Sustainability

Our Flight to Net ZeroSM

Delta’s commitment to sustainability is about joining arms to create a better world as the industry works to reach its sustainability goals.

The global aviation industry is a hard-to-abate sector, meaning it is innately difficult to decarbonize. We expect our path toward achievement of this ambitious climate goal to include fleet, sustainable aviation fuel, operational improvements and offsets. Technological innovation, partnerships and coalitions will be required to help us achieve this goal. 

Jet fuel is the No. 1 contributor to Delta’s carbon footprint and the chief focus of our efforts to reduce our emissions and manage our environmental impact.

Building a more efficient fleet

We focus on building our fleet to have the longest, most sustainable life possible to make the most of our planet’s resources. In 2020, we retired more than 200 aircraft and are replacing them with aircraft that are 25 percent more fuel-efficient than the models that are being replaced.

Alternative Fuels, Sustainable Future

Delta’s goal is to replace 10 percent of its jet fuel refined from fossil fuel with sustainable aviation fuel by the end of 2030. Delta has even started executing industry-leading sustainable fuel agreements with corporate customers to support a future of more sustainable business travel.

Commitment to Transparency
Environmental, Social and Governance Efforts

Delta’s 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report offers the latest data and insight into the company’s efforts to advance its purpose of connecting people with opportunity while expanding the understanding of the planet and with the people within it.

View our 2022 ESG Report (PDF) and 2022 ESG Report Highlights

CLIMATE ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
Delta's Climate Lobbying Report for 2022 is incorporated within our ESG Report, opens in a new window and details the company’s global advocacy activities and policy engagements—both direct and indirect—that support and complement our Paris Agreement-aligned climate goals. Effective policy engagement will continue to shape how Delta advances progress towards our climate goals and a more sustainable future for flight.

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Improving Our Environment by Reducing Our Impact

Delta is accelerating its efforts to build a more sustainable and people-first future. Now in Delta One®, you will find artisan-made amenity kits from Certified B Corporation apparel brand Someone Somewhere, opens in a new window. These handcrafted kits will eliminate five single-use plastic items such as zippers and packaging, reducing plastic use by up to 90,000 pounds on an annual basis.

Other enhancements to our onboard offerings include bedding made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, reusable and biodegradable service ware and premium canned wine. Together, the products will reduce onboard single-use plastic consumption by approximately 4.9 million pounds per year – that’s roughly the weight of 1,500 standard-sized cars – and significantly increase Delta’s support of minority- and women-run businesses. Learn more here.

REDUCING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

We use compostable stirrers onboard and removed wrappers from cutlery and amenity kits, eliminating 30K lbs. of waste annually. We’re evaluating changes to more single-use plastics through lifecycle analyses.

MAKING THE MOST OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS

Since 2007, we’ve recycled more than 3 million pounds of aluminum onboard and, with the rebates, have funded  the construction of 12 homes  through Habitat for Humanity. 

Waste Reduction Highlights

PARTNERSHIPS

Delta is partnering with universities, foundations, and others to explore circular economy solutions to waste.

ON-THE-GROUND DONATIONS

In 2021, we diverted 1.9M pounds of food, blankets, amenity kits and other provisioning items to various organizations in need, equaling ~$7M worth of items.

ZERO-WASTE SKY CLUBS

All Delta Sky Clubs use eco-friendly packaging for to-go foods. MSP, SEA, and SFO clubs are zero-waste, as in 90% landfill diversion. These clubs recycle, compost, and provide eco-friendly food service items.
Community Engagement
Find out about Delta’s involvement in the community and how Delta employees help make the communities where they work and live a better place.

