The airline industry is cruising into a new area, a shift toward more sustainable in-flight catering practices, with paper and compostable cutlery playing a central role. Where sustainability is no longer an option, but an essential destination. With environmental concerns intensifying rapidly, airlines are now under increasing pressure to re-think every aspect of their in-flight experience. From carbon offset to waste reduction, the spotlight has now turned to something simple, yet useful: on-board catering.
This shift is not just regulatory, it is also driven by passengers who expect eco-conscious choices at 10.000 meters. Therefore, it is critical for airlines to navigate this transition, understand the benefits, challenges, and best practices to switch to eco-friendly tableware and in specific – paper cutlery.
Companies like Hello Straw are leading the way by offering innovative, eco-friendly solutions tailored for in flight service.
Why Airlines Are Switching to Paper Cutlery Sets
The move away from plastic is no longer a niche sustainability effort, it involves an industry-wide transformation. Airlines are embracing paper cutlery sets for three main reasons: regulatory pressure, reputational advantage, and operational efficiency.
Governments worldwide are implementing bans on single-use plastics, and sustainability certifications are becoming prerequisites for credibility. At the same time, passengers expect eco-friendly solutions. This convergence of policy, perception, and practicality is turning paper cutlery into the new standard for in-flight catering.
Hello Straw, as a global supplier, supports airlines in this transition by offering lightweight, recyclable, and customizable paper cutlery sets that meet both performance and branding needs.
The Environmental Impact of Plastic in Aviation
Airlines have recently generated staggering amounts of cabin waste, estimated at 2.6 million tons in 2023, according to IATA audits conducted in Singapore Changi Airport. While this marks a decrease from 5.7 million tons in the previous year, the environmental impact remains significant.
A global survey by IATA of 6.500 passengers worldwide revealed that most travelers would feel better about flying if single-use plastics were eliminated. In response, over 40 airlines have launched plastic reduction and replacement programs, with several leading the shift since 2018.
Industry Drivers Behind the Switch
Governments enforcing bans on single-use plastics, sustainability certifications becoming essential elements for credibility and investor trust, together with passenger expectations and operational choices, are accelerating the shift toward sustainable in-flight practices. This is the reason why schemes such as CORSIA are crucial in the attempt to reduce CO₂ emissions.
Together, these forces are reshaping how airlines approach catering and onboard materials.
The Aviation Industry’s Carbon Reduction Commitments
Airlines contribute around 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions, a figure that’s expected to rise as air travel grows. The ICAO CORSIA framework (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) and various regional sustainability plans require airlines to minimize emissions not just from engines, but across all operations — including catering.
Switching to paper and compostable tableware aligns with these wider environmental objectives, offering a tangible, low-hanging solution that complements fuel efficiency strategies.
Global Targets
Under CORSIA and IATA’s Fly Net Zero initiative, the aviation industry aims to cut net CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2050 (compared to 2005 levels). Replacing plastic items onboard with recyclable and compostable materials contributes directly to these goals, showing commitment to sustainability across both premium and low-cost carriers.
The Weight Factor
Having lighter materials means less weight, less fuel, and fewer emissions. By switching from the use of plastic to lightweight paper-based alternatives, airlines will be able to achieve measurable savings in fuel consumption over millions of flights annually, demonstrating a key operational and environmental win.
Regulatory & Policy Drivers
Across the EU, Asia, and the Americas, single-use plastic bans are being implemented at speed. Airlines now require suppliers who can ensure compliance with compostability standards, recyclability certifications, and aviation safety regulations.
Paper and Compostable Tableware in Airline Catering
In today’s in-flight service, a new family of sustainable materials is emerging that goes far beyond being simply “green”. Companies like Hello Straw are introducing paper straws and cutlery that are 100% recyclable and compostable, ensuring regulatory and safety compliance. Unlike other eco-alternatives, such as, bamboo and wood derivatives, these products are durable enough to withstand hours of use, tasteless so they don’t interfere with the passenger experience, and customizable for airline branding.
Airlines such as Swiss and Sunclass have already adopted them, showing that paper cutlery and straws are not only functional and safe, but also increasingly preferred as a credible replacement for single-use plastics. This shift demonstrates how sustainability in aviation catering is now about operational reliability and passenger satisfaction, as much as environmental responsibility.
