Containers made from plant-based materials including bamboo, sugarcane

Rollout begins Tuesday for select on-board sale menu items

An in-flight jajangbap meal served in Eastar Jet's new eco-friendly pulp container. [Eastar Jet]
An in-flight jajangbap meal served in Eastar Jet's new eco-friendly pulp container. [Eastar Jet]

Eastar Jet announced Monday it will introduce eco-friendly in-flight meal containers starting Tuesday, amid growing demand for in-flight dining, as part of a broader push to expand sustainable practices across its services.

The new containers are made from natural pulp derived from plant-based materials, including bamboo and sugarcane.

Natural pulp biodegrades within 90 days, reducing the environmental burden associated with disposal. The material also resists deformation under prolonged high heat and remains easy to use amid cabin pressure changes, making it durable and practical for in-flight service.

Eastar Jet plans to roll out the eco-friendly containers first for select on-board sale items such as jajangbap — rice topped with black bean sauce — before gradually expanding their use.

Through the switch, the airline aims to cut plastic waste generated on board and encourage customers to take part in environmentally friendly practices as part of their travel experience.

"We decided to introduce eco-friendly containers to help reduce the environmental burden of plastic use amid rising demand for in-flight meals," an Eastar Jet official said. "We will continue applying eco-friendly elements across various areas to pursue sustainable management."

Meanwhile, Eastar Jet has also been cutting unnecessary paper use by replacing paper-based load sheets — documents compiled just before takeoff that record passenger counts, cargo and fuel weight — with tablet-based electronic documents.

The airline has also been actively expanding its fleet of Boeing 737-8 aircraft, widely regarded as an eco-friendly model for its fuel efficiency, to account for more than half of its total fleet. The 737-8 consumes about 20 percent less fuel than older models, enabling both cost savings on fuel and a reduction in carbon emissions.


eyre@heraldcorp.com