Plus, offsets are not only available around Earth Day, but all year long! After purchasing a ticket, you can select “Learn More” under “A Greener Way to Fly” at the bottom of the ticket confirmation page to donate offsets for your trip. Thanks to the generosity of our customers and your concern for the environment, more than $60,000 has been raised so far this year to fund TNC’s carbon offset program. With your help, we’re well on our way to beating last year’s record of $79,000.

Here’s a breakdown of the 2011 TNC donations in honor of Earth Day:
Customer CO2 Offsets – $14,244
Customer Donations to TNC – $3,935
Delta’s Matching Donation – $18,179
Grand Total – $36,358

Also, take a look at our recently released 2010 Corporate Responsibility Report at delta.com/responsibility, where you can learn more about how offsets fit into Delta’s larger environmental commitment.

Thank you once again to all customers who have contributed to the offset program. We are looking for ways to make offsetting easier to fund and more diverse. What ideas do you have to improve the program further?

Aaron Robinson
Emissions and Sustainability

One of the 18 pieces on display at the Recycle Runway exhibit is the Delta-commissioned “Environmental Steward-ess,” located near gate E12.  This fashionable flight attendant outfit, purse, and cape are made exclusively from recycled materials used on Delta flights, created from old seat covers, safety cards, Sky magazines, plane tickets, pretzel wrappers, a worn-out Delta blanket, and used aluminum cans.

We’re one of a few airlines to participate in “upcycling,” where cabin fixtures and in-flight items destined for the trash are refashioned into stylish clothing and accessories.  This is not our first time engaging in upcycling. In 2010 Delta partnered with Tierra Ideas, donating aircraft seat covers to be converted into bags and accessories. Tierra Ideas also supported this exhibit by creating its purse.

Ms. Judd’s Recycle Runway fashion creations are designed to capture the public’s attention and inspire individuals to consider the environmental impacts of their daily activities. Each piece takes between 50 and 400 hours to create. The exhibit will be on display on Concourse E through April 2012.

Have you visited the exhibit recently? Let us know what you think.

Jennifer O.

Program Coordinator, Environment

What do our current efforts look like? We have a broad array of sustainability efforts helping us toward our goal of operating an environmentally responsible airline. One of the most visible, because it happens right before your eyes, is our in-flight recycling effort.

Our program, launched in 2007, diverts aluminum cans, plastic cups, plastic bottles, newspapers and magazines collected on board our aircraft from landfills in 26 U.S. cities. And we’re happy to report our dedicated flight attendants, catering staff and cabin service employees successfully recycled 554 tons of material last year!

We also have a lot of programs that you don’t see, like a waste minimization program on the ground. And the numbers add up! Last year, for example, our employees recycled nearly 600 tons of waste at our headquarters here in Atlanta.

We know we have a long way to go before we achieve our goal of operating an environmentally-responsible airline, but with our dedicated employees and customers leading the way, we’re seeing significant improvements every year in our fuel efficiency, reductions in carbon emissions and recycling efforts.

So let’s take a moment today to acknowledge the progress we’ve made, while always mindful of the work ahead of us.

Helen Howes

Managing Director, Safety, Health and Environment

To donate when booking your next flight, select “Learn More” under “A Greener Way to Fly” at the bottom of your confirmation page. You can also support The Nature Conservancy by making additional contributions, donating SkyMiles through our SkyWish program, or joining their online community to learn more about how you can help protect our world.

The Tensas River Basin in Louisiana, site of Delta and The Nature Conservancy

Last year our efforts raised more than $50,000 for The Nature Conservancy’s efforts for Earth Day, and with your help we know we can beat that mark this year!

Have you offset the emissions from your flight? If so, we’d love to know about it and learn more about the other ways you’re reducing your carbon footprint.

Aaron Robinson
Emissions and Sustainability

It’s all outlined in a new report that we’re featuring on delta.com – our 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report. It’s not the first time Delta has produced a report on its efforts to be a good corporate citizen, but it is the first such report for the new Delta, following our successful merger with Northwest Airlines.

In 2009, Delta’s In-Flight Recycling program diverted over 2 million pounds (1,000 tons) of aluminum, mixed paper and plastic from domestic flights serving 29 cities.

The report contains information on our environmental, safety, community and financial initiatives from 2007 through 2009. But it’s important to remember that there are thousands of people behind those hard numbers – Delta people who have risen to the challenge of making our airline a positive force in the communities we serve!

Here are some of results stemming from all the hard work of my 75,000 Delta colleagues:

• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• Expansion in our recycling programs and our commitment to exploring options for alternative fuels in our industry
• New community affairs programs and stewardship efforts
• Wellness plans and our commitment to diversity

It’s all detailed in the report, which gives us a lot to be proud of! At the same time, it’s also a reminder of the work that lies ahead as we continue to strive to be the best possible airline for our customers, employees and communities.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts as we continue our efforts.

