IATA and ASF to Launch Standardized Cabin Waste Audit Program

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is teaming up with the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF) to introduce a standardized Cabin Waste Composition Audit (CWCA). This initiative aims to address cabin waste management, with the ASF Cabin Waste Composition Auditing Platform set to debut in September 2024.

Initial trials for the CWCA took place on 25 flights across short, medium, and long-haul routes at Singapore’s Changi Airport in November 2023 and April 2024. These audits, conducted by ASF using IATA-developed methodology, revealed that the aviation sector produces over 3.6 million metric tonnes of cabin and catering waste annually. Food and beverage waste accounts for 65% of this total, with untouched meals making up 18%.

This data will aid airlines and policymakers in reducing waste and enhancing circularity by pinpointing reuse and recycling opportunities. Prior IATA research highlighted the absence of a standardized methodology for cabin waste audits, leading to inconsistent data that hampers effective decision-making. The new standardized audit seeks to resolve these issues, enabling the sector to demonstrate progress in waste reduction and circularity.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Economist, emphasized the importance of managing waste for aviation's sustainability. She noted that standardized data on waste composition and quantity from flights will help the industry reduce waste and assist policymakers in harmonizing regulations. This can optimize sorting, recycling, and safe reuse of unavoidable waste, marking a significant step forward in the sector's circularity efforts.

Matt Crane, ASF’s Founder, reiterated the ASF's mission to help the aviation sector minimize cabin waste and improve waste recovery and circularity. He stressed that managing cabin waste effectively is a challenge that can be met with robust data, calling for the industry and regulators to collaborate on understanding and addressing the problem with aligned solutions.

This collaborative effort between IATA and ASF is expected to bring about significant improvements in waste management within the aviation sector, fostering a more sustainable and circular approach to handling cabin waste.