In 2019, we were one of the first airlines in the world to announce our target of net zero emissions by 2050. In March 2022, we announced interim emission targets as part of our Group Climate Action Plan (PDF) (CAP):
Our approach to sustainability
We recognise that air travel is currently not environmentally sustainable. That’s why we are committed to taking steps – in the air and on the ground – to reduce our impact on the environment.
25 per cent reduction in net Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 2019 levels by 2030.
10 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in fuel mix by 2030.
Zero onshore waste to landfill by 2030¹.
Zero single-use plastics by 2027².
Waste reduction
The Group aims to have zero single-use plastics by 2027² and zero onshore general waste to landfill by 2030¹.
As part of our efforts, we’re working with our employees, suppliers, customers and regulators to reduce the waste generated by our operations. Steps we are taking include:
- minimising waste through more efficient inflight and ground operations,
- introducing innovative product and packaging alternatives targeted at removing single-use plastics,
- increasing the use of recycled content or renewable materials in high volume products,
- expanding recovery pathways for waste materials including organics, cardboard, timber and metal, reuse through donation or redistribution, and the establishment of comingled recycling collections in our ground facilities and inflight operations,
- establishing specialty recycling pathways and conducting trials for hard to recycle materials including pallet wrap, coffee cups and cargo straps,
- exploring waste to energy pathways and opportunities to recover low-risk materials treated as quarantine waste.
Operational and fleet improvements
We’re always looking for opportunities to reduce the carbon emissions which would have otherwise been generated by our operations, and invest in modern technology to help optimise the way we fly.
Modernising our fleet, along with a focus on how we fly and maintain our aircraft, are some of the steps we’re taking towards meeting our climate targets, as detailed in our Climate Action Plan (PDF).
We will do this by:
- Investing in aerodynamic improvements to our existing fleet aimed at reducing onboard weight or drag,
- Advocating for broader airspace design and management which requires industry-wide collaboration, and
- Continuing to reduce fuel burn, including through smarter flight planning.
As Qantas seeks to transition towards lower carbon operations, there is a strong need to explore new and innovative aircraft technologies. Airlines, industry and manufacturers will need to work together on new technologies to help reduce emissions associated with our current fleet.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is one of the central levers to achieving our net zero by 2050 target. With long-haul routes accounting for the majority of the Group’s emissions profile, SAF is currently the only viable technology/decarbonisation option available for Qantas’ long haul flights. Our current use of SAF is modest, comprising 0.2% of our fuel use and is being accessed by Qantas for our Heathrow flights. Our target is for 10% of our fuel use to come from SAF by 2030 (around 600mL of unblended SAF a year) and approximately 60% by 2050.
We’ve established Australia’s first coalition program to support reducing the environmental impact of aviation through the use of SAF. Climate action is more effective together, and the Qantas Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition program offers our corporate partners the opportunity to help contribute to the development and future use of SAF by contributing to the incremental cost of acquiring SAF.
We have built on our existing SAF investment partnership with Airbus to establish a $400 million Climate Fund, which is dedicated to investing in the development of solutions to support us in meeting our sustainability targets and helping reduce our impact on the planet – in the air and on the ground (including investments to accelerate the development of an Australian SAF industry).
We are also offering a service to freight companies and forwarders to allow them to receive the environmental attributes from the SAF we have purchased.
If you are interested in partnering with us to help decarbonise your supply chain, please contact us via email.
Learn more about Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Find out about Qantas Group’s SAF Coalition program
Important information
1 This excludes quarantine waste, a highly regulated and specialised waste stream with limited waste diversion pathways. All waste associated with international ports (inbound and outbound) is treated as quarantine waste.
2 Excluding items required for medical or health and safety reasons.