Alaska Airlines Ditches Inflight Plastic Cups, Promotes #FillBeforeYouFly

Plastic cups are no longer permitted on Alaska Airlines flights. Following the completion of its transition to sustainable options, the airline is promoting #FillBeforeYouFly in an effort to engage social media users. In the past, Alaska Airlines has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability.

Ditching Plastic Cups

Alaska Airlines has made an effort to get rid of 2.2 million pounds of plastic, a solid material made by processing crude oil. This involves cutting the use of 55 million plastic cups, which would stretch 3,412 miles end to end and weigh the same as 24 Boeing 737s. In the main cabin, FSC-certified paper cups as well as first-class reusable glassware or ceramic mugs will take their place.

To make purchasing FSC-certified goods simpler than ever, the FSC claims to be collaborating with physical and online retailers worldwide.

Alaska Airlines and Sustainability

Alaska Airlines has taken a plethora of steps to improve the sustainability of commercial aviation, including this most recent one. The airline has made a lot of progress, from investing in fuel-efficient 737 MAX aircraft to improving the sustainability of the traveler experience.

For instance, in 2018 Alaska Airlines did away with plastic straws and citrus picks at the request of Shelby O'Neil, a Girl Scout from 2017, who asked Alaska Airlines to do away with single-use plastic. Alaska Airlines used 22 million of these non-recyclable materials in 2017. Aluminum cans, which are lighter and simpler to recycle, were also used by Alaska Airlines to replace its juice boxes and bottled beers at the same time.

Boxed Beverage

Alaska Airlines switched to boxed water in late 2021. The boxed water is packaged using recyclable, 92% plant material that comes from sustainably harvested trees, according to the airline. Even the resealable cap is made of byproducts from the production of paper. Additionally, switching to boxed water prevents the production of 1.8 million pounds of plastic waste.

Finally, Alaska Airlines is always working to promote the practice of travelers bringing water bottles to fill up before their plane takes off. The hashtag #FillBeforeYouFly is used to promote this. Alaska Airlines' Diana Birkett Rakow, the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability, even stated that the airline is passionate about working with partners, airports, and customers to reduce waste, safeguard habitats, and improve water quality.

Merits for Other Airlines Too

It should be noted that other airlines are also making similar efforts. For instance, LATAM, a Latin American airline, will stop using single-use plastics and aims to use zero landfill by 2027. Already In 2022, LATAM reduced single-use plastics by 77%.

Other instances include British Airways' 2020 decision to stop using single-use plastics. Additionally, Etihad Airways stopped serving meals in economy class using single-use plastics. Additionally, CNN Travel reports Hawaiian Airlines is working to switch to aluminum water bottles from plastic ones. This occurs as the entire sector strives for a more sustainable future.

Regarding the need to stop using single-use plastics, the IATA predicted that by 2030, cabin waste might continue to rise to approximately 10 million tonnes annually. As a result, there will be twice as much airplane waste sent to landfills. Hopefully, these initiatives will have an impact, Simple Flying reports.