Turning waste into treasure, British Airways wants to turn diapers and wrappers into fuel

[Chinese Packaging News] The trash you throw away is another person's aircraft fuel... Well, British Airways does have such an idea.

British Airways needs to achieve half of its emissions reduction target by 2050, and the company will use the idea of ​​seemingly useless garbage. They are working with renewable energy company Velocys to build a factory that will “turn waste into treasure.”

(Image by: Unsplash)

The first experimental items were used diapers, plastic food containers, and chocolate wrappers that were treated to make them clean fuel.

Compared to traditional aircraft fuel, British Airways’ new products are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% and particulate emissions by 90%.

According to British Airways, the fuel produced by this factory was sufficient for all British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights from London to San Jose, California and New Orleans. They plan to provide more sustainable fuel for other units within the next decade.

Over the past few years, Airborne Division has been testing biofuels such as vegetable oil, algae oil, and jatropha oil to reduce air pollution. Turning waste into clean fuel can both reduce the pollution to the atmosphere and avoid the greenhouse gas generated by landfill disposal. It can be described as a double benefit.

However, British Airways did not disclose the specific location and construction information of the factory, nor did it explain when it was put into production. It is estimated that it will take time before this idea becomes a reality.