● Among the initiatives to be implemented is a change in the materials of all onboard service elements in the Economy cabin, which will eliminate more than 1,000 tons of single-use plastics.
● Travel kits with more sustainable elements have also been incorporated in Premium Business cabins, and bags for blankets and rest items are gradually being replaced.
Santiago (Chile), June 22, 2022 – LATAM has announced that it will eliminate 100% of single-use plastics used in its operations by 2023. This commitment will be achieved through initiatives such as changing onboard materials, incorporating more sustainable elements, and with the group’s recycling and reuse programs.
To date, gradual changes have been implemented inside the aircraft. From June 1, all international flights have reusable bags to cover the rest items in the Premium Business cabin. New travel kits were also recently launched for passengers in Premium Business, which have more sustainable elements such as bamboo toothbrushes and kraft paper wrappers.
In the Economy cabin, important 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. In the short term, this initiative will eliminate more than 1,000 tons of single-use plastics, equivalent to 36,000 500ml plastic bottles.
LATAM Cargo is implementing five pilot projects, expected to reduce the use of plastic in cargo operations by more than 60%. One of the most important projects is an initiative that aims to replace the plastic used for wrapping loads with reusable blankets or waterproof covers.
“The proposed goals have challenged us to rethink the design, materiality, and protocols of our onboard service. We are aware that this is a gradual process, where we still have a lot to learn, but we will continue working to implement concrete changes that allow us to generate a greater impact for the benefit of our communities and ecosystems,” said Paulo Miranda, Vice President of Customers at LATAM Airlines Group.
In addition, LATAM is focusing on recycling and reusing. On domestic flights in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, LATAM is operating the “Recycle Your Trip” program, through which cabin crews separate plastic and aluminum onboard. In Colombia, this separation takes place on the ground. The group, together with women entrepreneurs and partner organizations, continues to operate its uniform reuse program in Peru, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil, giving a second life to employee uniforms.
These initiatives are part of LATAM’s sustainability strategy, goals of which include achieving zero waste to landfill by 2027, offsetting 50% of domestic emissions by 2030, and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
ABOUT LATAM AIRLINES GROUP
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its affiliates are the main group of airlines in Latin America with presence in five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations inside Latin America and between it and Europe, Oceania, the United States, and the Caribbean.
The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus A321, A320, A320neo and A319 aircraft.
LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia, and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the LATAM Airlines freight subsidiaries. In addition to having access to the passenger cargo holds of LATAM Airlines Group, they have a fleet of 13 freighters, which will gradually increase to a total of up to 21 freighters by 2023.
They operate on the LATAM Airlines Group network, as well as international routes that are solely used for shipping. They offer modern Infrastructure, a wide variety of services and protection options to meet all customer needs.
For LATAM press inquiries, write to comunicaciones.externas@latam.com. More financial information is available at www.latamairlinesgroup.net.