While we’ll see if this goes anywhere, Alaska Airlines has just run an interesting trial, and I can’t help but wonder if it could work on a larger scale.
In this post:
Alaska Airlines trials reusable cups in place of paper cups
October 20 is National Reuse Day, so Alaska took the opportunity to conduct an interesting trial. The Seattle-based carrier partnered with r.World to take its sustainability efforts to the next level. The airline performed a feasibility study on a roundtrip Seattle (SEA) to Minneapolis (MSP) trip, where all passengers were served out of reusable cups, rather than disposable plastic cups.
The cups are designed to be durable and fully reusable, and have apparently been popular with concertgoers and sports fans. After use, the cups can be collected, cleaned, and sanitized, and are made ready for their next journey.
The airline views this as part of an exploration into additional ways to reduce onboard waste, including eliminating single-use waste. The goal is to bring sustainability innovations to the carrier’s fleet, and the broader travel industry.
Alaska has a long history of trying to innovate when it comes to eliminating onboard waste. In 2018, Alaska became the first US airline to ditch plastic straws and stir sticks onboard. In 2021, Alaska replaced plastic water bottles with boxed water, served from 92% plant-based cartons. Then in 2023, Alaska became the first airline to offer a plastic-free beverage service to guests onboard, swapping out plastic cups for paper cups.
I wonder if the economics of this could work
Airlines are of course between a rock and a hard place when it comes to many environmental initiatives. They want to reduce their footprint whenever possible, but also have to balance that with the cost of such initiatives, especially given how low margin the industry is.
I can’t help but be curious about the economics of these reusable cups, since it almost seems to me like this could work, but only if it were scaled. Current cups obviously have a certain cost, but are single-use, so the cost can’t be amortized across multiple passengers.
Presumably these cups would be quite a bit more expensive, though I doubt that’s the main roadblock here. Instead, I suspect this comes down to the costs to clean these cups. Yes, airline catering kitchens are massive and very efficient, but cleaning the quantity of cups we’re talking about is probably no small task, and the logistics aren’t necessarily easy either.
I suppose another consideration is how often cups need to be replaced — sometimes people will take them, sometimes people may break them, etc.
As of now, Alaska doesn’t seem to be indicating that it has serious plans to roll this out on a widespread basis, instead noting that this is just a trial, and could be used to come up with other initiatives as well.
Bottom line
Alaska conducted an interesting trial, whereby the airline operated a flight with reusable cups, in place of paper cups. This is part of a feasibility study on the carrier’s part. It’s no doubt creative, though it sounds like there aren’t plans to roll this out on a more widespread basis anytime soon. It would be cool if this could scale, and I wonder if the industry could eventually head in this direction.
What do you make of Alaska’s trial with reusable cups?
Absolutely disgusting! It is already a major concern when hot water heaters are not properly cleaned on plane. Now this? I will be bringing my own one use paper cups on flights.
So what is the environmental impact of heating the water, the water itself and all the other things that would go into washing these services items..... I wonder if that's a good trade off. I'm sure someone (hopefully) has put research into that.
I would rather use a reusable mug.
Remember Mexicana Airlines way back when? They were an all-coach airline, but all beverages on USA-Mexico flights were served in glassware!
Loved Mexicana's Golden Aztec Service !
Reusable cups is disgusting.
Make sure to squeeze them so they crack so they cant reuse!
Does anyone actually think these glasses are sanitized properly?
Probably as much as regular glasses, plates, and cutlery are sanitized.
Economics aside, probably it is better for the environment to use disposable cups and recycle them than to transport these cups back and forth to a facility and wash them with detergent etc. Just like disposable plastic bags at your local gorcery store are actually better for the environment than a reusable shopping bag.
The problem is that most to nothing in the US is recycled.
Drinking out of a plastic cup degrades the enjoyment of the beverage. If Alaska is moving to reusable cups, proper glassware should be used.
The way they can elevate the travel experience. Nothing is worse than serving pre-departure drinks in plastic cups in First Class.
"Nothing is worse" ... glad OMAAT reraders are not prone to hyperbole.
In long haul economy, many airlines already have a reusable plastic cup included on trays for the tea and coffee service. If they can clean and reuse those cups on such a large scale, I am not sure how this is different provided the cups are durable enough.
Unless this is eco friendly highly suspect. They would be doing this already across Europe.
This was probably some sponsorship of some sort. A single roundtrip on a single plane is hardly a study. Did they even use the same cups outbound vs inbound?
Delta also did a similar test but does not appear to have implemented it so apparently the economics or logistics didn't work.
While reducing waste is laudable, water is also a resource and having enough water and then cleaning it up after soap is poured into it is not a cheap or easy task.
as for the "this is how it is done in first class" there is a difference in storing and cleaning...
Delta also did a similar test but does not appear to have implemented it so apparently the economics or logistics didn't work.
While reducing waste is laudable, water is also a resource and having enough water and then cleaning it up after soap is poured into it is not a cheap or easy task.
as for the "this is how it is done in first class" there is a difference in storing and cleaning glass and plastic.
There are also concerns about chemicals leaking from plastic which might increase with the use of hot water.
Good on Alaska. For the morons who complain, ever realize first class has always been served reusable cups? This initiative expands that to economy in a scalable fashion.
We should be happy Alaska employs smart people and not morons who comment on the internet. As a matter of disclosure, I am a former employee of Alaska Airlines, and enjoyed the experience very much, before I took my career in a different direction.
There are less people in biz and first such that the cutlery and glass can be washed without compromising quality. Try 10x that, and you are bound to have sanitary issues, at least in the beginning. Overall, I’d just be double checking the glass to make sure there aren’t any visible marks or lipsticks before using them. (Just like you should be doing when flying first and biz anyway).
Soap gives morons like you brain damage.
you are the moron
So you pour boxed water into a reusable cup....
And then these cups are being washed and not inspected for lip marks and lipstick I presume. Raise your hand if you've still had lip marks on your glass at a restaurant.
I haven’t. I only dine at places with proper dishwashing. That’s what life is like when you’re partner at Paul, Weiss.
Must be nice to only use styrofoam cups at McDonald’s donkey.
This reminded me of JAL's rent a few days' wardrobe campaign they had to reduce luggage weight. I wonder how much traction that is getting? Do these initiatives make any material impact?