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LATAM eliminates 96% of single-use plastics in its operations

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LATAM Airlines Group ended 2023 with significant progress in the elimination of single-use plastics throughout its operation, achieving a reduction of more than 1,700 tons, representing about 96% of the scope defined as single-use plastic, equivalent to 266 million plastic bags. The remaining 4% corresponds to those elements that could not be replaced or eliminated for legal, safety, sanitary or operational reasons, or because there were no replacement options available in the market.

“We are proud to be able to end 2023 with significant progress in the elimination of single-use plastics in all operations, which was a great challenge for the group. It was a process of approximately three years, which involved different areas transversally, from travel experience design to operational lines, replacing disposable plastics with rotable, bio-based and/or biodegradable materials. We know that there is still much room for improvement, so we will continue to work hard on it this year,” said Johanna Cabrera, Sustainability Manager of LATAM Airlines Group.

These actions include relevant changes. In this regard, Cabina Business has implemented reusable cotton bags for rest elements and amenities, such as pillows, down, seat covers and headphones, while launching new amenity kits without single-use plastics, made in Brazil with local raw materials, handmade production, cruelty free and designed by emerging South American artists.

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In the Economy cabin, the use of reusable tableware was activated throughout the service, based on high durability rotating plastic, as well as bamboo cutlery and bamboo stirrers. In addition, the use of paper tapes to contain resting elements was introduced in the subsidiaries in Colombia, Chile, Peru and Ecuador.

In terms of experience in airports, new paper labels and 100% paper courtesy bags were applied at the network level, which is still being implemented in different hubs. In addition, LATAM Airlines Brazil changed its snack kits for ground contingencies to 100% paper and cardboard.

Finally, in offices and operational areas, particularly in the Chilean and Brazilian subsidiaries, paper cups began to be used, as well as trolleys, bags and paper bags to contain and transfer materials from the warehouse to the airplane.

Other initiatives

This was complemented by the work being done by the LATAM group with its “Recycle your trip” program, which promotes the segregation of certain waste generated in the onboard service to be subsequently recycled, which is under permanent review and improvement. Recicla tu viaje” is currently in operation on domestic flights of the subsidiaries in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil. During 2023, more than 170 tons of PET plastic bottles generated on domestic flights in South America were segregated and managed for recycling. By 2024, onboard separation of Tetra Pak for recycling will be added. As an example, on LATAM Airlines Brazil’s domestic flights, it is estimated that 40 tons will be recycled annually.

In addition, the LATAM group continued its “Segundo Vuelo” (Second Flight) program, which gives the group’s airlines’ uniforms and various unused textile items a second life. To this end, South American craftswomen and entrepreneurs transform these items into new products, such as passport holders, luggage tags, wallets and key rings, among others. The group works with 11 organizations and has allocated more than 30 tons (50,000 garments) to give them a second use.

Thanks to the initiatives of the employees of the LATAM group’s cargo subsidiaries, and in addition to the proposed goals, since 2023 reusable blankets have been used to cover pallets at different stages of cargo transportation in Chile and Brazil, which have led to reduce the use of plastic film by up to 90% in certain processes. Along with the above, we became the first airline group in the world to implement the 3M machine and tape, which allow a reduction of 80% of plastic film in the storage process of cargo imports in Chile.

The results achieved in circular economy are part of the sustainability strategy that the LATAM group presented in May 2021, in order to focus its actions on three specific pillars: Climate Change, Shared Value and Circular Economy. Along with the reduction of single-use plastics in all operations, LATAM also seeks to become a zero waste-to-landfill group by 2027 and carbon neutral by 2050.

Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial líder en América Latina.

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