The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is collaborating with the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF) to launch a standardised Cabin Waste Composition Audit (CWCA), and the ASF Cabin Waste Composition Audit Platform will be launched in September 2024.
CWCA audits have already been piloted in two waves, covering 25 flights (short, medium and long-haul) at Singapore Changi Airport in November 2023 and April 2024. ASF conducted the audits based on a methodology developed by IATA. Preliminary results indicate that the sector generates more than 3.6 million metric tons of cabin and catering waste annually, of which 65% is food and beverage waste. Untouched food accounts for 18% of all waste.
The audit data will guide the airline industry and policy makers in their efforts to reduce the levels of waste produced and improve circularity by identifying opportunities for reuse and recycling. Previous IATA research identified a lack of standardised methodology with regard to conducting cabin waste audits and, as a result, no harmonised data is available to support decision-making by policy makers, airlines and caterers with regard to waste-related issues. A standardised audit will help address these issues and enable the industry to demonstrate progress towards reducing waste and improving circularity.
“Waste management and reduction is an important component of aviation’s overall sustainability. Obtaining standardised and comparable data on the composition and quantity of flight waste will help the industry reduce the waste it generates. Better data will also help policymakers harmonise regulations, which in turn can help optimise the industry’s ability to safely sort, recycle and reuse waste that cannot be avoided. Working with ASF on the development of this audit programme is an important step forward in improving the circularity of the industry,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Chief Economist.
“ASF’s mission is to help the aviation industry reduce the levels of waste generated in cabins and achieve greater levels of waste recovery and circularity. Working with IATA to develop a cabin waste composition audit standard for the industry is a significant step forward. Effectively managing cabin waste is a challenge that can be solved with the support of data. It is the responsibility of the industry and its regulators to come together, understand the problem and align on the necessary solutions,” said Matt Crane, Founder of ASF.
Source: IATA.