News Feed

Delta will purchase up to 10 million gallons of neat SAF from Shell Aviation over a two-year period for use at its hub at Los Angeles International Airport. This will increase the global airline’s SAF commitments to over 200 million gallons – more than halfway to its goal of SAF comprising 10% of its fuel use annually by end of 2030*, and well on its way to 35% SAF use by 2035.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-shell-aviation-saf-agreement-fuel-lax-hub-and-accelerate-aviation-decarbonization

Ground support equipment at Delta's hubs in Salt Lake City and Boston are nearly entirely powered with electricity, a huge step toward the airline's aspirational goal of a 100% net-zero ground operation around the world.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/tugs-tractors-and-belt-loaders-nearly-all-electric-two-delta-hubs

Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer Pam Fletcher outlines the company’s bold strategy for achieving net zero-emissions and more sustainable travel by 2050, including scaling the sustainable fuel market, innovating for the fleet of the future, addressing single-use plastics and encouraging net-zero supply chains.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/business-imperative-delta-outlines-roadmap-more-sustainable-travel

Delta continued building momentum in 2022 on its journey to connect people to a more sustainable future of flying. From welcoming a new CSO and developing innovative partnerships, to advancing sustainable aviation fuel markets and further reducing single-use plastics onboard, work across the global carrier in 2022 has set Delta apart as a sustainability leader in the aviation sector.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/10-ways-delta-advanced-more-sustainable-future-flying-2022

Delta is taking another step toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 as it tests novel drag-reduction technology by Aero Design Labs on its 737-800 and 737-900 fleets. By reducing drag, aircraft are more aerodynamic and use less fuel while in flight.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-aero-design-labs-testing-novel-tech-further-decrease-aircraft-emissions

If successful, this work could drive significant progress quickly in reducing the climate impact of aviation by preventing the creation of persistent contrail formations altogether.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/deltas-latest-climate-collaboration-tackles-warming-contrails-mit

Delta’s 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report offers the latest data and insight into the company’s efforts to advance its purpose of connecting people with opportunity while expanding the understanding of the planet and with the people within it.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/always-climbing-2021-esg-report-highlights-deltas-accelerated-progress-toward-people-centric-future

From fuel to food, Delta’s flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake City showcased sustainable technologies available to customers today, as well as innovations in development as part of the SkyTeam Alliance’s Sustainable Flight Challenge.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-spotlights-sustainable-heights-recent-flight

Delta’s journey toward its sustainability goals will require collaboration and partnerships. Hear from three Delta leaders about why this journey matters, what we’re doing now and where we’re headed.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-leaders-reflect-accelerating-airlines-sustainability-goals

Earth Day is the global moment for the world to reflect on how we can all act more responsibly and innovate toward a more sustainable future. At Delta, however, that isn’t something we do on just one day – it’s a mindset that informs every decision we make.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/earth-month-how-delta-doing-our-part-sustainable-future

This partnership significantly increases Delta’s access to sustainable aviation fuel while expanding the alternative fuel market. Sustainable aviation fuel is produced from bio feedstocks that can reduce greenhouse gas lifecycle emissions significantly compared to conventional jet fuel.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/deltas-deal-gevo-pushes-saf-goal-forward

Hydrogen power has great potential to speed air travel toward net zero carbon emissions, a future that could be accelerated thanks to a new agreement between Delta and Airbus. As part of its Flight to Net ZeroSM plan to scale and advance sustainable technologies, Delta has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to become the first U.S.-based airline to collaborate with Airbus on the research and development of hydrogen-powered aircraft and the ecosystem required to make the transition.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/decarbonized-future-flight-delta-and-airbus-collaborate-pull-forward-future-hydrogen-fuel

Delta is the first U.S. airline to partner with EcoVadis, a provider of business sustainability ratings. This partnership marks Delta’s latest step in integrating its environmental, social and governance goals across its entire business strategy.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-announces-new-program-build-more-resilient-transparent-and-effective-supply-chain

Delta Air Lines is driving forward a new chapter of sustainable aviation by investing through its pension plans in TPG Rise Climate, a multibillion-dollar impact investing fund focused on supporting climate solutions at scale.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-invests-tpg-rise-climate-accelerate-innovative-climate-solutions

The report details the company’s global advocacy activities and policy engagements — both direct and indirect — that support and complement its Paris Agreement-aligned climate goals.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-air-lines-releases-climate-lobbying-report

This year will be full of opportunities to reconnect and get back to what we all love most. 2022 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for our world, and that includes Delta and you.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/message-skymiles-members-ceo-ed-bastian-innovating-travels-future

