LATAM Group Hits Milestone: 96% Reduction in Single-Use Plastics

Friday, March 8, 2024

In 2023, the LATAM group made significant strides in reducing single-use plastic across its operations, successfully eliminating over 1,700 tons, which accounts for approximately 96% of the targeted single-use plastic as defined by LATAM. This reduction is equivalent to eliminating 266 million plastic bags. The remaining 4% comprises items that couldn’t be replaced due to legal, safety, health, or operational constraints, or due to the unavailability of suitable alternatives in the market.

Johanna Cabrera, Sustainability Manager of LATAM Airlines Group, expressed pride in the group’s achievement, emphasizing the three-year effort involving various departments, from design to operations, in replacing disposable plastics with reusable, bio-based, or biodegradable materials. She acknowledged the ongoing need for improvement and reaffirmed the group’s commitment to furthering these efforts.

Operational changes included the introduction of reusable cotton bags in Business Class for amenities like pillows, duvets, seat covers, and headphones. Additionally, new amenity kits devoid of single-use plastics were launched, featuring locally sourced materials, artisanal production, cruelty-free, and designs by emerging South American artists.

Economy Class saw the implementation of durable reusable plastic tableware, bamboo cutlery, stirrers, and the use of paper bands for rest items in subsidiaries across Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.

At airports, paper labels and courtesy bags made entirely of paper were rolled out system-wide, with ongoing implementation in various hubs. LATAM Airlines Brazil transitioned ground contingency snack kits to 100% paper and cardboard.

Furthermore, in office and operational areas, particularly in Chile and Brazil, paper cups, carts, bags, and paper containers for warehouse materials transportation to aircraft were introduced.

Other initiatives included the “Recycle Your Trip” program, promoting waste separation for recycling on domestic flights across several subsidiaries, with over 170 tons of PET plastic bottles recycled in 2023. In 2024, Tetra Pak separation for recycling will be added.

The “Second Flight” program continued, repurposing unused uniforms and textiles into new products through partnerships with artisans and entrepreneurs, diverting over 30 tons of material from landfills.

Collaboration with LATAM’s cargo subsidiaries led to the use of reusable blankets for pallet covering, reducing plastic film usage by up to 90% in certain processes. Additionally, the implementation of the 3M machine and tape in Chile reduced plastic film usage by 80% during cargo import storage.

These achievements align with LATAM’s sustainability strategy, focusing on Climate Change, Shared Value, and Circular Economy pillars. In addition to single-use plastic reduction, LATAM aims to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2027 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

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