The Group has developed circular economy projects, such as the adoption of organic and reusable materials on board to replace single-use plastics, initiatives that have enabled a total reduction of 1,600 tons of single-use plastic.
SANTIAGO DE CHILE – The LATAM Group ended the first half of the year with significant progress in its goal of eliminating single-use plastics on board its aircraft by the end of 2023. The group managed to reduce them by 88% thanks to the implementation of circular economy projects, which meant a total reduction of 1,600 tons of plastic, equivalent to 266 million plastic bags.
“Our commitment is to eliminate single-use plastics by 2023 and to be zero waste to landfills by 2027. Two years ago, we decided to migrate from a linear model to a circular one, where waste becomes a resource with a new life. We will continue working on more initiatives that allow us to contribute to the environment”, comments Estela Espinoza, Experience Manager of the LATAM Group.
Use of organic and reusable materials
One of the initiatives implemented by the group was the replacement of single-use plastics for organic materials, such as paper in the case of the new cups, bamboo for cutlery, sugar cane for container lids and reusable materials such as pans and trays in the economy cabin and cloth bags in the business cabin.
This was complemented by the work being done by LATAM with its “Recycle your trip” program, which promotes the segregation of certain waste generated in the on-board service to be subsequently recycled, which is under permanent review and improvement. “Recycle your trip” is currently operating on domestic flights in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and is being evaluated to be implemented in Brazil in the near future.
LATAM also continued with its “Second Flight” program, which gives the airline’s uniforms and various disused textile elements a second life. To do this, South American artisans and entrepreneurs transform these items into new products, such as passport holders, luggage tags, wallets and keychains, among others.
In May 2021, the LATAM group launched its renewed sustainability strategy in which it set challenging goals: to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, to eliminate single-use plastics by 2023; and to become a zero waste to landfill group in 2027, in order to contribute to the protection of South America´s ecosystems for the next 30 years.
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