The world’s airlines and the United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP) have agreed to work on cutting the use of single-use plastics (SUP) in aviation and address what they called the “sustainability challenges [facing] the aviation industry”.

Under the banner of the International Air Transport Association (IATA, Montreal, Canada; www.iata.org), airlines around the globe will work to make aircraft cabins more sustainable, after signing a memorandum of understanding with UNEP. Reducing SUP products and improving the circularity of plastics used by the aviation industry was the initial focus of the partnership, the two organisations said.

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The IATA said a “complex and asymmetrical regulatory environment” created problems by putting hurdles in the way of circular economy best practices. It said it was pushing for a “simplified and harmonised regulatory environment that would enable a reduction in plastic utilisation and greater reuse and recycling of cabin waste, including plastics”.

UNEP and the IATA said they were currently working on joint guidance on re-thinking plastics in aviation, which will “encompass an overview of regulations, guidance on SUP product replacement, and recommended best practices for both industry and regulators”.

In addition to disposable products, especially for drinks and food, many long-lasting plastics, notably ABS, are used in aircraft cabin interiors, while PMMA is used as an alternative to glass. A range of other polymer materials including PEEK and composites are used in aerospace components.

By now many airlines at least collect the plastic drinking cups separately. Four years ago Austrian Airlines announced a partnership with Austrian oil and gas group OMV for converting used disposable plastic cups into synthetic crude at its pilot recycling facility in Schwechat.