As sustainability is an increasingly important issue in the travel industry, Singapore Airlines has spent a large portion of the past year finding additional ways to conduct business even more responsibly. They recently announced an ambitious goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In addition to taking actions such as empowering passengers with the option to reduce individual carbon footprints through the voluntary carbon offset programme and installing solar panels on all of its office buildings in Singapore, the airline has also begun implementing smart waste management. Here are six stand-out initiatives Singapore Airlines has taken:
1. Artificial Intelligence to help cut food waste
Despite the impact the pandemic has had on the airline industry, Singapore Airlines has stayed focused on collaborating with suppliers to provide eco-friendly offerings. One of the most notable partnerships is with Singapore start-up Lumitics.
Lumitics was one of among 25 companies in the world to win an award under the “Sustainable Consumption and Production” goal of the United Nations start-up competition in early 2021. The airline plans to automate data collection and use artificial intelligence to better predict customers’ consumption and reduce cabin food waste.
2. Digitising reading material
All newspapers, magazines and menus have been removed from the seatback pockets and can now be found on the e-Library on the SingaporeAir mobile application and Digital Menu respectively, reducing the use of materials and waste generated.
3. The eco-friendly meal concept
A collaboration with SATS has led to an eco-friendly meal concept offered on selected flights under 3.5 hours in Economy Class. All packaging used in the bento-box style presentation can be processed by an onsite eco-digester into pellets that can be used as a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) – reducing 60% of catering waste.
4. Reducing unused amenities
In addition to introducing recyclable packaging, Singapore Airlines now offers in-flight amenities to Premium Economy and Economy Class customers on request to reduce cabin waste.
5. Repurposing parts and materials sourced from retired commercial aircraft
As part of the airline’s The Upcycling Project that was first announced in August 2021, Singapore Airlines is partnering with artists, educational institutions, local and international brands as well as social enterprises to repurpose aircraft parts and materials into unique pieces such as sculptures, and retail products like bags, fashion apparel, accessories and more. The partners will make use of the parts and materials retrieved from retired Singapore Airlines commercial aircraft, as well as cabin and inflight service items, and reimagine them, giving the retired parts new meaning and a new lease of life.
6. Recycling canteen waste
To reduce Singapore Airlines on ground food and material waste, an eco-friendly canteen was introduced at Airline House. As part of this concept, an eco-digester was installed at the bin centre, which has the ability to convert approximately 600kg to 800kg worth of canteen food waste and 80kg of non-food waste (including disposable food ware and general waste) to refuse-derived fuel (RDF) every day.
To learn more about Singapore Airlines’ initiatives, click here or read the latest Sustainability Report here.
