All Nippon Airways (ANA) will become the first Japanese airline to introduce meal trays made from biodegradable materials. Composed of bagasse – the waste fibre created from pressing sugarcane – these biodegradable trays will further reduce ANA’s carbon footprint.
The new meal trays will be introduced beginning in August 2021 for economy class meals on international flights. By replacing the plastic meal trays, the airline claims that the amount of disposable plastic used for its in-flight services will be reduced by about 30%, an amount that was equal to 317 tons during fiscal 2019.
“At ANA, we view sustainability as critical to our mission and we are constantly searching for ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Chikako Miyata, Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Sustainability. “We will keep making efforts to improve sustainability and create a better planet. We will continue to consider innovative technologies that allow us to operate safely, efficiently and effectively as we serve the needs of customers worldwide.”
In 2020, ANA introduced plastic-free cutlery and straws, reducing the amount of plastic used by 25 tons compared to the previous year. The reduced use of plastic is central to ANA’s 2050 ESG initiatives and the airline will continue exploring areas where it can reduce consumption and waste.
