The airline seeks to eliminate 75% of single-use plastics on board
LATAM announced today changes in its Economy cabin service that allowed it to eliminate more than 1,200 tons of single-use plastics, which is equivalent to eliminating 36 thousand 500 ml plastic bottles. The new service seeks to implement a more sustainable cabin and considers important changes in the materiality of all the elements on board (glasses, cutlery, trays), replacing them with more sustainable materials such as bamboo cutlery, reusable trays, kraft paper packaging for cutlery and certified sustainable paper cups.
The initiative is already implemented on all regional and long-haul routes of the LATAM group and is part of the group's sustainability strategy, which has as one of its objectives to eliminate 100% of the single-use plastics used in its operation to 2023.
“Caring for the planet is a challenge for everyone and a necessary destination for LATAM, which is why we reviewed our services and identified nearly 1,800 tons of single-use plastic on board our international flights. Thus, our teams got involved to redefine all the details of the service, achieving a positive change for our customers and thus also for our planet”, says Paulo Miranda, Vice President of Customers of LATAM Airlines Group.
The proposal is added to the changes made in the Premium Business cabin that include the incorporation of reusable bags to cover the elements of rest, in addition to the new eco travel kits for passengers. Among the novelties of the new kits is the bamboo toothbrush with a sugar cane cap, earplugs wrapper made of kraft paper and socks and eye covers made of recycled plastic.
More Circular Economy in LATAM
Likewise, the group has added recycling and reuse actions. On domestic flights from Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, LATAM has the “Recycle Your Trip” program, through which cabin crew segregates plastic and cans on board. In the case of Colombia, this segregation is carried out on land. In turn, together with women entrepreneurs and allied organizations, the group continues with its uniform reuse program in Peru, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil, giving a second life to employee uniforms that are not being used.
These initiatives are part of LATAM's sustainability strategy, whose goals include being zero waste to landfill by 2027, reducing and offsetti