It’s estimated that around 18 ounces (500 grams) of single-use plastic from in-flight meal deliveries and toiletries are used up per person. Drinks come in a plastic cup, with a plastic stick provided for stirring, while your meal is offered on a plastic tray with plastic-wrapped cutlery. Toiletries come wrapped in plastic, along with a plastic-wrapped toothbrush. But that’s not all; if you want to watch a film, the headphones are also wrapped in plastic. Altogether, that contributes to roughly 5.7 million tons of cabin waste from passenger flights per year.
The Creator
Thankfully, London-based design firm PriestmanGoode, which specializes in travel and transport design, has developed an eco-friendly version of the traditional economy in-flight meal tray. The firm aims to help airlines cut down on their plastic waste.
PriestmanGoode is in discussion with airlines and railway operators, as it hopes to eventually have the green design used routinely on flights and trains. Among the firm’s existing clients are Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and Airbus.
Anna Meyer, the head of communications at PriestmanGoode, said:
We wanted to ensure that every element of the meal tray was biodegradable and/or commercially compostable. Elements like the base dishes would technically be edible, as they are made from 100% wheat bran, although it is unlikely, they would actually be eaten. But they could be discarded as food waste and commercially composted.
An Organic Meal Tray
The base of the main tray is made out of recycled coffee grounds, with the hot meal lid made from bamboo and side dishes made of banana leaves, wheat bran, and algae. Meanwhile, sauce and milk capsules are made of edible seaweed, while the cup is made from rice husk with an algae liner. For cutlery, the fork and spoon are together as one, with a spork made out of coconut wood.
The bamboo-based lid of the tray is specifically designed to help compact bits of waste for easier disposal. However, the cover of the dessert dish is intended for consumption—it’s made from an ice cream wafer. “It’s the same material as ice cream cones, so yes, it tastes great! From a design perspective, using it as a dessert lid works especially well, as it reflects the contents within,” added Meyer.
Refillable Water Flask
The design firm didn’t stop at in-flight meal trays; they also developed a reusable water flask—designed to fit in the pouch found on the backs of the seats on aircraft. The flask is made of cork and compostable bioplastic and is intended for repeated, yet short-term use. It has the potential to help reduce the millions of plastic bottles sold each year at airports around the world.
Heathrow Airport claims that if passengers who visit its departure lounges were to refill their water bottles rather than buying new ones, it could reduce its plastic consumption by 35 million bottles a year.
