Cathay’s strategy addresses climate change through fleet modernization, increased fuel efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, new technology implementation, and waste reduction programs that promote recycling and circularity.
In its effort to reduce single-use plastics (SUP), Cathay Pacific pledged to cut passenger-facing SUP items from 7.7 pieces per passenger in 2019 to 1.5 pieces by the end of 2025. By the end of 2024, usage had dropped to 2.6 pieces per passenger. Enhanced recycling measures have led to over 1.4 million plastic bottles being recycled since their introduction in 2024. All water bottles on outbound flights from Hong Kong now use 100% recycled plastics (rPET). The airline is also trialing alternative materials such as recycled paper for wrapping headphones and blankets instead of plastic and exploring reusable serviceware in Economy class.
On climate action, SAF is considered key for decarbonizing aviation industry-wide. Cathay launched its Corporate SAF Programme in 2022 to help corporate partners address indirect emissions from air travel and freight services. In recent years, Cathay has conducted SAF uplifts at both Hong Kong and other airports globally.
In 2025, Cathay announced three new agreements: partnering with Sinopec for blended SAF refueling at Hong Kong International Airport; SK Energy for flights departing South Korea; and DHL Express for blended SAF on Air Hong Kong flights at Seoul Incheon, Tokyo Narita, and Singapore Changi airports.
The airline has also worked with industry partners to advocate for supportive SAF policies at its Hong Kong hub.
In cargo operations on the ground, Cathay Cargo Terminal is piloting Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) use in non-electric cargo tractors. It was also first in Hong Kong to adopt export cargo cover sheets made from 50% recycled plastic and currently recycles all plastic sheets from import shipments.
Further details about these initiatives are available on the company’s sustainability reports page: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_HK/about-us/sustainability/sustainability-reports.html
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