LATAM has announced that it will eliminate 100 per cent of single-use plastics used in its operations by 2023.
Travel kits with more sustainable elements have also been incorporated in the carrier’s business cabins, and bags for blankets and rest items are gradually being replaced.
From June 1, all LATAM international flights have reusable bags to cover the rest items (blankets and pillows) in the business cabin. New travel kits with bamboo toothbrushes and kraft paper wrappers have also been introduced.
In the economy cabin, changes will be announced in the coming weeks in the materials used for all elements of service (glasses, cutlery, tableware), which will be replaced with reusable and/or recyclable materials. This initiative will eliminate more than 1,000 tons of single-use plastics in the short term.
LATAM Cargo is implementing five pilot projects, expected to reduce the use of plastic in cargo operations by 60 per cent, such as replacing the plastic used for wrapping loads with reusable blankets or waterproof covers.
On domestic flights in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, LATAM is operating the “Recycle Your Trip” program, through which cabin crews separate plastic and aluminium onboard. In Colombia, this separation takes place on the ground. The group operates its uniform reuse program in Peru, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil, giving a second life to employee uniforms.
The initiatives are part of LATAM’s sustainability strategy which aims to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2027, offsetting of 50 per cent of domestic emissions by 2030, and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
Nathaniel Otley