Helen Howes

Managing Director – Safety, Health and Environment

Here’s a breakdown of the proceeds:
Customer Donations to TNC – $15,928
Customer CO2 Offsets – $11,374
Delta’s Matching Donation – $25,000
Grand Total – $52,302

How much of an impact will this have? 2,600 tons of CO2 were directly offset by the over 800 trees planted, which is the equivalent of eight 747 flights from Tokyo to Los Angeles.

The great news is that offsetting like this is becoming much more common. Since the relaunch of our program, there has been three times as much CO2 offset versus the same three months last year! Starting this month, you’ll also see the following slide on Delta’s in-flight entertainment system before takeoff to encourage even more participation in our carbon offset program.

Remember, you can offset your travel after booking your next flight on delta.com by selecting “Learn More” under “A Greener Way to Fly” at the bottom of your confirmation page. Have you offset your emissions lately? We’d love to hear about other ways you’re reducing your carbon footprint. Please leave a comment or tweet us @Deltablog.

Aaron Robinson
Program Manager, Carbon Emissions and Environmental Sustainability

I grew up exploring and fishing in the marsh wetlands of southeastern Louisiana with my dad, Butch, an avid outdoorsman. Those many years spent developing a deep understanding of the tremendous value that wetlands provide, shaped my vision of conservation and care for nature’s outdoors. My life’s passion for ecology guided me to a career in environmental engineering, where I have worked as an environmental consultant and engineer. During a 2009 visit to a landfill, though, what I saw changed my outlook even more profoundly than those wetlands did from my youth. About the same time as the visit, the idea behind Tierra Ideas was born after reading an article from a magazine purchased with Delta Sky Miles points.  When I saw an article on recycled bags I remember thinking, ‘This is it!’  And so I bought a used industrial Singer sewing machine from Craigslist for $475, enrolled in my first sewing class and 5 months later, my first recycled bag was complete.

Tierra Ideas’ aim is to help companies re-think how they dispose of their unwanted materials by creating the most unique recycled products anywhere.  In 2010, Tierra Ideas has partnered with Delta Air Line to collect worn and retired aircraft seat covers and curtains donated by Delta Air Lines and recycle them into new bags and accessories.  Through this unique partnership, thousands of pounds of worn aircraft seat covers and curtains have been diverted from the landfill.  Tierra Ideas also recycles blown-out, waste bicycle inner tubes  and tires.  When they arrive in the shop, they are then cleaned with non-phosphate, biodegradable detergent, cut to length, and sewn into sheets of recycled rubber.  The rubber sheets are then used along with other recycled materials to create each bag.  This process is shown on Tierra’s FAQ webpage at …. http://www.tierraideas.com/faq.html

Another unique element of Tierra that we’re very proud of is that all of our products are made in North Carolina. Our primary sewing facility is the Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind (RLCB).  RLCB assists visually-impaired and blind persons by offering job training and employment.  75% of the workforce at RLCB is visually impaired.  Tierra Ideas’ bag and accessories are available for purchase online at http://www.tierraideas.com , Greengoodsshop.com based in Southern Pines, NC and other select retail outlets throughout the U.S.

How can I make a difference? Get involved by finding recycling efforts in your local area through websites like Earth911.  It’s also available as an iPhone app called iRecycle.  How can I find eco-friendly green news? Check out sites like thedailygreen.com and treehugger.com.

Last week Delta relaunched its CO2 offset program in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. This allows customers like you to offset the CO2 emissions associated with your flight by supporting The Nature Conservancy’s ongoing forest conservation and reforestation projects, in particular in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. This project is located near Monroe, Louisiana, which is actually the birthplace and original home of Delta.

Three years ago Delta launched our partnership with The Nature Conservancy with a $1 million donation. Having visited the site myself, I can personally attest to the positive impact from passenger offsets. Together we have turned unproductive agricultural fields into a bottomland hardwood forest by purchasing and planting more than 175,000 trees (about 50 have my name on them). This has restored the wildlife habitat to its natural state and is expected to capture 120,000 tons of CO2 over the forest’s lifetime.

To encourage you to get in the habit of offsetting your emissions, Delta is matching all offsets you make through May 22. You can make an offset contribution online now or after booking your next flight by selecting “Learn More” under “A Greener Way to Fly” at the bottom of your confirmation page. You can also help by making a tax-deductible gift, giving miles through our SkyWish program, or joining The Nature Conservancy’s online community to learn how you can help protect our world.

