IATA Re-examines Single Use of Plastic Products

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the report, reassessing single use plastics products in the airline sector to assist airlines, regulators, and the airline supply chain to mitigate the environmental impacts of single use plastic products (SUPP).

The publication is timely as the United National Environmental Program (UNEP) has convened an inter-governmental negotiating committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding agreement on SUPP use by the end of 2024.

SUPP are widely used in aviation due to their strength, lightness, and ability to meet safety and security regulations. However, the airline sector faces challenges associated with improved cabin waste performance and the replacement of SUPP with sustainable alternatives. In addition, airlines face technical and operational obstacles, and the lack of harmonised and risk-based regulations presents a significant barrier to improving recycling and circularity of waste management. The absence of smart regulation continues to constrain airline efforts to improve the sustainability of cabin operations.

According to the report, collaboration across the aviation value chain is vital to enable the adoption of circular economy principles and to facilitate the reduction and replacement of SUPP that is necessary for reducing waste and increasing material recovery.

The report advocates for a sectoral approach to managing SUPP in aviation with a clear set of recommendations.

Key recommendations of the report for airlines include: Reducing of waste at source by reviewing standards and procedures through the lens of waste reduction and reuse, and professionally assess the need for SUPP; Set clear targets for the elimination, measurement, and tracking implementation, and disclose progress.