Qatar Aircraft Catering Company reaches its environmental sustainability target in a year by recycling more than one million kilograms of plastic waste

• 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

DOHA, Qatar, 2022-Feb-17 — /Travel PR News/ — 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 one million kilograms 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. 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, His Excellency Mr. 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, Mr. Sascha Wolfersdorf, said: “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 have exceed its annual recycling target and recycled more than one million kilograms of plastic waste in one year. We will not rest on our laurels, the catering subsidiary will continue its search for more environmental 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 proud to be 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.

Notes to Editors:

About Qatar Airways: 

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2021 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry having won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021).

Hamad International Airport (HIA), the airline’s home and hub, was recently announced as the ‘World’s Best Airport’ in the Skytrax 2021 World Airport Awards. HIA has been steadily rising in the ‘World’s Best Airports’ rankings since the start of its operations in 2014.

Qsuite, a patented Qatar Airways product, features the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry.

Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 160 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.

Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights can stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.

Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.

Qatar Airways Cargo, one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight in the belly-hold deck of passenger aircraft to an extensive network. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 freighters and six B777-300ER mini freighters.

Qatar Executive is the private jet charter division of Qatar Airways Group. Luxury jet services are available for worldwide charter on board the operator’s wholly-owned business jet fleet. Qatar Executive is the launch customer for Gulfstream’s G700, the world’s first commercial service operator of the Gulfstream G500 and largest commercial operator of the G650ER worldwide. Qatar Executive’s service portfolio also includes aircraft management, maintenance and Fixed Based Operator services.

For further information, please contact:

Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200
Email:  qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa

Source: Qatar Airways

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