Less Consumption, More Recycling
When using resources and materials, we always strive to ensure minimum environmental impact. This means not only producing less waste, but also separating and properly disposing the waste produced, and, where possible, processing waste for high-value reuse. We even make energy out of waste. And water consumption is also a key aspect of our environmental policy.
Our aircraft maintenance hangars have special waste separation stations. Responsible disposal of everyday materials, such as batteries and toner cartridges, has become standard practice at KLM. We also reclaim valuable metals from retired parts. The same goes for materials that are harmful to the environment. We’re also careful with the water we use. Water conservation is an integral aspect of our building management system. For instance, we use efficient water taps and we monitor drinking water consumption. Our Environmental Center also recycles the water we use for maintenance, generating enormous savings.
Costly Drinking Water
We also take great care with drinking water aboard our flights. Based on consumption statistics, we are getting better and better at supplying our aircraft with just the right amount of drinking water. This saves both water and energy. If we take along too much water, the aircraft becomes heavier and fuel consumption increases unnecessarily.
Read here more on environmentally friendly measures on board.
Paperless cockpit
Every year, we collect about 600,000 kilos of paper and 230,000 kilos of cardboard from our office buildings. All this paper and cardboard is recycled. Naturally we use environmentally friendly paper, with the FSC-label.
Another 1,200,000 kilos of paper comes out of the aircraft. Etc. All this paper and cardboard is recycled. However, it is even better for the environment if we can reduce paper consumption. We are working on that, including in the cockpit. In mid-August, we took an important step towards creating a “paperless cockpit,” having been granted official permission by the Netherlands civil aviation authorities.
