by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Wed April 11, 2018
Each year JetBlue engages in an environmental campaign designed to support a variety of causes and initiatives.
The effort, known as GreenUp, provides both crewmembers and customers a chance to get engaged in protecting the planet.
The annual campaign has just kicked off once again and will include a long list of environmentally-focused events, volunteer efforts, clean-ups and even a contest that will award roundtrip flights for two to lucky winners.
To kick things off, this year JetBlue let its crewmembers nominate their favorite environmental causes and charities to receive grants. Customers are now being asked to vote from a list of finalists to select four nonprofits to receive $60,000 in grants in 2019, the airline said in a statement.
Each of the winning organizations will receive $15,000 for an environmental project and one winner will be selected in each of several categories: wildlife, urban environment, climate change and conservation.
Those who vote are entered to win roundtrip flights for two, (with carbon offsets) to anywhere JetBlue flies. Customers can vote now through April 30.
"Though our actions are year-round, Earth Month is a good reminder that it takes a community effort to preserve the natural resources we still have," Icema Gibbs, director of corporate social responsibility, JetBlue, said in a statement. "Environmental and social responsibility are important to our long-term success.
"As an airline and a business, we're investing in innovative new technologies and processes that will lessen our CO2 footprint," Gibbs added. "In our personal lives, there are many small steps we can also take, like offsetting emissions from flying."
JetBlue's initiatives this year will include events in New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Los Angeles.
100x35JetBlue, Puerto Rico
As the largest airline in Puerto Rico, JetBlue made a commitment last year to assist in the island's rebuilding and recovery efforts with its 100x35JetBlue initiative. Puerto Rico is home to nearly 500 JetBlue crewmembers who support the airline's operations in its focus city of San Juan, as well as in Aguadilla and Ponce. The 100x35JetBlue recovery initiative launched shortly after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. A nod to the island's dimensions, 100x35JetBlue outlined 100 days and 35 ways - and beyond - of caring for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Throughout April, JetBlue's efforts on the island will include:
-A planting and gardening workshop for JetBlue crewmembers teaching skills including tree and garden planting and ongoing maintenance.
-Lettuce farm maintenance at a local farm in the Ciales municipality. This farm is currently producing only half of its usual production since Hurricane Maria.
-A tree nursery maintenance initiative with local nonprofit - Para la Naturaleza. After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Para la Naturaleza has committed to the reforestation of Puerto Rico with the goal to plant one million trees over the next five years.
In The Community
On April 21, JetBlue crewmembers, customers and community volunteers will take part in the North Project: Great America Clean Up at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton, Florida.
Also in Florida, on April 14 and 20, JetBlue will partner with the organization Green Up Orlando for a park clean-up and beautification activity.
In New York, JetBlue will help beautify green spaces in its own backyard. On April 23, that will include JetBlue volunteers joining together for a community garden build in Brooklyn in partnership with longtime partner GrowNYC.
On April 27, JetBlue crewmembers will participate in a tree pit planting in collaboration with LIC Partnerships in Long Island City, NY, home to JetBlue's New York City Support Center, where more than 1,350 crewmembers work.
In Boston, meanwhile, JetBlue customers and crewmembers will participate in the 19th Annual Earth Day Charles River CleanUp on April 28. This annual event brings together more than 3,000 volunteers each year to pick up litter and assist with park maintenance.
The airline's environmentally friendly initiatives also take place onboard its flights.
JetBlue has partnered with The Ad Council and national community improvement nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, for the second year to raise awareness of the benefits of recycling.
As part of that campaign, JetBlue is donating space and running the "I Want to Be Recycled" Journey PSA onboard all flights for the month of April.
For Keep America Beautiful Month (April), the three organizations have joined forces to share the campaign's key message that when we recycle, we give garbage another life.
Today, 73 percent of Americans have access to curbside recycling programs, making it more possible than ever to give new life to products.
Even so, only a mere one-third of the 1,600 pounds of garbage each American generates each year gets recycled or composted. For more information on the "I Want to Be Recycled" campaign, visit BeRecycled.org.
JetBlue is also leading by example with its announcement about one of the largest renewable jet fuel agreements in aviation history. The program involves purchasing renewable jet fuel made from rapidly renewable, bio-based feedstocks.
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