In Iceland, Icelandair has announced it will be among the first airlines to adopt biodegradable single-use items on its flights.
Through a partnership with onboard products company Kaelis, Icelandair will be using cutlery, toothpicks and packaging made from cornstarch.
“We’re constantly striving for improvements to benefit the environment, and this is one step toward reducing plastic use,” Ásdís Pétursdóttir, Icelandair public relations officer tells Morgunblaðið.
According to Icelandair, the products produce significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional plastics, and because the plants used as feedstock absorb carbon dioxide, there is no net release as the products break down. The switch comes well ahead of a European ban on single-use plastics set for 2021.