Etihad Airways is leading by example by ensuring its teams in the air are prioritising being green, while keeping their corporate responsibility reputations clean.
Etihad Airways
Etihad
Recycling is such an important part of the Abu Dhabi-headquartered company's ethos that it includes it in its training programme, the National reports.
Chief Executive Stuart Fleming told the Middle Eastern news outlet that Etihad works alongside Dubai-based EnviroServe, a secure waste disposal company.
On an average Etihad flight, the cabin crew will collect some 4,000 plastic bottles and 400 drinks cans for recycling. These are separated in the air as part of the team's in-flight procedure, so they are ready to be taken for recycling as soon as the plane lands.
A stewardess who was not named by the National said the system was "part of [Etihad's] philosophy in the air" and Head of Coporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability for Etihad Linden Coppell added that packaging waste amounts to some 70 tonnes for the carrier every month.
"This is bundled and sent for recycling together with nearly 30 tonnes per month of in-flight newspapers and magazines. About 25 tonnes of glass items, primarily bottles, are recovered for recycling every month," she stated, adding that it is vital the entire Etihad family is trained to recycle.