As mentioned in an earlier post, we’ve increased the fuel efficiency of our planes upwards of 4% by adding winglets. Less fuel burned means cleaner skies. And being that we’re part of the British Airways family, carbon trading is part of our operating procedures. We also offer a carbon offsetting program which allows you to balance out the CO2 emissions of flying. Look out for it the next time you book a flight.

Every bit counts when it comes to refuse reduction and rethinking onboard amenities is a good example. Instead of just handing you a kit filled with items—items you might not want or need—our flight attendants ask what you’d like. Toothbrush, toothpaste, ear plugs, eye mask, a USB drive, power adapter, and even skin tonics, lip balm, or eye gels from Elemis—you can take what you need and leave what you don’t. We also provide you with a strong, clear toiletries pouch that’s approved by airport security for carrying liquids and can be used time and again. If you’re a frequent traveler like me, I think you’ll find the reusable pouch and take-what-you-need amenities a great way to avoid cluttering up your bathroom with dozens of airline amenity kits, or worse, adding them to a landfill.

We take this same thoughtful, less-waste approach to our meal service. That entails serving wine from a full-sized bottle (so we’re not tossing a bunch of little bottles!). And our meals are brought to you on china, with linen tablecloths and napkins that can be washed and reused. No needless packaging.

Continuously finding ways to improve our services and be greener is a big part of our commitment. That’s why we’ve set the goal to recycle half the waste we dispose of by 2010 and are working directly with our suppliers to explore ways to cut packaging and food waste.

Being conscious custodians of the planet is all part of the OpenSkies spirit. Let us know your thoughts on how we’re doing, and if you’ve got any ideas on ways to reduce waste or mitigate our carbon footprint. We’d love to hear your suggestions.

Dale