Qatar Aircraft Catering Company recycles over 1mn kg of plastic waste within one year

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* QACC distributed over 40,000 linen items, including blankets, mattresses and duvets to home shelters and refugee camps around the globe * The catering subsidiary cuts equipment weight by 257 tonnes a year resulting in reduction of CO2 emissions Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC), the aircraft catering subsidiary of Qatar Airways Group, has achieved its one-year environmental sustainability target by recycling more than 1mn kg of plastic waste, and donating more than 100,000 pieces of goods and surplus food supplies to people in need across the globe. QACC has reduced its annual waste volume by nearly 1,688 tonnes per year by implementing recycling programmes for waste such as cardboard, chemical drums, plastic water bottles and used wastepaper, which are sent for reprocessing into goods that are sold locally and exported internationally, according to a press statement on the Qatar Airways website. QACC has also partnered with Qatar-based non-profit organisations, Qatar Charity and Hifz Al Naema, to distribute more than three tonnes of donated goods, including more than 40,000 linen items such as cotton blankets, mattresses, feather duvets, as well as 3.14 tonnes worth of food condiments. Qatar Airways Group chief executive HE Akbar al-Baker said, “As a global airline connected to over 140 destinations around the world, we are committed towards giving back to the communities who have continuously supported us, while also ensuring we take responsibility towards recycling used materials and reducing waste. “This latest achievement is a testament of our dedication as a responsible carrier, and we hope to raise awareness among the global aviation community of the importance of environmental sustainability.” QACC acting senior vice-president Sascha Wolfersdorf added, “QACC serves more than 100,000 meals every day to passengers flying out of Doha, and we know that this has a significant impact on consumption levels. It is not enough to recycle one product, we are looking to make a meaningful sustainable impact and as a result, we made it our responsibility to seek out innovative ways to recycle goods and to reduce waste. Through creative thinking and usage of new technology, QACC has exceeded its annual recycling target and recycled more than 1mn kg of plastic waste in one year. We will not rest on our laurels, the catering subsidiary will continue its search for more environmentally sustainable solutions, for a greener future.” QACC is constantly striving to find innovative methods to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the company, and further reduce the use of single-use plastics. It has developed strong relationships with local suppliers of fruits and vegetables to reduce the volume of imported goods, as well as decreasing the airline’s equipment and linen loading weight by nearly 257 tonnes, which contributed to a reduction in aircraft fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The catering company is also planning a greenhouse farming project to achieve self-sufficiency in micro-herbs and green vegetation. The award-winning catering subsidiary played a pivotal role in helping Qatar Airways win the ‘Best Food & Beverage’ APEX Passenger Choice Awards for the year 2022 and the 2021 Skytrax award for the ‘World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering’. This is in addition to scooping two awards in the Onboard Hospitality Awards 2021, the gold winner for ‘Catering Innovation of the Year’, and the Readers’ Vote award for the ‘Best Onboard Snack in Business and First Class’. QACC is the first in-flight catering business in Europe and the Middle East to attain Food Safety Systems Certification in manufacturing FSSC 22000 V5 Category C (III) in 2020. This certification proves the rigorous hygiene and food safety practices implemented by the business, which also formed a solid foundation in Covid-19 crisis management and preparedness.