ANA begins eco-flights

TOKYO —

ANA (All Nippon Airways) has introduced eco-flights, which aim to promote a strong ecological message and environmentally friendly products related to air travel. The
promotion is available on flights between Haneda-Sapporo, Haneda-Okinawa and Narita-Singapore (excluding some flights), through Oct 31.

With the catchphrase, “Thinking of the Earth from the Sky,” e-flights are eco-trial flights, which began in 2006 in specific periods and routes and are now in their fourth year. Also, ANA is the first business in the transport industry to be given the Eco-First Award by the
Ministry of the Environment in Japan.

The basic concept is to provide in-flight supplies that are environmentally friendly, implement in-flight recycling and other resource-saving activities. Cabin attendants will collect used paper cups and PET bottles on domestic flights for recycling after passengers
are finished with them.

Eco-friendly paper napkins, blended with the used green tea generated during the manufacturing of green tea drinks, will be provided on Singapore flights. Green tea has antibacterial properties and a deodorizing effect, and also provides a pleasant scent for passengers.

Biomass-based, eco-friendly, transparent plastic cups will be used in the in-flight services. The cups are made from Ingeo biopolymer (polylactide）, produced by NatureWorks LLC. Ingeo biopolymer is made from annually renewable resource, not from oil. The process to manufacture Ingeo for the cups in Japan requires about 60% less non-renewable energy and emits over 90% less CO2 compared to conventional petroleum-based plastics, such as PET.

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12 Comments

forinagai at 07:22 AM JST - 19th October

I always thought the 'Flintstones' method of flight was eco-friendly. Cut a hole in the floor of the craft and have everyone use their feet in order to 'assist' the craft to reach take-off speed... or was that just eco-friendly cars?!
TumbleDry at 08:07 AM JST - 19th October

waiting to see massive blimps in the sky with solar panels and electric motors.
NeoJamal at 09:59 AM JST - 19th October

Propfans are the way to go, unless you can't stand their noise
sf2k at 10:06 AM JST - 19th October

nice to read about an application of biopolymers. It would also make an impact if all the ethanol was used as ethylene instead and made plastics as well, fit for multiple use recycling and not just burned.

However to use them on a plane that requires jet fuel to even work is quite pointless and makes 0.000001% difference to the pollution made by the plane's operations.

The biopolymers should be everywhere though. Ask for them!
saru_au at 12:22 PM JST - 19th October

Propfans are the way to go, unless you can't stand their noise

WHAT DID YOU SAY ???
DeepAir65 at 04:17 PM JST - 19th October

here's an eco-flight idea for you - DON'T FLY!

That said - heading for the airport in just over an hour :-)
michaelqtodd at 04:50 PM JST - 19th October

Cannot see how any flight can be called an eco flight.This is a final throw of the dice by the aeroplane industry beore they are culled.Check out http.www.stopflying.org for some info about how non -essential flying is destroying the planet
InTheKnow at 05:30 PM JST - 19th October

how non-essential flying is destroying the planet

that pales in comparison to non-essential driving. It's not even close in terms of hydrocarbons into the air.
sillygirl at 07:29 PM JST - 19th October

aren`t they the ones that tell you to pee before you get on the plane to reduce the weight of the plane?!?!??!?!
saru_au at 04:56 PM JST - 22nd October

how non-essential flying is destroying the planet

blame the non-essential volcanoes!

get that al-foil hat on!
gogogo at 11:27 AM JST - 23rd October

The recycling of PET and using different paper napkins isn't eco at all it's the norm for most countries. The fact that ANA just started this (and decided to make a press release about it) shows how little they care about the environment.
WhiteHawk at 12:13 PM JST - 27th October

Check out http.www.stopflying.org for some info about how non -essential flying is destroying the planet

Sorry, but I'm still going to go up in the old 172 whenever I have the time and the weather is nice. No paper napkins or plastic cups, though, so you can relax. ;)