Next time you book on delta.com, please consider offsetting the emissions from your flight. Also, I’d love to hear your comments about your experience with our offset program, as well as ideas you have for improvement, expanding our partnership with The Nature Conservancy, or further topics you’d like to read about on this topic. You can share your comments below or tweet them @deltablog.

Aaron Robinson
Project Manager, Environmental Affairs

I can not believe that I have let a whole year pass by without  providing an update on Delta’s recycling programs.   So let’s get down to business – here is where we stand as of December 2009.

Delta’s Comprehensive In-Flight Recycling Program

Date launched: 6.1.2007

Cities where Delta recycles on inbound  mainline domestic flights:  ABQ, ATL, BWI, BOS, ORD, CVG, CLE, DEN, DTW, FLL,  IND, LAS, LAX, MEM, MIA, MSP, JFK, LGA, PDX, RDU, RSW, SMF, SLC, SAN, SFO, SEA, TPA, DCA.

How much we have recycled since launch: 3.7 million pounds of newspaper, magazines, cardboard, plastic cups, plastic bottles and aluminum cans have been diverted from landfills in the communities we serve.

What does this add up to?

• Recycled volume of paper equivalent to  2,413 cubic yards of landfill space
• Recycled enough mixed plastic to “save” 605 barrels of oil
• Recycled roughly 40 million individual aluminum cans
• Raised enough funds to build one Habitat for Humanity Home in Atlanta and a second in Cincinnati.  We hope to build a third home in 2010.

Delta’s Aircraft Carpet Recycling Program

Date launched: Fall 2007

How much we recycled since launch:  We’ve diverted 221,000 pounds of worn aircraft carpet from Atlanta area landfills through our partnership with Mohawk Aviation Carpet and Mohawk ReCover program.

What does this add up to?

• 70,899 square yards - the equivalent of 15 acres of land
• OR the approximate length of 12 American football fields

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee Recycling Center at World Headquarters

Date launched: October 2007

How much we recycled since launch:  The Employee Recycling Center (ERC) was designed to bring recycling opportunity to Atlanta based employees without access to curbside recycling. The facility also manages recyclables generated within the world headquarters itself.  The program has diverted 1.6 million pounds of office paper, cardboard, paperboard, plastic bottles/jugs, aluminum cans and tin cans from local landfills.

What does this add up to?

• Net proceeds of  $10,000 donated to Delta’s Employee & Retiree Care Fund -  a program which aids Delta families in times of crisis
• Recycled  volume of paper equivalent to 2,175 cubic yards of landfill space
• Recycled enough mixed plastic to “save” 94 barrels of oil

Additional Highlights from 2009

• A “Mini-ERC” opened last fall at Delta’s Technical Operations Facility in Atlanta.   During first four months of operation we collected 1,160 pounds of plastic bottles/jugs & aluminum cans from both work and home.
• Delta hosted e-Waste collection events in CVG and ATL to provide our employees with an opportunity to properly recycle obsolete electronic items such as: computers, monitors, TV’s, VCR’s, digital cameras  and tape players.   350 people participated and 27,000 pounds of material was recycled.

What’s Next?

In addition to maintaining and expanding  our current programs, Delta continuously seeks opportunities to minimize waste and maximize recycling.   We do have a great new recycling story to share - though the cat will have to remain in the bag for a little while longer……. STAY TUNED!

Is your family recycling? Have you recycled on your Delta flights? You can tweet us @deltablog or post your comments here.

Jennifer O.

Environmental Engineer, Environmental Services

 

Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind while traveling. As you pack for your next trip, close the door to your next hotel room, and hail that next taxi, hopefully these ideas will come to mind…

Bring a re-usable water bottle in your carry on and fill it after security.

Many airports don’t have recycling bins available at every turn, so tons of plastic, metal and glass end up in the trash.

When packing toiletries, always use and refill small bottles.

Even if you purchase a smaller version of your favorite brand of shampoo, remember to refill it from your home supply rather than buying another one when it runs out.

Use your towels for the duration of your hotel stay

If you don’t change your towels on a daily basis at home, there’s no need to do so while traveling. Hotels worldwide go through tons of gallons of water every day washing linens. If you use the same towels for the duration of your stay, you help cut back on water use.

Turn the lights off in the hotel room

Just as re-using towels conserves water, remembering to turn the lights off when leaving the room saves energy as well.

Use public transportation when possible…better yet, ride a bike

When in a new city, one of the best ways to get around is to do as the locals do. Take the bus or take the train. For the added bonus of burning a few calories as you get around, find somewhere to rent a bike and start peddling.

Challenge yourself to try even a couple of these easy tricks, and pat yourself on the back for making the effort to take your everyday green habits on the road!

Do you have tips to share on what have you done on vacation to lessen your impact on the local environment? Tweet them @deltablog or post your comments here.

Lauren C., Delta Vacations