Vietnam Airlines Honored at SkyTeam’s Sustainable Flight Challenge

Vietnam Airlines earned this recognition for its innovative solution of collecting and reissuing unused, quality-assured dry food items and single-use utensils from flights, which were then donated to VietHarvest, a food rescue organization.

The donated items included unused dry food such as cereal packs and snack bars. These were collected following a dedicated process of retrieval, inspection, classification, and storage to ensure the quality of products before they were transferred to VietHarvest. This initiative has been implemented across Vietnam Airlines’ flight network over the past three months, showcasing both its feasibility and potential for long-term application.

The national flag carrier was also honored as one of the Top 3 airlines in the category of best in-flight waste management.

SkyTeam noted that the 2023 Sustainable Flight Challenge involved 22 participating airlines across 72 flights. More than 400 entries were submitted to the organizers and rigorously reviewed by experts from the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre and PA Consulting, a leading global consultancy.

Vietnam Airlines handed over dry food items such as packaged nuts, cookies, and cereal boxes to VietHarvest for distribution to underprivileged individuals and organizations. (Photo: VNA)

Mr. Dang Anh Tuan, Deputy CEO of Vietnam Airlines, stated:

“Receiving the 'Boldest Move' award from SkyTeam affirms Vietnam Airlines’ outstanding efforts in aviation waste reduction. Our partnership with VietHarvest reinforces our commitment to minimizing food waste and helping disadvantaged communities by providing access to safe, nutritious food. This initiative not only raises awareness and encourages innovation but also exemplifies our long-term dedication to practical actions that support the global goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Earlier, in May 2023, Vietnam Airlines participated in the Sustainable Flight Challenge by implementing green initiatives on a direct flight from Hanoi to Frankfurt (Germany). These included distributing recycled bags made from old life vests, serving meals made from sustainable ingredients, and encouraging passengers to bring personal items (such as reusable cups, toothbrushes, blankets, jackets) instead of using disposable ones.

As the national airline, Vietnam Airlines embraces its role as a responsible aviation enterprise, committed to reducing food waste, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting the environment, all while striving for sustainable growth.

Additional Background:

The Sustainable Flight Challenge (TSFC) was launched in 2022 as an annual initiative to stimulate innovation in sustainable aviation. Created by SkyTeam, a global airline alliance of major carriers, the challenge empowers airlines to develop practical, measurable strategies to reduce the environmental impact of their flights.