We recognise that climate change is a significant issue for the aviation industry. That's why we've made sustainability a key pillar of decision-making and are working towards key targets across our terminals and operations:
Our commitment to sustainability
Whether in the air or on the ground, we have a strong focus on reducing our environmental impact.
Flying towards a brighter future
- Zero onshore waste to landfill by 2030¹ and zero single-use plastics by 2027²
- 25 per cent reduction in net emissions from 2019 levels by 2030
- 10 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in fuel mix by 2030
Waste reduction
To support our waste target, we are:
- Undertaking waste assessments in our terminals to understand waste streams and how best to reduce upstream and downstream waste.
- Introducing six new automated shrink-wrap machines in major Australian terminals and using thinner stretch film for manual use, reducing the volume of single-use plastics.
- Trialling new centrefold plastics, made from 100 per cent recycled plastics.
- Installing 13 balers in major Australian terminals during FY24 to increase recycling of single use plastics.
- Increasing paperless transactions by implementing digital solutions.
Operational efficiency
To support our operational efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction targets, we are:
- Introducing six Airbus A321P2F Freighters, which are expected to progressively arrive between early 2024 and mid-2026, replacing the fleet of five Boeing 737 freighters. Each A321 freighter can carry 23 tonnes of cargo, nine tonnes more than the older 737s, and are around 30 per cent more fuel efficient per tonne of freight carried.
- Electrifying ground support equipment including:
- Our existing electric Ground Support Equipment (GSE) fleet includes:
• one electric main deck pallet loader
• 109 electric forklifts
• 60 electric tugs
• three other types of electrical equipment - Rolling out in FY24, we'll have:
• three additional electric stairs
• two more electric pallet loaders
- Our existing electric Ground Support Equipment (GSE) fleet includes:
Sustainability
The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is central to achieving our interim targets and net zero by 2050 goal. SAF is currently the only viable technology/decarbonisation option available across all our operations. In November 2022, Qantas launched our SAF Coalition program with five founding members to signal demand for SAF in Australia. We have built on our existing partnership with Airbus to establish a $400 million Climate Fund, which we’re using to accelerate the development of an Australian SAF industry.
We are also offering Freight Forwarders the opportunity to partner with us to purchase an allocation of the environmental benefits from the SAF we have purchased.
If you are interested in partnering with us to 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.