Advantages Of Using Paper Cutlery Sets For Airlines And Passengers
Paper cutlery delivers on many fronts that aligns closely with airline needs while addressing wider sustainability goals. Beyond being fully recyclable and compostable, its design tackles sustainability without the drawbacks of wooden alternatives, which can splinter or carry an aftertaste. For passengers, the cutlery is taste neutral, smooth, and neatly packaged in compact pouches– ensuring a pleasant in-flight experience. From a compliance perspective, the products are tailored for aviation, meeting hygiene and recyclability standards. Additionally, airlines also appreciate the weight advantage. Our lightweight paper products when scaled to an entire fleet, can contribute to cost savings. Finally, in terms of branding, the ability to customize colours, prints, and packaging gives airlines the possibility to extend their brand identity to even the smallest service items.
Why Compostable Cutlery & Paper Tableware Fit the Airline Meal Service
For airlines, compostable and paper tableware offers unmatched advantages in hygiene, waste management, and performance. These materials are suitable for both hot and cold meals, stack neatly for space efficiency, and provide a modern aesthetic that enhances the onboard experience.
Below are two key items shaping in-flight sustainability.
Bagasse Tableware
Bagasse is a byproduct of sugarcane processing — strong, compostable, and ideal for airline trays and lids. Its sturdiness under heat and liquid exposure makes it a reliable replacement for plastic catering containers.
Paper Cups
Paper cups have already become the industry standard, balancing functionality and sustainability. They’re easily customizable for airline branding and are compatible with in-flight waste management systems — making them a practical and symbolic part of the sustainability shift.
Business and Brand Impact
Sustainability is now synonymous with quality and care. Airlines adopting eco-friendly cutlery and packaging not only reduce their footprint but also strengthen their brand image. Passengers perceive such carriers as responsible, premium, and forward-thinking.
Examples include: Finnair, which has pledged to phase out single-use plastics. And Emirates, which is implementing circular economy practices with recyclable onboard materials.
With Hello Straw’s customizable paper cutlery and packaging, airlines can transform every meal service into a storytelling moment of innovation and care.
This is where Hello Straw’s customisable offerings become a natural fit: our paper cutlery and packaging solutions not only meet functional demands, but also serve as brand touchpoints that tell a story of responsibility, innovation, and care at every meal.
Waste Management Considerations
Compostable and recyclable products simplify waste handling after flights. Airlines are increasingly partnering with local waste processors to ensure circular waste management, reducing landfill dependency.
Real-World Adoption Examples
Multiple airlines have already taken the leap, demonstrating that sustainable cutlery can perform at scale without compromising service quality.
Case 1: Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
SAS introduced eco-friendly packaging and paper cutlery across short-haul routes in 2023, reducing onboard plastic use by over 30%.
Case 2: Singapore Airlines (SIA)
SIA’s “Green Skies” initiative includes sustainable dining ware and cutlery trials on premium routes, part of a larger zero-waste target by 2030.
Case 3: Middle Eastern Premium Economy Pilot Program
Select carriers in the Middle East have introduced paper-based cutlery and packaging in premium economy classes, testing passenger response and operational efficiency.
Case 4: North American Low-Cost Carrier Initiative
Low-cost airlines in the U.S. and Canada are leading pilots to replace single-use plastics entirely, citing cost savings and stronger brand loyalty.
Collaboration & Product Development
Sustainable change in aviation requires collaboration between airlines and suppliers.
Hello Straw partners closely with carriers to develop custom cutlery designs, packaging formats, and logistics solutions. With robust supply chain reliability, food-safety certifications, and airline-specific testing, Hello Straw ensures seamless integration into any catering operation.
Supply Chain & Manufacturer Collaboration — Performance & Product Options
Our airline clients who have switched to paper cutlery are seeing great results. Easier in-flight service, smoother waste management, and positive passenger feedback. Many passengers also dislike the taste of wooden cutlery, which makes paper an attractive alternative.
Working with experienced suppliers like Hello Straw enables airlines to meet precise technical requirements, from heat tolerance to onboard storage constraints. Every product undergoes performance testing under real flight conditions, ensuring durability, safety, and brand consistency.
Conclusion
Switching to paper cutlery is no longer a trend, it’s an operational and environmental necessity for forward-looking airlines. From reducing emissions and waste to strengthening passenger trust and brand identity, sustainable cutlery is redefining modern in-flight catering.
At Hello Straw we stand ready to help airlines make the transition. By offering scalable, customizable, and certified solutions designed for performance at altitude and responsibility on the ground.
