3 Ways Airlines Are Combating Carbon Emissions

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Travel is so important for the human experience. It opens our minds to new cultures and perspectives that help us expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. It can be discouraging, however, to think about how much emissions we are responsible for in one single flight. Now multiply that one flight by 100,000 and that is the average number of flights circling the world on any given day. That’s roughly 900 million tons of carbon emissions annually from global air travel. That’s a big footprint, right? 

Flights make up roughly 3% of global carbon emissions. Although 3% may seem relative to CO2 produced from driving a car, flying is not a low-impact activity, and Individual travelers’ carbon footprints take the biggest hit from transatlantic flights. This number is expected to rise in the coming years as travel becomes more accessible which means that major transformations must take place in the aviation industry to combat increased carbon emissions and subsequent environmental and social harm that results from flying. Hopefully, in recent years many airlines have gotten serious about fighting climate change. Read on to learn 3 ways in which both airlines and travelers combat the negative environmental impacts of flying and push for sustainable transformation in air travel.

1: Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuel, SAF, is oil made from unconventional, renewable, methods to decarbonize the aviation industry. SAF is produced from raw materials such as food waste, municipal solid waste, used cooking, and plant oil. SAF is chemically identical to fossil fuels, uses the same refining process, and can be adapted into most aircraft without changes. Airlines are blending SAF directly into traditional jet fuel while some aircraft have been flown on 100% sustainable aviation fuel. 

The materials used in the production of SAF absorb almost the same amount of CO2 that is emitted when fossil fuels are burned in a combustion engine. This means that carbon emissions can be neutralized when SAFs are used as jet fuel. Since 2019, more than 215,000 flights have been flown using blended SAF and both United States and Europe are harnessing policies to increase SAF production and incentivize airlines to increase SAF consumption so that the aviation industry can see net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

SAFs meet sustainability goals by phasing out the use of fossil fuels through the use of biodegradable products like food waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. This type of renewable energy stimulates sustainable job growth and in the long term will help airlines prevent volatile uncertainties with crude oil. As more airlines switch to SAF, attitudes about this technology will change which can make space for more conversations about alternative energy to be had between airlines and their passengers.  

2. Carbon Offsets 

Both airlines and travelers use carbon offsets to reduce their impact on the environment and purchase carbon credits to make up for continued emissions. Airlines can invest in carbon offsets by funding renewable energy projects and investing in decarbonization technologies that offset the amount of carbon burned during a flight. 

United Airlines, for example, recently announced its collaboration with Houston-based biotech firm Cemvita Factory to commercialize the production of SAFs. United Airlines' investments in SAF make them a leading airline committed to achieving net-zero air emissions by 2050. Other offsetting initiatives from United Airlines include investing in carbon capture and storage technology from 1PointFive, a  multi-solution platform for carbon capture, which is committed to fighting climate change and preventing the rise in global temperatures to go beyond 1.5°C. 

Passengers who want to offset their in-flight carbon emissions can fund projects that avoid, reduce, or eliminate CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. Many companies, including airlines, can act as an intermediary between the individual and the organization that is doing the offsetting making it easy for users to fund organizations that are recognized for their commitment to decreasing carbon emissions.

At Footprint, we partner with Terrapass, a leading provider of carbon offsets that directly funds reforestation and renewable energy projects. The Flight Carbon Offset, for example, calculates the amount of carbon used based on miles and can be purchased from their website. Airlines like Air France give travelers the option during the booking process to participate in third-party carbon offsetting programs, while Air New Zealand established its own offsetting program FlyNeutral which passengers can contribute to when they book or anytime afterward.

3: In-Flight and After Flight Choices 

Several airlines have removed single-use plastic from their in-flight services and have switched to sustainable alternatives like compostable bamboo for boxed meals, cups, and cutlery. In 2021 Alaska Airlines partnered with Boxed Water, a 92% renewable plant-based carton, that is committed to eliminating plastic waste and reforestation efforts. Travelers are encouraged to snap a photo with their Boxed Water and post it on social media and the company will plant two trees in a U.S. National Forest. This initiative has led to more than 1.2 million trees being planted.

Hi-Fly a Portuguese airline flew the world's first plastic-free flight in 2019 and has declared that all of its flights will be caron neutral by the end of this year. Other international airlines like British Airways and Etihad have incorporated blankets made from recycled plastic, edible coffee cups, and paper straws. Simply go on an airline’s website and check whether they are implementing any sustainable efforts on their flights. Examples include encouraging travelers to bring reusable cups, cutlery, and headphones onboard.

After landing, there are so many options for travelers to maintain sustainable travel goals and bring down their carbon footprint. Using public transportation, bicycling, or walking around a new place is a sustainable alternative to hiring a driver or calling an Uber. Mindful eating habits on vacation and avoiding red meats can help reduce your carbon footprint and redirect you to seek out local experiences like food markets and local establishments. 

Even after your flight offsets can be purchased to make up for the CO2 burned, and you can get creative about making your own offsets during vacation like participating in a work-away or helping a local environmental organization plant trees. It could also be as simple as committing to using a reusable bottle during your whole trip and not buying plastic water bottles. 

Indeed air travel has negative environmental effects on both global carbon emissions and individuals' carbon footprint. At the same time, many airlines are taking steps to reduce carbon emissions and are committing themselves to carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner. However, airlines’ sustainability efforts shouldn't be seen as a free pass to fly whenever you want, and other forms of transportation should be considered first.

If you must fly, do your part and book with an airline that is really taking action to combat its carbon emissions. Buy carbon offsets, and be mindful of how you will work sustainability into your travel. . These new insights into air travel reveal that solutions to reduce carbon emissions are in the making, and discovering our beautiful planet should not be taken lightly.