FORT WORTH – American Airlines Cargo announced its transition to BioNatur Plastics™, launched by M&G Packaging, for use in its cargo operations. The carrier has already begun replacing its current plastic products with the BioNatur brand across most major hubs, an adoption that has allowed American to reduce its long-term plastic waste in landfills by more than 130,000 lbs. or 6.4 million water bottles, in 2022 alone.
BioNatur Plastics is a growing line of biodegradable plastic products manufactured with proprietary formulations that make them the most sustainable plastic options available. Regular plastic can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade in a landfill. BioNatur biodegradable plastics will biodegrade under landfill conditions in only 5 to 10 years. The end products are fully recyclable in normal waste collection streams, and with added strength, the plastics can be used in thinner amounts – thus minimizing the quantity of plastic use overall.
American began making the transition to BioNatur Plastics in early 2022. The biodegradable plastic is currently in use for cargo operations in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Miami International Airport (MIA), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), with plans to continue adopting the plastic across its network.
“American Airlines Cargo is excited to make our cargo operations more sustainable with the adoption of biodegradable plastic products from BioNatur,” said Greg Schwendinger, President of American Airlines Cargo. “Replacing our cargo-use plastic products with BioNatur Plastics drastically reduces the waste we leave behind and is an important step in our airline goal toward a more sustainability future.”
“BioNatur Plastics can drastically help reduce the amount of trash we leave behind on this earth that can lie for centuries in a landfill, or worse, turn into harmful microplastics, said Charles Rick, President of BioNatur Plastics. “We are excited to have American Airlines alongside us as we work to reduce plastic waste in landfills.”
BioNatur Plastics is manufactured with a 1% load of an organic, food-safe proprietary additive that allows anaerobic bacteria to digest the plastic in a landfill. Outside of a landfill, the plastic has an indefinite shelf life and performs exactly like traditional plastic products.
About American Airlines Cargo
American Airlines Cargo transports cargo daily between major cities in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia. Offering a variety of products and handling capabilities, American Airlines Cargo supports shipments from life-saving pharmaceuticals to mail and e-commerce on the world’s largest passenger network. Learn more at aacargo.com.
About American Airlines Group
American's purpose is to care for people on life's journey. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what's happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
About BioNatur Plastics™
BioNatur Plastics™ is leading the industry in the production of truly biodegradable plastic that biodegrades in a landfill into dirt and gases. Our products are ASTM tested and meet FTC, FDA, and EU standards. BioNatur Plastics™ do not break down into microplastics and are 100% recyclable. Learn more about our technology at BioNaturPlastics.com
About M&G Packaging
With facilities all over the world, M&G Packaging has been serving the air freight community for over 60 years with a complete line of packaging, shipping and TSA screening supplies. Our customers include the majority of airlines, freight forwarders and couriers in the US and abroad. M&G Packaging is a leader in sustainable packaging. We are actively engaged in expanding our diverse product lines with the latest biodegradable and eco-friendly products.