One of Hi Fly's planes is promoting the environmental message. Photo / Supplied
One of Hi Fly's planes is promoting the environmental message. Photo / Supplied
Portuguese wet lease operator Hi Fly has pledged to completely eliminate the use of avoidable and single-use plastics on its aircraft before the end of 2019, and its founder says other airlines will be pressured to do the same if the move gains critical mass.
Founder and president Paulo Mirpurisaid the goal would be difficult to achieve, but because airlines were big polluters, action needed to be taken.
The International Air Transport Association estimated the airline industry generated 5.2 million tonnes of inflight waste in 2016.
One of Hi Fly's planes is promoting the environmental message. Photo / Supplied
Mirpuri's environmental and social organisation the Mirpuri Foundation was fighting plastic pollution by backing a boat in the Volvo Ocean Race, Turn the Tide on Plastic, and using one of its planes as a flying billboard.
''We believe that once we have 20 to 25 per cent of the industry getting rid of the plastic on board aircraft, the remaining part of the industry will be forced to follow by public pressure.''
Last year Air New Zealand announced Project Green, an initiative to recycle packaging aimed at saving 150 tonnes of waste going into landfills.