WasteAid collaborate with Lufthansa Group to combat in-flight packaging waste

FRANCE – WasteAid, a UK-based environmental and development charity, has joined forces with Lufthansa Group to address packaging waste generated on flights that often ends up in landfills.

The partnership will initially focus on Lufthansa flights arriving at Mumbai Airport, India, aiming to enhance recycling rates and foster circularity in managing in-flight waste.

The project’s first phase includes a scoping study to evaluate current waste management practices at Lufthansa’s Mumbai outstation.

By analyzing existing procedures, the study will help Lufthansa identify opportunities to integrate circular practices and improve material reuse on its flights.

“Our ambition is to only have items onboard that can be reused, recycled, or composted after flights,” said Manuel Henle, who oversees sustainability for onboard services at Lufthansa Group.

“While we have made strides to replace single-use plastics and aluminum, there is more to be done. Recycling plays a critical role in conserving resources.”

WasteAid will work closely with local recycling businesses and key suppliers, including catering companies, to support the project.

With over 80 Lufthansa flights landing in Mumbai each month, carrying more than 20,000 passengers, the initiative estimates around 15,000 kg of recyclable materials pass through the airport annually.

This challenge is especially relevant in regions with limited formal waste infrastructure, where effective waste management can have a lasting impact on local communities.

The collaboration also aligns with WasteAid’s mission to empower communities through waste management training, creating skills and opportunities for long-term impact in Mumbai.

WasteAid CEO Ceris Turner-Bailes commented, “The global airline industry is a significant emitter of GHG emissions, so we’re pleased to see Lufthansa Group making steps to reduce its environmental impact while also generating economic opportunities locally.”

Southwest Airlines introduces sustainable bamboo cups

In related news, Southwest Airlines has replaced its plastic cups for cold beverages with new, eco-friendly cups made from a 75% bamboo and 25% paper blend.

Alongside this change, the airline introduced a plastic-free drink stir stick made from 100% FSC-certified birch wood.

The cups are in the process of certification, but Southwest expects these changes to reduce its single-use plastics by over 1.5 million pounds annually, exceeding its 2025 target of cutting single-use plastics by 50% from a 2022 baseline. Southwest also aims to eliminate all single-use plastics from in-flight service by 2030.

Helen Giles, Managing Director of Environmental Sustainability at Southwest, explained that plastic beverage cups comprised the majority of onboard plastic weight.

By targeting these items first, the airline is making significant strides toward its sustainability goals, which also include reducing single-use plastics and increasing the use of sustainable alternatives across its operations.

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