American Airlines Cargo Reduces Long-Term Plastic Waste by Equivalent of 8.6 Million Water Bottles in 2023
American Airlines Cargo announces today that it reduced long-term plastic waste by more than 150,000 lbs, the equivalent of 8.6 million water bottles, in 2023. This is a result of a continued relationship with BioNatur Plastics™, launched by M&G Packaging, which manufactures a growing line of biodegradable plastic products for use in air cargo operations.
The carrier began transitioning to BioNatur Plastics products at major U.S. hubs in early 2022, reducing long-term plastic waste by the equivalent of 6.4 million water bottles in the first year. In 2023, American expanded its use of the biodegradable products beyond U.S. hubs to include regional domestic stations, such as Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Honolulu International Airport (HNL) and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), as well as internationally to Carrasco International Airport (MVD) and Santiago International Airport (SCL) in Latin America.
“Sustainability is of paramount importance for us at American, and we are so pleased that our transition to BioNatur Plastics is one way we can implement real change in our cargo operations,” says Greg Schwendinger, President of American Airlines Cargo. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with BioNatur Plastics as we unite in working toward a greener future.”
Charles Rick, President of BioNatur Plastics adds, “American is a leader in sustainability and we are proud to work with the cargo team to make the switch to our biodegradable and recyclable plastics. We look forward to even greater impact together in 2024.”
Regular plastic can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade in a landfill. BioNatur biodegradable plastics will biodegrade under landfill conditions in only 8 to 12 years. The end products are fully recyclable in normal waste collection streams, and with added strength, the plastics can be used in thinner amounts – thus minimizing the quantity of plastic use overall.
About American Airlines Cargo
American Airlines Cargo transports cargo daily between major cities in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia. Offering a variety of products and handling capabilities, American Airlines Cargo supports shipments from life-saving pharmaceuticals to mail and e-commerce on the world’s largest passenger network. Learn more at aacargo.com.
About American Airlines Group
American's purpose is to care for people on life's journey. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what's happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
About BioNatur Plastics™
BioNatur Plastics™ is leading the industry in the production of truly biodegradable plastic that biodegrades in a landfill into dirt and gases. Our products are ASTM tested and meet FTC, FDA, and EU standards. BioNatur Plastics™ do not break down into microplastics and are 100% recyclable. Learn more about our technology at BioNaturPlastics.com
About M&G Packaging
With facilities all over the world, M&G Packaging has been serving the air freight community for over 60 years with a complete line of packaging, shipping and TSA screening supplies. Our customers include the majority of airlines, freight forwarders and couriers in the US and abroad. M&G Packaging is a leader in sustainable packaging and can be found at MGpackaging.com. We are actively engaged in expanding our diverse product lines with the latest biodegradable and eco-friendly products.