AI is helping this airline reduce inflight food waste
AI is helping this airline reduce inflight food waste
Taking 'plane food' to new heights
Today’s eco snapshot👇🏽
Plane-smart: Using AI to reduce inflight food waste
Startup of the week: Vyld
5 brands that sustainably stand out
Some good news from around the world
3 ways I can help you on your sustainability journey
Plane-smart: Using AI to reduce inflight food waste
Ever wondered what happens to leftover food on flights? It's simply discarded due to strict regulations that prevent redistribution, aiming to avoid foodborne illnesses. This leads to an annual waste of $4 billion worth of food.
While it's challenging to avoid wasting food served to passengers who don't consume it, there's also food loaded onto the aircraft that goes to waste when passengers don't board the flight.
Dutch airline KLM is using Kickstart AI’s TRAYS model to prevent this food waste. Based on the past data, the AI model predicts the %age of passengers that will not board the flight, despite of booking it.
KLM uses this data to reduce these meals from the flight. It's not that these meals are prepared and then removed at the last moment. They are simply not made at all, which means no ingredients are purchased for them.
A three-month analysis shows that 63 percent less food has been wasted compared to catering for every booked passenger.
On an annual basis, this amounts to a saving of 111,000 kg in meals across all KLM flights that leave Amsterdam’s Schipol airport.
And that's how KLM is taking ‘plane food’ to new heights, one meal at a time!
Time for the quiz of the week ⌛
Answer at the end of the newsletter. No one (including me) can see your response so feel free to vote 😉
✨ Startup of the week: Vyld
Period Pollution…Conventional menstruation products are single-use and are primarily composed of plastic, viscose, and virgin cotton. After use, these products end up in landfills where they degrade the land and water.
Seaweed Sanitation…Vyld is addressing the issue of unsustainable period products by creating menstruation items from seaweed, one of the oldest and most sustainable plants.
Seaweed naturally grows without the need for fertilizers, pesticides, or fresh water.
It also contributes to ocean restoration.
Vyld's products are biodegradable, providing an entirely plastic-free alternative in the period product market.
Algae Absorbency…Vyld is also exploring the use of their products' absorbent properties in diapers, which is the next product in their pipeline. This is part of their broader vision to build an "Algaeverse."
✅ Brands that sustainably stand out
🥛 vly: Plant-based pea products made from dairy protein
🏠 Olio: An app that helps you share the surplus products at your home with your neighbors
🧻 Reel: Makes paper products from fast-growing and sustainable bamboo
🛋️ Sirohi: Makes furniture by upcycling textile and plastic waste
👖 unspun: A brand making zero-waste jeans
Engage with hundreds of sustainable brands like these by upgrading to a paid subscription. It comes with access to a database of planet-friendly brands worldwide.
😹 Some Good News
Aiming Sky-High: Google and EDF Satellite Partnership Seeks Methane Emission Clarity
Google and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) join forces to launch a satellite, MethaneSat, to map global methane emissions, providing a 'sky-high' solution to the world's methane problem.
A Breeze of Change: China's CO2 Emissions Set to Fall
China is predicted to see a reduction in CO2 emissions by 2024, thanks to a surge in low-carbon energy installations. Despite the expansion of coal power, the growth in wind and solar energy could meet increasing electricity demand, pushing fossil fuel use and emissions into a period of extended decline.
Aldi Trashes the Competition with Green Goals
Aldi supermarket has impressively cut its food waste by 60%, setting a new sustainability standard for retail industries. This is part of Aldi's zero-waste strategy, which includes donating over 40 million meals. With its ambitious 2030 plans, Aldi is showcasing the potential of businesses to drive societal change.
🌎 3 ways I can help you
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Enjoy your weekend, and see you next week😊