Delta will welcome a Chief Sustainability Officer in 2022, continuing its commitment to build a sustainable future for air travel. Pamela Fletcher will join Delta as Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer and will join the Delta Leadership Committee as the airline industry’s only C-Suite level CSO, CEO Ed Bastian said in a letter to employees.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-welcome-chief-sustainability-officer

The coalition is spearheaded by the U.S. State Department and the World Economic Forum and reflects Delta’s leadership as the world’s first carbon neutral airline.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-joins-first-movers-coalition-drive-breakthrough-technologies-and-sustainable-fuels

To drive forward a new chapter for aviation, Delta is joining the Aviation Climate Taskforce (ACT) – a new nonprofit founded to tackle eliminating carbon dioxide emissions in aviation.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-invests-net-zero-aviation-through-aviation-climate-taskforce

Delta Air Lines is continuing its commitment as a sustainability leader in our home state, joining a coalition of Georgia businesses committed to developing a just, competitive and sustainable transition to net-zero emissions by 2050.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-joins-drawdown-georgia-business-compact

Our commitment to carbon neutrality is rooted in the idea that our customers shouldn’t have to choose between seeing the world and saving the world.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/update-our-path-net-zero

Delta takes the stage during Global Citizen Live on Sept. 25 to share our carbon-neutral message and describe our science-based efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in partnership with the Science Based Target Initiative.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-details-climate-change-fight-global-citizen

Delta is on a journey to decarbonize our industry – our Flight to Net Zero – but it’s not a task that happens overnight. It’s a decades-long process requiring collaboration across our business and with other industries.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-joins-coalitions-driving-net-zero-future

Delta’s new brand campaign builds on the commitment first announced in March 2020 to be the first carbon-neutral airline globally.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/new-campaign-shines-light-deltas-carbon-neutrality

Delta has signed a commitment letter to work with the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) to set a science-based emissions intensity improvement target using the organization’s recently released criteria and guidance for the aviation sector.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-commits-set-science-based-target-align-paris-agreement

The companies hope to create a common, more transparent model for analyzing potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions that could then be adopted by organizations considering SAF programs.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/chevron-delta-air-lines-and-google-announce-intent-measure-sustainable-aviation-fuel-emissions-data

This partnership is the first multi-year SAF commitment for Delta and builds on the growing list of travel management companies and corporate partners that share in Delta’s commitment to bolster the future of sustainable air travel.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-signs-first-multi-year-saf-agreement-ctm-reaches-collective-purchase-300000-gallons-corporate

Flight to Net Zero encompasses Delta’s climate leadership through its carbon neutrality goal.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-launches-flight-net-zero-signs-partnership-cwt

The launch of Delta’s inaugural ESG Report is a pivotal moment in the company’s commitment to being purpose-driven and highlights its intention to be a catalyst for global change, from its Board of Directors to its front-line employees. As a company that connects people with opportunity, Delta recognizes its role in growing empathy, respect and care for the planet and the people within it.

“Over the past year, we have taken on bold commitments to be a driver of change for diversity, equity & inclusion and environmental sustainability, within our industry and beyond,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. “Neither of these come with an easy solution and will take time and resources to drive real impact, which is why we must be transparent about the progress we make.”

The 2020 ESG Report is a snapshot of Delta’s environmental, social and governance progress covering the period from January 1 to December 31 and takes a detailed look at important areas like health and safety, climate change, and human capital management, including diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the governance framework we have in place with respect to each of them. The report was informed by the reporting standards of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, and future iterations of the report will continue to build on ESG content and analysis.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/deltas-esg-report-powering-purpose-driven-goals-be-catalyst-change

The agreement is part of the airline’s longstanding commitment to work with customers to reach collective goals for the greater good of our planet.

Read More: https://news.delta.com/delta-and-bcd-travel-sign-industry-first-global-travel-management-sustainable-fuel-agreement

 

View all of our sustainability updates.

Reports

Note: Delta has been publishing annual Corporate Responsibility Reports (CRRs) since 2009. To request prior reports, a CRR prior to 2018, please contact sustainability@delta.com

Policies
Statements on this webpage that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our expectations and goals, should be considered “forward-looking statements” under the federal securities laws and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations and goals. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.