Korean Air, the national airline of South Korea, will be introducing new containers to serve its in-flight meals, replacing the existing containers with sustainable, plant-based alternatives.
Korean Air Makes Strides in Sustainability
Beginning in December 2025, Korean Air will gradually introduce its new entrée containers, made from pulp derived from materials such as straw, sugarcane and bamboo, as opposed to wood pulp. The initiative is part of the airline’s wider campaign which aims to reduce plastic use across its network and reduce carbon emissions in line with global sustainability goals, a growing concern among passengers. After an inital roll-out on select routes, the airline will plan to put the containers in use across the entire network by the end of 2026. They will first be trialled in economy class, filled with both Korean and Western-style dishes.
The containers are made without cutting down trees, offering an eco-friendly alternative to products made from plastic or paper. Additionally, the new containers are durable and resistant to heat, maintaining their shape even after prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Korean Air has predicted that rolling out the new containers will reduce the airline’s carbon emissions related to their in-flight meal packaging by around 60 percent.
A spokesperson for Korean Air said the following regarding the new containers:
“This transition to new in-flight meal containers is an essential long-term investment in environmental protection and sustainable operations. We remain committed to advancing our sustainability initiatives, aligning with global decarbonization trends in aviation, and delivering greater value to our customers.”
Korean Air’s Other Green Initiatives
The introduction of these new in-flight meal containers marks another step the airline has taken towards sustainability. In 2023, Korean Air made the switch from single-use plastic cutlery to bamboo-based alternatives and introduced unbleached bamboo fibre napkins. The airline has also carried out multiple upcycling programmes, including the transformation of retired cabin crew uniforms into first-aid pouches and in-flight blankets into reusable hot-water bag covers, extending the life of the materials and reducing waste to help reach its sustainability goals.
Do you think Korean Air is doing enough for sustainability on-board? Share your thoughts in the comments.
