Aer Lingus has created history as the first Irish airline to receive a significant international accreditation for its advancements in sustainability, supporting the company’s efforts and the achievements so far.Aer Lingus has received an IEnvA Stage 2 Certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for its efforts to reduce carbon emissions throughout airline operations and corporate facilities.
The IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme is a well renowned evaluation methodology created to objectively evaluate and support the improvement of an airline’s environmental performance. Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton praised the accomplishment and noted that this certification demonstrated the extent of the company’s work to date in recognising and reducing its environmental effect throughout the entire organisation.
“The only way we will make progress in combating climate change is by establishing aggressive performance targets and including environmental management plans. The IATA accreditation is evidence of our ongoing progress in monitoring and reviewing our performance in relation to our environmental targets and objectives.
By 2030, Aer Lingus plans to power 10% of its aircraft using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The airline inked a lease arrangement for two brand-new, quieter, more fuel-efficient Airbus A320neo aircraft last year. Later this year, the carrier will also take delivery of two other A320neo aircraft. The IEnvA certification, according to IATA’s Director General Wille Walsh, is a glaring example of Aer Lingus’s strong commitment to sustainability throughout all of its operations.
“Stakeholders, including governments, financiers, and business partners will know that Aer Lingus is not just meeting global standards and best practises on sustainability, but is committed to continuous improvements to stay at the forefront of sustainability,” he continued.
Source- Travel daily