Biofuel, beeswax wraps and recyclable coffee cups: United debuts 'eco-friendly flight'
United hasn’t served complimentary meals in economy for years, but passengers on Flight 310 from Chicago to Los Angeles on Wednesday were treated to a choice of a Thai summer salad with mango and rice noodles, a quinoa and kale superfood wrap or an artisanal cheese plate. No, the airline isn't bringing back free food. United served the meals instead of its typical free pretzel mix and snacks for sale to highlight what it says are industry-leading initiatives to help the environment. The airline previously set a goal of reducing its emissions by more than 50% by 2050. The meals were served on compostable or recyclable plates; hot beverages were served in recyclable paper cups, an industry first, according to the airline. The cutlery was compostable. In first class, passengers' meals were covered with a beeswax wrap instead of the usual plastic and there was no plastic ring around the napkin. The goal: zero cabin waste instead of the average 65 pounds of garbage taken off a United flight. (They got it down to 14 pounds, all of it passenger garbage.) A reduction in cabin waste was one of four major steps the airline took on the one-time flight it dubbed the "Flight for the Planet". The airline said it was the first carrier to take all of the actions on a single flight, declaring it "the most eco-friendly commercial flight of its kind in the history of aviation." "It showcases our industry-leading commitment to becoming the most environmentally conscious airline in the world," United president Scott Kirby said before the flight took off from O'Hare airport. He called it a personal priority.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2019-06-07/star/biofuel-beeswax-wraps-and-recyclable-coffee-cups-united-debuts-eco-friendly-flight
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Biofuel, beeswax wraps and recyclable coffee cups: United debuts 'eco-friendly flight'
United hasn’t served complimentary meals in economy for years, but passengers on Flight 310 from Chicago to Los Angeles on Wednesday were treated to a choice of a Thai summer salad with mango and rice noodles, a quinoa and kale superfood wrap or an artisanal cheese plate. No, the airline isn't bringing back free food. United served the meals instead of its typical free pretzel mix and snacks for sale to highlight what it says are industry-leading initiatives to help the environment. The airline previously set a goal of reducing its emissions by more than 50% by 2050. The meals were served on compostable or recyclable plates; hot beverages were served in recyclable paper cups, an industry first, according to the airline. The cutlery was compostable. In first class, passengers' meals were covered with a beeswax wrap instead of the usual plastic and there was no plastic ring around the napkin. The goal: zero cabin waste instead of the average 65 pounds of garbage taken off a United flight. (They got it down to 14 pounds, all of it passenger garbage.) A reduction in cabin waste was one of four major steps the airline took on the one-time flight it dubbed the "Flight for the Planet". The airline said it was the first carrier to take all of the actions on a single flight, declaring it "the most eco-friendly commercial flight of its kind in the history of aviation." "It showcases our industry-leading commitment to becoming the most environmentally conscious airline in the world," United president Scott Kirby said before the flight took off from O'Hare airport. He called it a personal priority.<br/>
