Vistara to end 200 ml plastic water bottles supply on board

Kolkata: Vistara, the joint venture between Tata Sons Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited, is planning to remove all individual-sized 200ml water bottles from its flights to reduce usage of plastic, especially single-use plastic.

The initiative, implemented on Delhi-Mumbai flights on July 16, will be extended to all flights across the airline’s network in phases over the coming weeks, the company stated on Wednesday.

It informed that the economy class customers, who were hitherto given water in small plastic bottles, will now be served mineral water in environment-friendly paper cups. "Thus far, Vistara has significantly reduced single-use plastic usage and has a further 50 per cent reduction target this year," the company elaborated.

Vistara added, "The airline continues to undertake several other eco-friendly initiatives to support its award-winning inflight service with minimal use of plastics by switching to packaging from renewable and bio-degradable sources. Vistara is the first and only carrier in India to serve oxo-biodegradable cutlery and pouch to Economy class customers."

According to the airliner, "It has also replaced plastic casseroles with aluminium dishes in economy and china casseroles in Premium Economy, plastic straws and stirrers with paper or wooden ones, and disposable bowls in economy class with reusable ones."

It said, "Eliminating the use of bottled water is a major challenge, as a practical, non-plastic alternative is not available for individual units of water. However, Vistara’s decision comes with a larger consideration of disposable plastic being one of the biggest pollutants that continues to pose a threat to the global environment."