by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:35 AM ET, Wed December 6, 2023
Delta is undergoing the final testing phases of a years-long transition to replace plastic cups for hot, cold and alcoholic beverages onboard with paper cups, which is expected to save the airline nearly seven million pounds of single-use plastics each year.
The testing phase began on December 5, 2023. The cups will undergo their final testing phase on transcontinental flights later this month.
Once approved, the paper cups will be rolled out across the airline’s domestic and international flights in the spring of 2024. The replacement will be a main part of the airline’s goal to minimize single-use plastics onboard by 2025.
The new paper cups are compostable and recyclable, diverting waste from landfills while also meeting international mandates.
Delta Air Lines has removed 4.9 million pounds of single-use plastics each year since 2022, with other initiatives. The airline’s sustainability push includes eliminating single-use plastics, transitioning to all-electric ground vehicles, and encouraging vendors and other partners to go sustainable.
“One of the most important things about making long-term, sustainable changes is having the opportunity to test the new solutions and get real feedback from both our employees and our customers,” said Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “We constantly need to be testing, learning and iterating. That’s what innovating is all about, and innovation is core to Delta’s DNA.”
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