Santan is now using eco-friendly materials to replace single-use plastic. All disposable items in-flight such as cups, lids, and food packaging are now made from Polylactic Acid (PLA), a material produced from natural resources such as corn and cassava.
Studies have shown that PLA can decompose faster than regular plastic which takes hundreds of years to break down. Santan’s PLA-coated cups can also be composted at home, thus offering passengers a more environmentally friendly disposal option. In addition, Santan is also combining the use of compostable cutlery with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to manage food resources more efficiently.
With this initiative, AirAsia is expected to be able to reduce 500 tonnes of carbon annually in Malaysia and Thailand before expanding this change to the entire AirAsia network which includes seven airlines in total.