Mere days after a plastic ban was enforced in Maharashtra, Indian airlines are also thinking of ditching plastics. Domestic aircraft carriers are planning on going green by exploring eco-friendly alternatives such as biodegradable cutlery, paper straws, etc.
Reportedly, several airlines including Vistara, Jet Airways, GoAir, Air India, are doing their bit to contribute to the practice of environment-friendly measures. The airline’s decision to swipe left on plastic will also help them abide by the directive laid down by the Maharashtra government, although it remains unclear whether the order is applicable to them.
According to The Times of India, Vistara plans to cut down on its use of plastic by 50 percent this year. The airlines plans to replace its plastic straws, stirrers with ones made out of paper or wood. They also intend to introduce reusable bowls and aluminium dishes to replace disposable bowls and plastic casseroles.
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“We are actively working with our vendors and considering every touch point including alternative ways of packaging water to reduce dependence on plastic bottles,” a Vistara spokesperson told Rediff. Vistara is reportedly the only Indian airline that uses oxo-biodegradable cutlery and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified meal boxes.
On June 23, the Maharashtra government had enforced a plastic ban across the state
GoAir has barred the use of plastic cutlery, becoming the only low-cost to take such a step since the ban. “We now serve food and beverages that do not require the use of plastic cutlery. All banned plastic items have been removed from our aircraft. We are working towards extending this initiative countrywide,” a GoAir spokesperson told TOI. The airline is now considering introducing bone china or paper cups instead of plastic ones.
Jet Airways will also be introducing paper cups, bio-degradable bags, and insulated boxes for hot/cold items, the report added. Air India is too replacing plastic cups with bone china for their economy class domestic flights, barring the ones which are operated by ATR aircraft, a spokesperson told TOI.
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In 2016, flyers produced as much as 5.2 million tonnes of waste, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Reportedly, the city of Mumbai produces nearly the same amount of waste in two years. The amount of waste generated is estimated to rise up to 10 million tonnes by 2030, as per IATA.
The use of plastic cutlery is prevalent due to the low cost and low weight. In flights, plastic is commonly used for meal wrappers, bottles, trash bags, and covers for headphones and blankets.
On June 23, the Maharashtra government had enforced a directive, banning the use of plastic disposable items such as forks, spoons, glasses and cups. The ban also envelops bags and wraps used for packaging or storing that are made out of plastic.
