Emirates has recycled more than 88,000 kilograms of plastic from Economy Class meal service items in the two years since launching its closed-loop recycling programme in June 2023, marking the milestone on World Environment Day.
The airline invested over AED 50 million to build out the programme, under which damaged trays, casseroles, snack dishes and bowls are collected after flights, cleaned and processed at a specialist Dubai facility. The items are then remoulded into new serviceware containing up to 25% recycled material and returned to Emirates Flight Catering for reuse onboard.
The initiative is run in partnership with deSter FZE UAE, an aviation serviceware provider certified with a Gold sustainability rating from Ecovadis. The facility runs on solar power and incorporates efficient water management and waste minimisation practices, further reducing its environmental footprint.
Beyond the recycling programme, Emirates has rolled out a broad range of sustainable product changes across all cabin classes. Headset packaging across every cabin is now made from 100% recycled low-density polyethylene. Premium Economy and Economy Class fleece blankets are produced from recycled polyester, with each blanket using material equivalent to roughly 28 plastic bottles. Children's toys and bags contain a minimum of 50% recycled content, and plastic wrapping has been removed from children's bags and blankets entirely.
In premium cabins, First Class bedding packaging has been replaced with reusable recycled polyester bags, while amenity kits across all classes increasingly incorporate recycled and bio-based materials. Plastic straws have been phased out fleet-wide and replaced with certified paper alternatives.
The airline also segregates glass and plastic bottles on flights arriving into Dubai where operationally possible, supporting downstream recycling through local waste management partners.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
