LATAM Brasil launched, this Thursday (10), a program for recycling plastic bottles consumed on its domestic flights. This is “Recycle Your Trip”, a company initiative that plans to recycle an average of 450 PET bottles from the domestic flight service per month. The company's expectation is that the new service will give new life to more than 180 tons of plastic per year in Brazil.
The program represents a change in the management of the material used on board. Previously, the disposal of plastic bottles was the responsibility of the airports where aircraft landed. “We carried out a survey which showed that only 60% of the airports where LATAM operates in Brazil have a recycling program. This means that we were not guaranteed that the plastic in the bottles consumed on our flights was recycled. So we decided to take on the task and recycle the material.”, Explain Maria Elisa Curcio, Director of Institutional Relations and Sustainability at LATAM Brazil.
“Recicle Sua Viagem” establishes a new process for the plastic bottles to be reused: after being consumed, they are separated by the team of LATAM flight attendants and unloaded only when touching one of the six airports that LATAM maintains the catering service (aircraft supply with meals): São Paulo/Guarulhos, São Paulo/Congonhas, Rio de Janeiro/Santos Dumont, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, Fortaleza and Brasília. On these bases, the bottles are sent to partner cooperatives, where they are transformed into recycled granulated plastic, used in the manufacture of new bottles, textile products or packaging. “The program is another step forward for LATAM towards its commitment to be a zero waste company for landfills by 2027, in addition to strengthening the company’s circular economy model by giving new life to materials that would otherwise be discarded”, completes Maria Elisa.
“Recicle Sua Viagem” is in operation on all domestic flights of LATAM Brazil, in addition to the s in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. On international flights, it is worth ing that waste must be treated as established by the health legislation of each country, whether with incineration, sterilization, autoclave or others.
THE LATAM GROUP'S SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
In May 2021, the LATAM group renewed its global sustainability strategy and established commitments to protect the environment in South America over the next 30 years in a collaborative manner based on dialogue. All commitments are focused on the pillars of Climate Change, Circular Economy and Shared Value, connected with the fulfillment of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The main goals of the LATAM group are: to eliminate single-use plastics by 2023 and to be a zero waste company for landfills by 2027; reduce or offset the equivalent of 50% of CO2 emissions from its domestic flights by 2030; and to be a carbon neutral company by 2050.
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Street: LATAM Brazil
