Planet | Te Taiao
We're working towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Like all airlines, Air New Zealand's business model currently relies on fossil jet fuel, so we're a large emitter of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other equivalent gases (CO₂-e). We have a 2050 net zero carbon emissions target, and each year we produce an Annual Report, a Climate Statement, and 2030 Emissions Guidance to support this approach. You can also read our Transition Plan.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a key lever to achieving our net zero target.
We design, buy and use products and resources that support the circular economy, and actively work to reduce waste.
Air New Zealand is committed to embedding circular principles across the airline and into our supply chain, to help reduce waste and find opportunities to reuse or repurpose materials. Learn about our approach to the circular economy, and our waste targets.
Food waste currently makes up about 50 per cent of waste to landfill from our New Zealand domestic lounges. To reduce this, we're improving menus and processes, and introducing digital tools to help with ordering, and partnering with food rescue groups to redirect surplus edible food to local communities where we can. We're also looking at ways to address food waste in our international network as well, which has complex biosecurity restrictions.
Air New Zealand's new uniform includes materials such as organic cotton for men's shirts, a recycled polyester and wool blend for the suiting, and recycled polyester for women's dresses and shirts. As our current uniform phases out, we are exploring onshore and offshore recycling options and working on circular solutions when uniforms reach their natural end-of-life through wear and tear as well. One programme we're trialling recycles uniforms into reusable signage, acoustic panels and packaging, with further circular innovations to come as they become viable.
We help restore and regenerate nature in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We're the national partner of the 'paw-some' Conservation Dogs Programme as part of our long-standing partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC). Together with DOC, we also support more than 40,000 hectares of sustained predator control alongside five Great Walks, and have recently added our support to the Bats Beyond Borders programme, advancing research and conservation management of New Zealand's threatened native long-tailed bats (pekapeka). One of the most treasured parts of our DOC partnership is the role we play as the airline of choice for some of New Zealand's most threatened species.
We're proud to partner with Trees That Count to support native forest restoration, biodiversity and resilience in Aotearoa New Zealand through our Voluntary Emissions Contribution Programme. To date, Air New Zealand customers have funded nearly 500,000 native trees across 45 nature, biodiversity and restoration projects.
Air New Zealand's Climate and Nature Fund is funded by an internal carbon charge on select ultra long-haul flights, plus any profits from our Z Energy partnership. The Fund is ringfenced for sustainability efforts across four areas: mitigating the impacts of our emissions, increasing renewable energy, expanding the supply of SAF, and enhancing internal sustainability outcomes. In the last two years, the Fund has supported more than $15 million of initiatives including the Every Corner Project, Department of Conservation biodiversity projects, SAF domestic feasibility studies, a teal carbon project with The Nature Conservancy, waste audits, and an ongoing investment in the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund.
