Aer Lingus is segregating and recycling onboard waste arriving on short-haul flights into Ireland.
The move is another milestone on the Irish flag carrier’s focussed sustainability agenda.
It is now on target to be recycling 20% (200 tonnes) of onboard waste from flights into Cork and Dublin airports by the end of 2023. This figure is scheduled to increase to 40% (720 tonnes) by 2025.
Aer Lingus trialled waste recycling on flights into Cork at the end of 2022, followed by flights into Dublin at the start of 2023. The carrier will extend the programme to other airports and long-haul flights in due course.
It is being run in partnership with waste management company Panda.
Lynn Embleton, Air Lingus’ CEO, said: “We know from our customers that recycling is something the vast majority wish to see happen and this new onboard initiative complements other positive steps we are taking on our aircraft, including the use of more sustainable materials and reducing single use plastics onboard.”
Derek Dunne, Managing Director at Panda, added: “We are proud to be the first waste management company in Ireland to facilitate the introduction of recycling both onboard the aircraft and at the custom-built facility at Dublin Airport.
“We are striving towards net zero by 2040 and are committed to shaping a better future for all by making sustainable choices easy and enabling our customers to leave a greener footprint.”
Aer Lingus has also become the first Irish airline to achieve an IEnvA Stage 2 Certification for its work in reducing carbon emissions across flight operations and corporate facilities.
The airline is committed to powering 10% of flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. Last year, Aer Lingus signed a lease agreement for two new Airbus A320neo aircrafts, which are more fuel-efficient and create less noise. The airline is taking delivery of another two A320neo aircrafts later this year, too.
Willie Walsh, Director General at IATA, said:“Stakeholders, including governments, financiers and business partners, will know that Aer Lingus is not just meeting global standards and best practices on sustainability, but it is committed to continuous improvements to stay at the forefront of sustainability.”
