Innovation Challenge by Air France : "Continuing the Adoption of Single Use Plastic Alternatives!"

Air France is committed to reducing its environmental impact and limiting single-use plastic (SUP) on board. This initiative is already well on its way as Air France has already replaced all plastic cutlery, water and soft drinks cups and stirrers with cellulose-based materials. So far the French airline has replaced 210 million items previously made out of plastic.

As part of Air France objective to have eliminated 80% of SUP on board flights by 2025, there is still the challenge of finding an alternative to the plastic glasses still used to serve alcohol in economy class. 

Are you up to the challenge ? 

(More information about constraints below)

Furthermore, if you have any SUP alternatives to replace other products found on board an aircraft - feel free to register your interest at the bottom of this page.

Here under is a list of items which generate cabin waste – some of these have already been replaced by Air France but any propositions for alternatives to single-use  plastic products will be considered for this challenge.

• Plastic Bowls, Plates, lids
• Cutlery
• Cups
• Plastic glasses (for alcoholic beverages)
• Water bottles
• Headset and cover bags
• Rubbish bags

• As light as possible
• For single-use / fully recyclable or compostable 
• Durability and solidity qualities
• The product must have already reached a production or commercial phase
• Scalable potential
• Sourcing of the products: Air France would like to limit the transport between the place of manufacture and the place of distribution

The products must comply with the Environment Code and Directive 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.

The supplier must offer articles that comply with the various French and European regulations and their developments.

• The origin of the raw material
• Certification of the raw material
• Place of manufacture / final packaging
• All types of transport (with distances) used for the delivery of the product

• The packaging used by the supplier must ensure a total protection of the product (no defects, scratches or tears until it is dismantled in catering)
• Easy to unpack
• More ecological solutions for packaging can be proposed: reduction of over-packaging, reduction of the use of plastic, etc.
  

Apply by the 15th of October and have the chance to win an opportunity to be introduced to the Air France team.

Hope to meet you soon!

Solar Impulse Foundation and Air France Team